Egoism Perspective and Respect for Persons Perspective - Essay Example

In addition, as Pritchard points out in the case, parents were given the evidence that despite a 75 percent rise in the number of cars, there was a 50 percent decline in the fatality rate. Thus, their egoism gave way to forgetting reservations.

A further look into the principles of egoism proves that the most suitable approach is to give permission to the use of corpses for crash testing. As Hinman (116) points out, according to the moral stance of egoism, the most appropriate action is the one that produces the most well-being. In the present case too, it is evident that allowing the crash testing using children’s corpses will produce more personal and social good than sticking to the traditional moral reservation that “even the dead possess human dignity” (Pritchard, 226). Another postulation of Egoism is that one should adopt the action that least affects one's welfare. According to this point too, it is evident that the parents and the society can well understand the personal and social benefits of using corpses for crash testing. Thus, in total, as far as there is no better way in hand, egoism permits the use of human corpses for crash testing.

A look into the Respect for person outlook proves that this ideology to supports the use of cadavers for crash testing. The viewpoint is that all ethical theories and reservations are to be taken as mere understandings, procedures, and judgment criteria that rational people must affirm, and not be taken as concrete rules. It is pointed out that this is the stance that is practical and beneficial. Now, going back to the present case, it is evident that sticking to the notion that “even the dead possess human dignity” (Pritchard, 226) is not practical and beneficial in the present case, and hence permissible according to the viewpoint of Respect for Persons. However, a point of consideration here is that Respect for Persons calls for honoring others’ rights and responsibilities. In other words, one does not have the right to use others for one’s own ends (Rights Theories).

Considering this point of view, it is possible to argue that authorities do not have the right to force people to give permission to use corpses for crash testing forgetting their reservations. However, it can also be argued that people do not have the right to prevent the government from rightfully performing its responsibility of reducing road accidents. In addition, one should also remember the fact that according to the Respect for person perspective, ethics is to be acknowledged as judgment criteria, and hence, when things are done as a matter of course, ethics is not a consideration.

In total, it becomes evident that both Egoism and Respect for Persons' perspectives support the use of cadavers as far as it is evident that this is the most appropriate action for personal and social good.