Ethics and Social Responsibility Discussion

Part 1: Discussion – Ethical Subjectivism and Cultural Relativism

As for my personal thoughts on relativism, it is a philosophical view that all points of view and truth are equally valid and are subjective to the individual. I agree with the notion that there is no absolute truth and that all religious systems, moral concepts of truth and falsity, all art forms, all political movements, and all ethical positions are relative to the individuals. After watching the video titled “Is morality relative to Culture?” I draw on the notion that morality can be certainly relative to the culture because every culture has its own distinctive cultural beliefs. It means that the truth and falsity of moral beliefs can be relative to different particular cultures. Moreover, morals can be influenced by religious beliefs, from person to person, families, and past experiences of the individual. From the article, it is analyzed that all beliefs and ideas are equal and lead to the same results that deny the existence of absolute truth in the world which validates the personal thought I have about relativism.

Part 2: Discussion – Rights, Responsibility, Disobedience, and Religion

Natural law is inherited that are not made by humans rather these laws are an intrinsic ability to understand the worthiness of any activities and their consequence. Contrary to that, human laws are made and amended by people from time to time according to the situation. Thus, it is asserted that natural law is higher than human law because it has certain inherent rights and values that can be understood through human reasoning universally but are not subjected to change or interpretation by humans. Human laws, on the other hand, can be created, amended, and subjected to interpretation by humans in order to govern society.

Furthermore, I believe that religious beliefs are not the only factor that shapes one’s moral beliefs personal experiences, culture, and upbringing also play a significant role in shaping one’s morality. In my opinion, religion has shaped my way of thinking and responding to the world by influencing values and morals in multiple ways such as fostering a web of social connections.

Lastly, the four important criteria Henry David Thoreau asserted that must exist before engaging in civil disobedience when a law proves to be unjust are that an individual’s conscience is infringed by an unjust law. He argued that the individual must act openly on his or her own conscious with respect for the rule of law. Moreover, after breaking the law, the individual must be willing to suffer the consequences. Civil disobedience is therefore “morally required” (Boss, 2023). In addition, individuals should act on their conscience without conforming to the state because he believed that civil disobedience was an appropriate means of doing so.

Part 3: Discussion – Analyzing an Issue from Different Perspectives

Assisted suicide is a topic that raises ethical and moral questions because it is a common belief that assisted suicide is morally wrong. After all, life is so sacred. It poses a serious threat to the lives of innocent people as the law of assisted suicide speaks to us as responsible citizens of society about the risk of hurling down a slippery slope where an individual’s values and beliefs are compromised leading to a diminished respect for life. For instance, if a person is being forced to sign a request to die by his or her inconvenienced relatives, what will become of his/her rights? Thus, when the life of an individual is devalued, it devalues all lives in society.

The ethical values or beliefs I hold regarding assisted suicide relates to the deontologist’s belief as this view states that assisted suicide is morally impermissible (Boss, 2023). The utilitarian view of assisted suicide, on the other hand, views this concept as morally permissible. This view sees assisted suicide by the physician as a phenomenon that minimizes suffering and overall pain as well as maximizes overall happiness. However, from my ethical point of view, the deontologist’s view of assisted suicide violates the principle of respect for people.

Part 4: Discussion – Resolving a Moral Dilemma

The ability to find the optimal solution to resolve a moral dilemma in complicated challenges is a critical problem that individuals face in almost every aspect of their lives. Out of 5 steps to resolve a moral dilemma, I personally believe that devising a plan of action would be the most challenging resolution for me because this phase of resolving a moral dilemma influences how much an action’s molarity contributes to the good of people. For instance, most religious principles are based on revelations and beliefs rather than logic that intrinsically relates to what is right and what is wrong. Therefore, the decision involving the behavioral choice result from the immediate moral and ethical problem that faces the people (Boss, 2023). The identification and devising of the plan of action is therefore difficult to comprehend and suggest because these are not based on the opinion of the situation but the dilemmas caused by the actions of other individuals. The challenge, however, can be overcome by gaining a fresh perspective regarding out-of-the-control proceedings. Fresh perspectives about resolving a moral dilemma point out how ethical commitments should be regulated and how ethical conflicts should be encountered in the real world.

References

Boss, J. A. (2023). Ethics for life: A text with readings. (8^th ed.). McGraw-Hil.