Ethical Reasoning Midterm - Assignment Example

Questions on Ethics: Question One: Programmatic and systematic moral and political philosophy began with the question that Plato asked, in the republic, on “What Justice is?” It is possible to define justice as the first virtue of a social institution. Justice is a moral rightness concept that is based on rationality, ethics, religion, natural law, fairness, rationality, as well as equity. It is therefore prudent to denote that before any law or contract exists, justice was there (Shaffer, 411). For instance, before any laws or contracts are enacted, it is essential to first identify what these laws and contracts aim at solving. For instance a law that prohibits murder aims at solving this problem of murder. On this note, this action of murder is an injustice, and this is because everybody has a right to live. On this note, to achieve justice therefore, the individual who committed murder must be punished. This is a law based on equity, which is always referred to as natural justice. This concept of natural justice is guided by the conscience of individuals. This conscious is responsible for determining whether an issue is right, or even wrong. Therefore, laws and contracts developed in a bid to satisfy the conscious nature of people. Furthermore, various societies had different standards of justice that are developed based on their cultures and values. For example, in some societies, educating a girl child is justice. Some other societies believe that it is not prudent to educate a girl child, and anyone who does that, breaks the laws. On this note, societies that are male centric will always find it just to educate boys, as opposed to girls. Societies that are female centric will find it just to educate girls, as opposed to boys. This concept that justice came before laws and contracts is correct. An individual is a rationale being, and he or she is always guided by their conscious, and perceptions of what are right, as well as what is wrong. It is therefore these guidance and perception that are placed as contracts and laws. It is therefore prudent to denote that laws and contracts will always emanate from the conscious of individual, and therefore what is perceived as justice, existed long before, the existence of these laws (Shaffer, 412). Furthermore, it is also right to assert that different standards of justice exist in different societies. This is even experienced today, and an example is the application of the death sentence by different countries of the world. Countries such as United States have laws that advocate for a death sentence, while most Scandinavian countries do not have provisions for death sentence as a means of punishing a crime. In fact, this aspect of death sentencing has come under heavy debate on whether it is just, or unjust. Question Two: Hobbes talks about ethics in terms of a social contract. Hobbes believes that without a social contract, men will always seek power, and this will lead to an endless war of domination (Shaffer, 119). This is because man is selfish, and will always seek to dominate over people who are weaker than him. On this basis, Hobbes believes that there is a need of creating a common power. By creating a common power, Hobbes believes that law will come to existence, and where law exists, there will be justice. Hobbes further believes that in a state of nature, life is short, brutal, solitary, and nasty. This is because there is a lot of fraud and force, which leads to war. Furthermore, Hobbes denotes that in a state of war, death is always likely, as compared to the existence of victory (Shaffer, 120). On this basis, Hobbes believes that there is a need of forming an authority that will put order in the lives of people. To form this authority, it is therefore paramount for man to create an agreement of peace with people surrounding him. These agreements can only be effective, if they are willing to give their natural rights of absolute freedom for purposes of gaining security, and peace. However, Hobbes is quick to denote that the right to life is paramount to every individual, and they can rebel against an authority when this right is threatened. This idea by Hobbes is relevant and right. This is because the natural man will always seek power and influence. On this basis, the stronger man will always survive, and imposes his or her will on the people. Laying down some of the natural rights of an individual for purposes of creating an authority that will protect the lives of people is therefore of paramount importance. All states in the world are created because individuals had to compromise some of their natural rights for the greater good of promoting security. An example of such a compromise is the state emergency laws, where the President or Governors can impose for purposes of creating security within the given states. These laws normally limit the movement of individuals, which is their natural right (Shaffer, 121). The main purpose of state emergency laws is to protect the citizens of the state under consideration. Without making such a compromise, then chances are high that the country won’t be able to protect their citizens effectively. This would therefore result to the failure of the state towards its citizens. This is because the authority or state is created for the main purpose of protecting its citizens. Question Three: Ayn Rand talks extensively about capitalism, and he identifies it as a social system. Ayn Rand believes that capitalism is an example of a social system that is responsible for recognizing the rights of individuals, and this includes the rights to own private properties, as well as the rights to acquire the properties under consideration. Ayn Rand further believes that recognizing these individual rights will entail banishing the use of physical force from any relationship of human beings (Shaffer, 89). On this note, Rand believes that the rights of human beings can only be violated through the use of force. Rand believes that in a capitalistic state, or society, no group, or an individual can start initiating the use of physical force against their opponents. This is because the government is established for purposes of protecting the rights of individuals under consideration. On this basis, Rand believes that the main function of a state government is to protect the rights of mankind (Shaffer, 90). This includes the right to own property, the right to free speech, as well as the right to life, without which, capitalism would not exist. This is under a capitalistic society. Rand therefore believes that the government acts as an agent of an individual’s right to self defense. On this note, the government is allowed to use force, only as a means of retaliation against those people whose intention is to breach the rights of their fellow citizens. Through this methodology, Rand believes that the state will be able to maintain a social system, which will give mankind the freedom to keep, gain, as well as achieve their values (Shaffer, 90). These values are in regard to the acquisition of capital, as well as property. This argument by Rand is closely related to what Hobbes believed in. That is the main role of a government, or an authority is to create security, and therefore protect its citizens. For capitalism to thrive there is always a need of security. This will make people to feel free at investing their capitals, in various businesses for purposes of making money. This is an important element or principle of capitalism. A free and secure state will not only attract the citizens of the country into making wealth, but it will also attract the international companies into investing in the country. This will create jobs, as well as improve the welfare of the citizens of the state under consideration. On this note, capitalism will help to ensure the survival of mankind, through his or her accumulation of wealth. The survival of mankind is an essential principle, or element of natural justice. Works Cited: Shaffer, Russ. The Ethical Life: Fundamental Readings in Ethics and Moral Problems. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print. Read More