Justification of Decisions - Essay Example

People’s rationale for decisions may vary, depending on personal values and attitudes but under established moral or legal frameworks, such rationale should converge to the frameworks’ main objectives. Decisions in a given society, given similar moral and legal conditions, should therefore be the same regardless of the people making the decision because the people observe similar values. This is not however the case and I, in one incident, felt unfair treatment because I was victimized for taking a moral action.

It was on a Thursday morning and I was on my way to school when I was forced into an ethical dilemma. I found a little girl on the roadside, with just a silk dress and the cold had already overwhelmed her. She was almost succumbing to the cold and could not speak well besides possible health problems that could have risen from exposure to the extreme level of cold. People seemed to be in a hurry and either did not notice the little girl or they chose to ignore her in preference for their schedules. I also had a tight schedule but the possibility of the girl losing her life caught my attention.

I was on my way to school and two main things induced the dilemma. I always planned for a time allowance for which I would arrive at school within five minutes of the formal reporting time. Lateness amounted to punishment by the school authority. In addition, we had a class assessment test and the school’s policy provides that a person cannot take an exam once he or she is at least 15 minutes late for the exam. I, therefore, had to consider facing one or both of the school penalties for lateness. Alternatively and like other people, I would leave this girl to face fate. My conscience however dictated my decision and I expected the same rationale from the school authority. I believe in utilitarianism, a moral philosophy that provides that decisions and actions are judged based on their consequences and that a decision or an act is moral if it generates greater benefits, than harm, to a larger population. While reporting to school and for the exam on time would only benefit the school in achieving its goal of implementing its internal rules, saving the child’s life would benefit the child and her parents, other relatives, and friends. I would also derive self-satisfaction in saving a life and my action would be attributed to the school, which is a social institution and should be active in promoting social wellness. I, therefore, decided to seek avenues for helping the child by taking her to a medical facility. I was consequently 30 minutes late for school and the exam and was subjected to the respective penalties and missed marks for the test.

I believe that this was unfair because a person’s life cannot be compared with rules that do not touch on life. In addition, the cause for my lateness was not a personal issue but a communal issue that the school should have appreciated and even engaged in, directly. This could be proved by the hospital to which I took the girl. The school should have therefore not punished me for lateness and should have offered me a supplementary test. In addition, the school should have congratulated my actions and even encouraged other students to extend a helping hand to the needy.