Eithics reflection - Research Paper Example

Running head: ETHICS REFLECTION Ethics Reflection Insert Insert Grade Insert May 01 Ethics Reflection Egoism is characterized as the voluntary behaviour that conform to the pattern of one putting of his/her own interest and concern above that of others or even beyond the morally permissible (singer 198). An example is that of a lecturer who may woo his or her students, though the lecturer knows or believes that with good reason that the pursuit and even more the attainment of this end will cost the lecturer career livelihood, destroy his or her marriage, alienate his or her children and friends and in other ways ruin their lives.

This goes to prove that people always care about their own than that of others when these two choices conflict, and people also always tend to be concerned not with their own greatest good but with the pursuit of something that they know or believe to be to their own detriment. While relativism is the philosophy that denies absolutes of either validity or of truth, while claiming that all things are relative and subjective depending on consideration and perception (Kreeft 28), there are no absolutes anywhere in reality.

For example, religious relativism states that there is no absolute religion, no absolute truest or best religious relationship with the Absolute Being. While as metaphysical relativism states that there is no Absolute Being, God and no absolute anywhere in reality (Kreef 28). On the other hand, utilitarian ethics is the discipline that asserts that the moral worth of an action is only dependable by its contribution to the overall utility. This means that the end justifies the means (mill vii).

Some philosophers hold the view that at times, the illegality of an action makes it morally wrong, even if the action would otherwise have been morally acceptable. For example, in the 1939, it was illegal to help hide a Jewish family from the Nazis who were vicious and evil, but it was morally and admirable thing to have done. While ethics of care is type of virtue ethics which was developed based on an individual as a relational being, interdependent and it emphasized on the importance of emotion based virtues and human relationship.

The family in care ethics is viewed as the primary sphere of morality as it is where one can cultivate his or her own character. Finally, social ethics deals with what may be observed as appropriate behaviour for people in general, rather than an individual’s own behaviour. This is derived from someone’s collective experience of people and cultures throughout life. However, there are behaviors and practices that one is required to adhere to in order for individuals to successfully deal with one another.

These standards are based on the society principles of how its people should act. For example, the Judeo-Christian teachings of the Old Testament, such as the commandment ‘thou shall not kill’ which meant that it was morally wrong for any member in that society or all members of that society to take part in that immoral behaviour. An example of a societal dilemma is the ethical issues of plant cloning or tissue culture, which, though controversial, it has its advantages and disadvantages, as the issue of altering plants DNA to produce a new creation is considered as wrong.

However, plants have been cloned for years, for example, the vineyards, which have been using grafts and cuttings to grow the best performing vines. However, the ethical issue is that is it right to use genetics to alter DNA of plants to create superior vines that bypass nature. There are people who have the view that the new crops help to ensure there is sufficient food and thus save and serve humankind i.e. pest resistant varieties, better yielding and plants that can sustain harsh climates.

While on the flip side, there are those on the belief that manipulating the DNA is bypassing nature and the check and balances that have been put by nature. Moreover, these genetic manipulations could lead to scientists creating a plant that passes mutation or toxins to the environment or possibly introduce dangerous stuff to food supply. Thus, on one angle, the means justifies the end, while on the other side it is socially unethical. Work Cited Kreeft, Peter. A refutation of moral relativism: interviews with an absolutist.

San Francisco Ignatius Press. 1999. 1 May 2011. http://books.google.com/books?id=PQNjLdWd9CUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Relativism&hl=en&ei=1g-9TeXFNNDHtAb-s-D3BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false. Mill, John S. Utilitarianism. London: Forgotten books. 2008. 1 May 2011. http://books.google.com/books?id=e2P6XYi5K3QC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Utilitarian+ethics&hl=en&ei=uw69TamdF9CKswadtrjvBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Utilitarian%20ethics&f=false.

Singer, Peter. A companion to ethics. Oxford: Blackwell publishing. 1993. May 1, 2011. http://books.google.com/books?id=17i10ZZu8O4C&pg=PA197&dq=Egoism&hl=en&ei=gA-9Tc_wJY7Dswbzvbj4BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDoQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Egoism&f=false.