Ethical Dilemma Of Joe Darby - Essay Example

Ethical Dilemma Introduction This essay considers ethical dilemma of Joe Darby in compliance with the ethics of care framework. Joe Darby is a Sergeant of American Army who must decide what to do with the Abu Ghraib torture photos he accidentally received. Ethics of care is focused on an individual, his choices, and outcomes of these choices and influences of these choices on others involved. Three main points which will link the framework to the dilemma are: 1. Every individual cares for achieving his interests; 2. Individual choices and their outcomes may be vulnerable to others; 3. The necessity to take into account background of the situation in order to protect interests of potential involved (Ethics). These points were differentiated in compliance with the Ethics of care. Unlike other ethical views, this point of view presents a 'justice view' of morality (Ethics). Therefore ethical framework considers ethical dilemma in terms of relationships involved in Joe Darby ethical dilemma. Therefore three points from the ethics of care present the framework, which can be perfectly applied to ethical dilemma of Joe Darby due to its publicity and parties involved. Facts of the case Joseph Darby is a Sergeant who serves to the US military police. Darby is the first one who informed the U.S. military command of prisoner violence in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The Sergeant received a disk with photos witnessing abuse in the Abu Ghraib prison in January 2004 (Henninger, 2008). Darby informed anonymously the US Army Criminal Investigation Command and initiated an investigation which accused several soldiers in the Geneva Convention violation (Henninger, 2008). Motifs which prevailed in Darby in the moment of his decision to make these photos public can be discussed from different points of view. On the one hand, Darby initially wanted to remain anonymous and to call into question an American system of values (humanists involved in atrocities). On the other hand, he revealed his name later on and wanted to reach an easy fame, having claimed that his beliefs were neglected by the government he passionately believed in. Joe Darby’s decision to make the photos and videos from Abu Ghraib prison public presents complex ethical issues. Darby's decision makes vulnerable not only American anti-racial and humanistic national policy but also questions America’s almighty power. To make photos public, Darby, who is ‘a son’ of this power himself, decided to reveal the curtain of America’s humanistic side and appeal to every citizen of the world in order to claim that American ideals are dubious and ambiguous if such atrocities occur. Ethical dilemma analysis On the basis of three main points of the ethics of care (Ethics), which presents a framework to the dilemma, a gradual analysis of ethical dilemma of Joe Darby will be considered further on. 1. Every individual cares for achieving his interests. On the basis of this point, the background of the ethical dilemma will be presented. Thus, Joe Darby having accidentally received photos from Abu Ghraib could have realized that such public representation of photos might cause a great scope of effect. An explosive public reaction occurred very soon. In such a way it is possible to suppose that Darby wanted to become famous and he succeeded. On the one hand in the beginning of the story he wanted to remain anonymous, but finally, his name became well-known. On the other hand, he claimed that he couldn't keep silence while these photos discarded all the ideals he was taught in the Army. Whether he reached what he wanted remains an ambiguous question. For example, his desire to reveal the truth about the government he had served to, made his name famous, but the other side of this dubious fame resulted in is his family’ persecution. The community, where he lived with his wife Bernadette, turned into cruel creatures, who vandalized Darby’ property and offended Joe and his wife personally. That’s why they live under protection now. Another example can be discussed in terms of this point of the framework in another way. Joe Darby on May 16th, 2005 received a John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award (Tristam). He was rewarded for his bravery because he revealed the truth about Abu Ghraib tortures. Joe Darby's choice justified his hopes and under the cover of a law-abiding citizen, he became famous and even was rewarded. He achieved his interests though he has to hide for a while and start the new life. 2. Individual choices and their outcomes may be vulnerable to others. The second point of the ethics of care framework can be traced to the following outcomes of Darby's decision. It's no use to talk about different examples if there is a one and the most appealing one: an outcome of Darby's choice turned into a vulnerable and intimidating for his wife and himself. Once he decided to air the ill-fated photos, he should have considered probable outcomes of his decision. His decision influenced the life of his wife. He broke a stable peaceful manner of life of the closest person to him. He put his own aspirations above interests of other people involuntarily involved in this process. Consequently, in the framework of the ethics of care, outcomes of his individual choice were harmful and destructive to his family. In accordance with laws of the ethics of care, which underline protecting the vulnerable and limiting damage when large forces collide (Tristam), Darby, probably, considered his choice as that preventing the spread of brutality in the world. His choice was human-oriented in order to preserve solidarity in the society. The necessity to take into account background of the situation in order to protect interests of potential involved. 3. The necessity to take into account background of the situation in order to protect interests of potential involved. The third point of the ethics of care framework can be applied to Darby’s ethical dilemma as follows: background of his choice comprised not only ethical but also legal underpinnings. Darby should have paid attention to the fact that legal context of his choice was directed on the large scope of potential damages (political, economic, international affairs with the US etc). Moreover, the ethical context of his choice should have directed his actions on social issues consideration (public opinion, his family future life etc). In such a way the third point of the ethics of care framework applied to Darby's ethical dilemma makes an emphasis on Darby's lack of proper attention to the background of his choice. Conclusion The ethical dilemma of Joe Darby solved in terms of the ethics of care framework underlines that Darby's choice was an embodiment of his ethical background. Ethics is a tool he operated; he didn't pay attention to other militaries' opinion and was directed by justice only. His military co-workers considered him to behave in the improper way and his choice was considered to be a betrayal. The result of Darby’s decision turned into a vulnerable and threatening for his wife and himself. Darby wanted to become famous and he succeeded. On the one hand in the beginning of the story he wanted to stay unidentified, but finally, his name became renowned. Once he decided to air the ill-fated photos, he should have considered probable outcomes of his decision. In the framework of the ethics of care, the results of one’s choice were damaging and unhelpful to his family. In reference to laws of the ethics of care, which underline protecting the vulnerable and limiting damage when large forces collide (Tristam). On the contrary, personal choice of Darby was guided by ethical issues. His own judgment of violation and atrocities at Abu Ghraib underlines the seriousness of his attitude to military oversight. Straightforward actions of Darby, who could have appealed to his command or who could have waited for a certain judgment from an international, make an emphasis on his personal disregard of American military system. Ideals instilled in him from the very beginning of his service were scattered off. Darby decided to initiate a struggle with injustice himself. Therefore, ethics of care can be applied to this ethical dilemma while it’s focused on individuality and his choice; the attention is the aid to the central place of individual interests in making choices. Works cited 1. Ethics of care. In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics_of_care#Comparing_ethics_of_care_with_traditional_ethical_positions 2. Henninger, K. (2008). Atrocity or Nation-Building? The Difference Is in the Eye of the Beholder. The Mississippi Quarterly 61 (1-2), pp.: 237+. 3. Tristam, P. What Are the Abu Ghraib Prison Photos and How Many Are There? Retrieved from About.com Guide website: http://middleeast.about.com/od/iraq/f/abu-Ghraib-faq.htm Read More