One of the first questions for ethics concerns whether or not we have basic obli
ID: 3448016 • Letter: O
Question
One of the first questions for ethics concerns whether or not we have basic obligation to others. Some have argued that even if forming social bonds leads to better overall human welfare we are not, strictly speaking, obligated to anyone else for anything. According to this egoistic vantage point, while it may be a nice or good thing to aide others nonetheless we have no duty to do so. Some argue, however, that we are obligated to care about the concerns of others, as human happiness is what gives anything value. Utilitarianism, in particular, holds that we have an ethical obligation to always act such that the likely consequences of our actions maximize the happiness of every one affected. Prepare (in your mind) an essay for a general reader that: 1) Touches on the supposed nature and purpose of ethics; 2) Discusses the issue of providing a philosophical ground for (as opposed to a historical, biographical or anthropological description of) our claims of right and wrong; 3) Gives some reasons why the project of grounding might lead to egoistic ethics; 4) Explains how the demands of social living might suggest the utilitarian position instead; and, 5) Presents at least one serious challenge to utilitarianism. In imagining an essay, try to think of an introduction that captures the attention of an unfamiliar reader. One suggestion is that many of the concepts in section one have direct bearing on the issues I am asking you to speak to here. It could help to employ them. As always, try to separate the tasks of presenting a position, recommending a position, and criticizing a position.
Explanation / Answer
Ethics are considered to be the moral obligations human beings have towards others and the society. It’s all about what right or wrong and who does it affect. These moral behaviors depend on the society one grows because different society has different cultural binding, so, what right in one society may be wrong in another society. These are almost unwritten rules of the world.
2) Discusses the issue of providing a philosophical ground for (as opposed to a historical, biographical or anthropological description of) our claims of right and wrong;
Philosophically speaking, ethics should guide one to behave in such a way that it sets the highest form of ethical behavior and others strive to follow that. Philosophical meanings are often systematized, defended and recommended to the people. We should be doing whatever we expect others to do to us. So, we won’t harm us and we will always expect others to do good for us and philosophical view point suggests the same.
3) Gives some reasons why the project of grounding might lead to egoistic ethics;
Project Grounding is about taking all the viewpoints and connecting to all the factors before deciding to help and that ends up in Egoistic ethics. The first and foremost thing in egoistic ethics is self-interest. A person with this state of mind might thing what good or bad this action might bring to me. Ethics guides one to decide and act on what’s right or wrong but it always ends up in ethical egoism which promotes self-interest above all. Although all the ethical principles promote the welfare of others egoistic ethics supports one to be safe first and then safeguard or help others because by helping someone else, one shouldn’t fall prey to negative consequences.
4) Explains how the demands of social living might suggest the utilitarian position instead;
Utilitarian theory suggests that any action is considered to be moral or ethical if that action brings more good and less harm. It looks for the outcome of a particular action and if the consequence of an action is good it is right and if the consequence is negative it’s wrong. It proposes equality of all beings and good for all. When a decision is based on Utilitarian, everyone involves becomes happy at the end.
5) Presents at least one serious challenge to utilitarianism.
One of the important disadvantages of Utilitarian is that one can’t predict the future consequences of his action because people are different and they perceive things differently. No one can judge the situation exactly because human beings are emotional although they are rational. They tend to make mistakes as the decision making should also need to be quick at times.
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