Application of Ethical Perspective - Essay Example

Application of Ethical Perspective Introduction: Ethical principles are the foundation stone for all Ethical theories. Each principle put emphasize on multiple aspects of any ethical dilemma and then directs to the resolution that is most suitable and well matched with a particular situation. People normally choose their own course of action according to their ethical faith and the choice usually is based on the life experiences of an individuals. (Penslar, 1995, pg 71) In this paper I will discuss two famous theories, deontology theory and theory of egoism. I will explain all the relevant considerations and their merits and demerits. Let’s take a start with theory of deontology. Deontology: Immanuel Kant is a leading proponent of deontology. He presents an out class and absolute definition of Deontology. According to him deontology is a theory that is based on moral values and duties of any individual. Kant states following five various formal formulations of deontology. 1. Formulation of universal law: "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." 2. Nature formulation law: "Act as if the maxim of your action were to become through your will a universal law of nature." 3. One’s own Formulation: "Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means." (Ridley, 1998, pg 113) 4. Law for Formulation of autonomy: "The will of every rational being [is] a will that legislates universal law." 5. Law and formulation for end’s Kingdom: "For all rational beings stand under the law that each of them should treat himself and all others never merely as a means but always at the same time as an end in himself. Hereby arises a systematic union of rational beings through common objective laws, i.e., a kingdom that may be called a kingdom of ends (certainly only an ideal), inasmuch as these laws have in view the very relation of such beings to one another as ends and means." (Penslar, 1995, pg 75) While analyzing any ethical dilemma under the deontological theory, it emphasize that individuals should adhere to their responsibilities, duties and obligations. In other words an individual should follow his/ her responsibilities and duties owed to other individual or whole community just because that keeping hold on one's obligation is considered correct ethically. Such as a person who is a deontologist, always upholds his obligations to another individual and whole society. He will have to keep his promise to anyone and must follow all the rules and regulations. Any individual in the society who follows the deontology theory takes very exact decisions because the decision produced by him are taken under the consideration of duties of one owed to whole society. (Ridley, 1998, pg 115) In the deontological ethics each person in society has its individual role just according to the specific and particular situation. In other words roles and obligation of individual vary according to the situation. For instance an older son of family has obligation to protect his old parents, he has obligation to hold and fulfill all the financial commitments. As a brother if he is crossing the busy with his younger sister, he has obligation to protect her and guide her while crossing the road. (Penslar, 1995, pg 78) There is another concept of supererogation in the deontological theory, in which the duties and obligation of one exceed. Such as one is dedicated toward his duties and obligation owed to other such as some one hijacked the train, he asked that he needs one person to die for the survival of others, and one person dedicates his life for the survival of others. The person who voluntarily dies to save and protect others has performed the role of supererogation. (Ridley, 1998, pg 120) Despite being positive effects on society and individual’s set of task, deontology has also its weaknesses. One basic weakness and flaw of this theory is that there is no underlying principle or logical designed structure which decides the parameters of individual’s obligations and duties. (Penslar, 1995, pg 79) For example there is an obligation for a business man to be on time in the meeting, thought this is a noble duty of him owed to others but he does not know the reason of this act, that why he has duty to be always on time in meetings. One reason may be that he has to be on time because he wants to sit on the same chair each time, but this reason does not seem genuine and does not satisfy one’s question relevant to his duties. Let’s now unearth other related weaknesses of this theory. One is that in some time the duties and obligations of individual conflict in a particular situation, other is deontological theory does not specify the betterment of others in society. (Ridley, 1998, pg 128) Let’s elucidate his statement under the above situation, if a deontologist has to be on time and he is getting late, now how should he drive to be on time? Is a person who is deontologist is supposed to uphold his duty and drive in speed to be on time and break the traffic laws and regulations owed to him? (Penslar, 1995, pg 80) In the light above situation, it is clear that there is conflict in rights and duties of one and so this lead to us that this is not exact resolution of any ethical dilemma and it is not concerned with the betterment of society. Deontological theory does not support the context of all the situations and dilemmas; it does not work when one needs resolution on a complex issue especially in conflicting regulation. (Ridley, 1998, pg 128-135) Egoism: It is a theory of ethics that establishes with the primary objective of the pleasure, betterment of an individual in the society. This concept is opposite to the concept of altruism, which does not adhere to the self interest only also involves the parameters for the interests and good will of others in the society. (Brink, 1997, pg 122)There are various varieties of this theory. We can present and explain it in thee ways. Ethical egoism for Person: this is the faith that concentrates only the acts that I should perform for my interest only and it does not state any act that what should I do for others. This is not the theory because this is concerned only with myself and self interest and not focus to others. This concept cannot be recommended to any person because this suggestion is against my interest. (McConnell, 1978, pg 41) Ethical egoism for individual: it is the belief that all the individuals in the society should act according to their self interests. Individual ethical egoism is not reliable until its applicable to just one person in the society. In other words, it is not universal belief. Since the belief focus on an individual so we cannot justify it properly. (Brink, 1997, pg 123) Ethical egoism for universe: this is the ethical perspective that is universal and states that all the individuals in the universe should act for their self interest only. One problem with this believe is that without having know how of the world, how is it possible to know our interest. There is another problem with this theory related to our interest that is are we talking about short tem interest and pleasure or long term happiness? (McConnell, 1978, pg 43) Egoism is a normative and descriptive claim. There are variuos ways in which we can discuss it. psychological egoism states in very descriptive form that it is obvious that every one in the society has a primary goal and aims to work for his betterment. The Normative egoism states the act and condition that what one have to do, rather to explain what one does normally. Ethical egoism states that what is essential condition that an action must be right morally and for one’s own interest both. Rational egoism beleves that any action should be tationale and should enlarge the self interest of one. (Brink, 1997, pg 123) Supporting arguments of Ethical Egoism: First Argument: There are different variations in this argument but it leads to an identical concept: We all in the society just work for our self interest and pursue the actions that are in our favor. Though we know the demands and needs of others in society but we do not give them preferences over our self interest. The idea and concept for seeking the demands and needs of people is considered as interrupting in other’s privacy maters. (McConnell, 1978, pg 44) Flaw of this argument: Offering other people your support and help and willingness to work for their betterment will make them degrade. They will feel deprived and have a feeling that they can not hold them self, protect them selves so this act will become offensive and will not be appreciated. (Brink, 1997, pg 125) Second argument: A person gets only one chance of living a life. If the life have moral values then the life will be worth of supreme significance. Altruism claims that one always should be ready to work for others dedicatedly. So this concept is not concerned with the human individual. Ethical egoism encourages individual to look at their life and give it the most preference, this concept focus the individuals so it is appreciated. (McConnell, 1978, pg 45) Flaw of this argument: Altruism is some time used to the extent of extremism when you dedicate your self for others and your own interest and needs suffer. (Brink, 1997, pg 126) Third Argument: If you will harm people, they will harm you too and you will not get favor of people too, as when you will harm you have to go to prison. So this is beneficial for your self in not harming others. (McConnell, 1978, pg 46) If you lie, you will loose you trust and credibility and people will also tell you lie and will not be honest with you in return. So this is the advantage of not telling a lie to the people. (Brink, 1997, pg 128) Flaw of this argument: It specifies a general rule that is advantageous not to hurt others but is it is always not like that, because some time may be it is your self interest to hurt other. (McConnell, 1978, pg 46) Contradictory arguments of Ethical Egoism: The following two arguments do not support the ethical Egoism From the moral point of view it is not reliable. As it does not provide the solution of conflicts that arises among the self interest of different people. We must have some moral values and regulations to resolve this conflict of self interests. (Brink, 1997, pg 154) The ethical egoism is not even in all dimensions that, a person who is ethical egotist wants always to work and pursue an action that is in his favor and so others will do so. For example I am a sales person and it is my interest to sell a product in full price and the bargaining is the others interest. So under this ethical faith. I am supposed to get a price of my own interest and getting the price of others interest is not my commitment. This is the essential flaw of this theory. It is essential that our moral values must consider the interest of others too but ethical egoism does not allow it so that is the basic reason of its failure. (McConnell, 1978, pg 47) Conclusion: Deontological theory claims that individuals must adhere to their responsibilities, duties and obligations. It states that a person must pay his duties and responsibilities that are owed to other in the society. Being a deontologist a person has to keep his promise and must fulfill his obligations and responsibilities. His rules and regulations and all the actions will be taken by a deep consideration in mind that he should now overlap the rights of others because of his any action and decision. How ever this theory is not reliable as it does not specify and resolve the conflicts of rights and duties. Ethical egoism is the concept that each person must work for his own interest entirely, in contrast the Psychological egoism is the idea and concepts related to human disposition and claims all the relevant facts related to people that how they behave in different situations. It also claims that people always work for their betterment and give preferences to their own interest to the other’s interest. It is very much important that we should have moral values and worth of our life and must think about the interest of others but theory of ethical egoism can not tolerate it so that is why it is failed. Reference Penslar, Robin L,. 1995. Research Ethics: Cases and Materials. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. Pg 71-85 Ridley, Aaron. 1998. Beginning Bioethics. New York: St. Martin's Press. Pg 115-135 Brink, D., 1997, "Self-love and Altruism," Social Philosophy and Policy 14: 122-157. McConnell, T. C. 1978, “The Argument from Psychological Egoism to Ethical Egoism,” Australasian Journal of Philosophy 56: 41-47. Read More