Ethics and Society: Making an Ethical Decision - Essay Example

Ethics and Society Ethics is the study of both right and wrong and how to differentiate the two. It also involves the study ofhumans’ beliefs on right and wrong behavior. Since ethics involves the study of right and wrong, one can deduce that its nature is to create an understanding about the morality of a person. In other words, its main objective is to expound on human conduct, as well as human values. Ethical life, on the other hand, involves observing ethical ways as part of the society. It involves the observance of norms and customs that belong to a specific social body. It involves doing what you consider ethical in the society. In other words, ethical life involves doing the right thing as obliged by the society. The right and good are two different ideas that expound on moral values. These two ideas are very common in our society, and many people tend to interchange them in their communication as well as reference of some things in the society. However, the two are very distinct in what they mean. The idea of the right is related to something obligatory, something that one has to do or follow. In other words ‘right’ defines a moral duty. The idea of good, on the other hand, refers to whatever is desirable. It refers to whatever is worth doing in the society or something that is worth to have. In other words, ‘good’ enhances one’s life mainly when it is part of the life (Timmons, 2012). From the definitions, one can deduce that obligatory and the desirable are totally different things. For instance, pleasure that arise as a result of somebody’s success cannot be regarded as obligatory even though it is morally admirable. Observing social norms is regarded as a right. Every person is obliged to follow the social norms of oneself society. The activities taking place in the world are a reflection of individual acts. Every person’s act contributes immensely to the way we perceive the world. In other words, the happenings in the world are the products of individual thoughts as well as decisions. My theory can be regarded as an ethical intuitionism because it expounds on the existence of moral beliefs that are determined through not only intuition, but also via intuitive awareness. According to my theory, it is the responsibility of an individual to determine the wrongness or rightness of the decision through referring to these moral beliefs and values. Ethical intuitionism is a value-based theory that is more act-centered that agent-centered (Padilla, 2012). This is evidenced by the responsibility an individual is given. According to the theory, it is the responsibility of the person to determine the rightness or wrongness of his or her actions. Utilitarianism is also a theory that expounds on morality. According to this theory, any act that results to other people’s pain is a wrong action and unethical. This theory expounds on the essence of doing things that pleases others. Utilitarianism is a simple theory that provides a straightforward way of handling issues and making decisions that would cause pain to other people (Craig, 1998). Its principles are well applicable in the society. Unlike utilitarianism, my theory expounds on individual acts. It does pay attention to the feelings of other people after making a certain decision. Additionally, I can ascertain that my theory is act-centered whereas the utilitarianism theory is agent-centered. Although virtue ethics is action-centered, it is evident that it is the one that has some close similarity with my theory. For instance, it is evident that virtue ethics grants an individual a chance of making personal decision that he or she thinks is morally acceptable. In other words, virtue ethics concurs with my theory on the role of an individual in building a good society. Moral pluralism is a tool that is used significantly in arriving at sound ethical decisions. According to the moral pluralism, complicated set of tools, many ethical concepts, assist in handling ethical issues, as well as problems. Additionally, ethical pluralism can be regarded as an idea that justifies the existence of many theories expounding on moral norms that may differ with oneself personal moral norm. According to Greenwalt, imposition of punishment to a child has many diverse social issues. Among the questions raised by the society about punishment is why the social institution allows children to be punished. Another aspect of concern is a necessary condition for punishment. The degree of severity of punishment also poses many challenges to the implementers of the punishment. It is as a result of variation in ways people perceive social norms as depicted in moral pluralism that there exist some issues regarding some practices in the society. According to Greenwalt, punishment has no boundary that defines how it should be imposed. There are many things associated to punishment; some of them include the presence of responsible agents, unpleasant consequences, condemnation, and authority. As I outlined in my theory, it is the responsibility of an individual to decide on what to do or on how to behave I a given society. However, this claim differs significantly with Greenwalt’s view. According to Greenwalt, young children deserve some punishment in order to behave as required in the society. From his argument, one can deduce that the freedom enhanced through ethical intuitionism theory spoil young children. It is evident that young children often indulge in wrong acts when directed. As a result of this, it is crucial for children to be directed on how to carry themselves in the society through all means including imposing punishment on them. Greenwalt’s view is in tandem with what is advocated by the utilitarianism theory. However, the two have some contradictions. For instance, utilitarianism considers any act that offends other people as unethical; children in Greenwalt’s case are other people who feel offended when punished. The wrongs made by children often hurt majority of the people in the society and is as a result of this that Greenwalt advocates punishment. Thus, Greenwalt’s assertion can aid one in making moral judgments even their societal norms differ from that of other societies. A moral dilemma can be regarded as a conflict that requires one to make a decision regarding two or more choices given, but in consideration of morality. In other words, a moral dilemma involves conflicts that are subjected to moral requirements. In most occasions, moral dilemmas involve use of moral reasons in making a decision that is guided by any of the reason you may give. It is a situation that provides one with decision-making difficulties because it bars one from doing two actions at the same time. Making an ethical decision is not a simple process. It involves ones time and mind. Often it does not require one to make any rash. It involves the use of mind as well as facts. In making such a decision, I first stop whatever I was doing and thinking about and start thinking about the problem at hand. This often prevents me from making a rash decision; a decision that I will to regret. It also grants me the opportunity to mobilize my discipline and courage. I also believe it is advisable for one to clarify oneself goals. In doing this, I manage to know the lifespan of the decision that I am supposed to make. It is also elemental for one to determine facts before making any decision. Determination of facts enables me learn new things that are associated to the decision that I am going to make. Developing options is also one of the factors that I consider significantly before making a decision. It is through it that I do manage to filter my choices. After making a decision, I always monitor its progress as well as make necessary changes where I think it is necessary. References Craig, E. (1998). Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Questions to sociobiology. New York: Taylor & Francis. Padilla, S. Ethics. (2012). New York: Rex Bookstore, Inc. Timmons, M. (2012). Moral Theory: An Introduction. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Read More