Applying Ethical Systems PDF

Preview

Summary

Applying ethical systems essay...

Description

1

Applying Ethical Systems

Alexis Ingram Grand Canyon University PHI-103: Introduction to Philosophy and Ethics Instructor Steven Nemes March 28, 2021

2 Applying Ethical Systems The study of ethical theories has gone on since man gained the ability to reason. A wide variety of these theories have been argued among philosophers with various theories becoming popular and then waning have stayed merely theoretical in their nature and never having been put to real-world testing. Utilitarianism as an ethical theory began as a political action initiative to bring about social welfare reform. The central point of utilitarianism is to further the Great Happiness Principle whereby the greatest happiness provided to the greatest number of people. Nowhere has this been put to the test then with capital punishment period how can utilitarianism be valued against the application of capital punishment as penalty for violating the people's trust? One side of the capital punishment morality side is that one should never take a life no matter the crime. The opposing side to this moral conundrum will argue that once a threshold has been passed by a person's misdeeds, the majority of the people are best protected by the permanent removal of the danger. The utilitarian ethical theory gives deference to the Greatest Happiness Principle by applying the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people. This normative ethical theory gives proper value to capital punishment by doing what is best for the greatest number of people. With utilitarianism the Greatest Happiness Principle is served by removing that which is a danger to the great majority of the people there by re storing the greatest amount of happiness. In personal application utilitarianism with this approach touches on libertarianism which seeks to provide the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people and removing danger in its application. The moral issue of capital punishment is one of the most controversial moral issues of modern times period the ethical dilemma of murdering someone has emotions peaked on both sides of the issue. One side puts forward that is never ethical or moral to take a life and that all

3 life is precious, even the life of someone who has taken the life of others. the opposing side will argue that there is a point at which forfeiting someone’s life is attainable with certain acts which are found by society to be so heinous that killing such an attender will provide the greatest happiness possible to the greatest number of people. This would also have the added value of providing the greatest amount of safety to the greatest number of people. “Some proponents of the death penalty—argue that utility can be traded across lives, as long as utility is maximized. Similarly, on this view, if the death penalty can save lives by deterring killers, the convictions and execution of innocent people by mistake can in principle be justified” (Li, 2017, p. 158). The procedure of capital punishment was developed to provide ultimate punishment for those who have committed ultimate wrongs. There are evil acts that I give forfeiture to one's life if they are perpetrated. Society has deemed that one can cross that line by committing acts of murder and brutality that require inappropriate response. Proponents of capital punishment are saying that what was done in the acts committed can only be punished by death. Utilitarianism, weather acts or rule variation which follow the greatest happiness principle albeit on a slightly different track, seeks to provide the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. “…utilitarianism is arguably the most reason-based approach to determining right and wrong” (“Utilitarianism”, n.d., para. 5). This being said, no normative ethical theory is perfect or without any fault. As societies change, so do ethical theories in order to keep pace with this evolution. The greatest single evolutionary aspect is that the morality and its governance hold true to the ideals and values that make up the majority of the society. The acts of murder and brutalizing are considered maladaptive behavior, so much so in fact start the punishment for these misdeeds is capital punishment period this punishment has been with us since the advent of man, and there has generally existed a form of capital punishment when

4 certain levels of transgressions were attained. As society has evolved, the forms of capital punishment have been adjusted accordingly to where capital punishment is now delivered in kinder and gentler, less cruel, formats. The normative ethical theory of utilitarianism by its construct and logical theory does seek to provide the greatest level of happiness to the greatest number of people. Thereby it is also a valuable consideration with society has deemed worthy of the carrying out a sentence of capital punishment period bear in mind the greatest happiness principle, which establishes the greatest happiness for the greatest amount of people, can also equate happiness as a level of safety and security. With this in mind providing capital punishment the society has a way to affect its security by removing those who most greatly threaten it, permanently. in this way the threat is extinguished and the happiness, or security, level rises within the society. There are also further positive tangents with this sentencing in that having this level of punishment shall dissuade others from seeking to transgress. The threat no longer looms with the possibility of recidivism. The expense of housing capital offenders is done away with saving the society's resources that can be distributed then to productive and societally beneficial ends. “The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the absence of pleasure” (Stewart, Blocker, Petrik, 2013, p. 289). John Stuart Mill thus sums up utilitarianism, by producing the reverse of happiness, pain in the absence of pleasure exist. This would be true not only for the victim but also for the perpetrator. My stance on the ethical moral issue of capital punishment seeks to impact my personal behavior by not seeking to break the law and committing murder or other capital crimes and also

5 in supporting my societies adherence to the policy capital punishment for those who have made these transgressions with maladaptive behaviors. The conclusion I have established is that if one has the level of evil to commit acts of murder and brutality, the greatest level of happiness and security must be restored to the greatest number of people by erasing the threat. There is no level of forgiveness or atonement that can be reached by such an evil being. The only acceptable and viable response measure is one of capital punishment even if it is not cruel or unusual. “Utilitarianism is generally held to be the view that the morally right action is the action that produces the most good” (“The History of Utilitarianism”, 2009, para. 2).

6 References Li, H.-L. (2017). Contractualism and the Death Penalty. Criminal Justice Ethics, 36(2), 152–182. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/0731129X.2017.1358912 Stewart, D., Blocker, H. G., & Petrik, J. (2013). Fundamentals of philosophy (8th ed.).Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. ISBN-13: 9780205242993 The History of Utilitarianism. (2009). Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/utilitarianism-history/ Utilitarianism. (2021, April 4). Retrieved from https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/glossary/utilitarianism...