The Ethics of Highway Drag Racing
Is drag racing on the highway ethical? This may seem like an easy yes or no answer to most people. However, in the following paper the ethical theories devised by many different people throughout the years will help to further explore what would deem the act of drag racing on a highway ethical or not. Different theories cause us to approach the question from different viewpoints and will vary the answer to said question based on their diverse criteria. At the conclusion, the question will be revisited keeping all of the theories in mind and I will make an educated summation about which theories apply to my own viewpoint on the topic.
If we were to follow the Utilitarianism point of view, we would be searching for the greatest amount of happiness throughout everyone involved in the issue. It is not necessarily the greatest good for the greatest number, but it seems to be the general action to create the highest average of happiness. Happiness is pleasure, but it needs to be a dignified pleasure. The act cannot create the Utilitarianism view of happiness if the act lacks dignity. The deciding factors in whether or not something is ethical are to make sure all possibilities are considered and then seeing which course of action will create the greatest amount of happiness. If the action creates the greatest amount of happiness amongst all other possibilities without losing dignity then the act can be deemed ethical.
In relation to drag racing on the highway, many factors need to be considered. The drag racers themselves, the other drivers on the highway and anyone else on or along that road must be taken into account when calculating what action creates the greatest pleasure or happiness. The drag r...
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... on the highway is unethical. Only when it comes to Symphonology does it seem even close to being an ethical act. I view that even as a bit of a stretch. The racers and the race itself would have to adhere to very strict terms to agree with all of the ethical standards listed. In all the others, however, it seems almost cut and dry that it is unethical to drag race on the highway. Personally, I do not see how or why one would argue the ethics of drag racing. When lives are put in peril, especially those who are not willing participants in the act, it is both natural and learned that an act such as this should not be carried out. Even in the case of late night and “nobody is on the road”, it is the foreseeable and unforeseeable consequences, the innate sense one gets when observing the act that shows me that drag racing, on the highway at least, is indeed unethical.
A Modest Proposal For Making Driving More Entertaining, While Creating The Same Risks For Everyone On The Road
If one is properly equipped and following the laws than it should be a safe ride. But with anything there is risk involved so to resolve this are we going to take cars off the road because people keep running into each other or band motorcycles because if they get hit there chance of survival is very small. No we have allowed all these items on are public roads because people are willing to take the risk every time one gets in there car and turns the key they are taking a risk not just for them but the ones that share the road with ‘‘ATVs are dangerous motorcycles are dangerous cars can be very dangerous but using the vehicle in a safe manner and proper education and training on how to maneuver the machine and using right speeds is key’’(bowman) as you can see from the reasoning above ATVs can and should be legalized on public roads. they are a more convenient way to get around and tour the state. Anyone willing to take the steps should be allowed to license and ride their ATV on public
Dangers on roadways is an issue that describes the discrepancy between perception and reality of road rage. The media, for some odd reason, tends to make road rage a huge controversial issue. As seen on talk shows from Oprah Winfrey to CNN, they reveal to people that road rage could happen at any time and to always be looking over your shoulder. These talk shows and news programs also put fear into our minds by explaining that most roadragers often use guns to kill or injure their victims. Glassner contradicts the media's speculations by stating that out of approximately 250,000 people killed on roadways between 1990-1997, AAA attributed that one in one thousand was an act of road rage (pg.5).
The utilitarian ethics theory in a nutshell basically states that “the good is the well-being of all, impartially considered (Riley 68).” What is emphasized in utilitarian theory is that the greatest good be produced for the greatest number of people. This brings up the question of what “good” actually is. Many utilitarian theorists believe there are two kinds of good, intrinsic and instrumental. Intrinsic good is good considered just by itself while all other things are instruments for gaining the intrinsic goods (Schinzinger 55). Mill believes that the only intrinsic good is happiness and thus the emphasis can be rewritten as the greatest happiness produced for the greatest number of people. In other words, happiness is basically the only thing desirable as an end in itself. However, once again we ask the question of what happiness really is. When explaining his utilitarian theory, Mill separates happiness into two types, the higher and the lower (Mill Ch.2). Mill defines the higher happiness as being that of humans including such qualities as justice, creativity, morality and nobility. On the other hand, the lower happiness is that which is associated with animals and is purely pleasure based. Using these two types of happiness, Riley c...
Eppley, George. "Confessing to Road Rage." Human Development 26.3 (2005): 48. Acedemic Search Complete. Muntz Lib., Tyler, TX. 25 Mar. 2009.
“Utilitarianism is the creed which accepts as the foundations of morals utility of 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.” (Mil, 90). Utilitarianism ethics is based on the greatest good for the greatest number meaning that the moral agent does what he/she thinks will be
In utilitarianism the common goal is to create the most happiness for the most amount of people. Mills definition of 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” (540) If this principle is the case then as a utilitarian your actions of good should promote the most happiness. This way of thinking can really produce some wrong answers and actions to moral questions. For example, say you and your family are starving and in need of food. The only possible way to get food would be to steal it. In general society finds it morally wrong to steal under any circumstances. But as utilitarian you have to ask, would my actions of stealing food promote the most happiness for the most people. You need to take into account the people you are making happy and the people you are hurting. On one hand, you would be promoting happiness for you and your and entire family, and on the other hand, you would be hurting the storeowner by stealing some of his revenue. Utilitarian ideas tell you that you should steal the food because your actions are promoting happiness and the absence of pain for the least amount of people. There are other examples I found when doing some research like doctors going against morals to save more sick people by letting one healthy person die
The main principle of utilitarianism is the greatest happiness principle. It states 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 privation of pleasure" (Mill, 1863, Ch. 2, p330). In other words, it results with the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people that are involved.
drivers travelling at high speeds on roads (Hartman). To conserve fuel and save lives, the
These days, cars are necessary for everyday living. They take us where we need to go. They are the method of transportation for everyday traveling. Road rage is an increasing problem in America. Incidents of violent driving have been rising for many years now. Many people identify themselves by the car they drive, because of this; road rage is only increased. Potential problems should try to be avoided.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as "the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property"—a traffic and not a criminal offense like road rage. Examples include speeding or driving too fast for conditions, improper lane changing, tailgating and improper passing. Approximately 6,800,000 crashes occur in the United States each year; a substantial number are estimated to be caused by aggressive driving. 1997 statistics compiled by NHTSA and the American Automobile Association show that almost 13,000 people have been injured or killed since 1990 in crashes caused by aggressive driving. According to a NHTSA survey, more than 60 percent of drivers consider unsafe driving by others, including speeding, a major personal threat to themselves and their families. About 30 percent of respondents said they felt their safety was threatened in the last month, while 67 percent felt this threat during the last year. Weaving, tailgating, distracted drivers, and unsafe lane changes were some of the unsafe behaviors identified. Aggressive drivers are more likely to drink and drive or drive unbelted. Aggressive driving can easily escalate into an incident of road rage. Motorists in all 50 states have killed or injured other motorists for seemingly trivial reasons. Motorists should keep their cool in traffic, be patient and courteous to other drivers, and correct unsafe driving habits that are likely to endanger, antagonize or provoke other motorists. More than half of those surveyed by NHTSA admitted to driving aggressively on occasion. Only 14 percent felt it was "extremely dangerous" to drive 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. 62 percent of those who frequently drive in an unsafe and illegal manner said police for traffic reasons had not stopped them in the past year. The majority of those in the NHTSA survey (52 percent) said it was "very important" to do something about speeding. Ninety-eight percent of respondents thought it "important" that something be done to reduce speeding and unsafe driving. Those surveyed ranked the following countermeasures, in order, as most likely to reduce aggressive and unsafe driving behaviors: (1) more police assigned to traffic control, (2) more frequent ticketing of traffic violations, (3) higher fines, and (4) i...
Utilitarianism is the view of considering everyone’s benefit as equally important versus only considering my own. For any action, the morally correct thing to do is cause the greatest amount of happiness or pleasure or benefit for the greatest number possible; while at the same time causing the least amount of pain or unhappiness for the smallest number possible.
Utilitarianism is known to be the principle of greatest happiness for greatest number of people. Utility is defined as the absence of pain and the pleasure itself which is the reason why it is also called the Greatest Happiness Principle. According to utility an action is considered to be of moral worth if they promote happiness; and it is regarded as wrong if the action increases the pain. Unhappiness means lack of pleasure and pain; and happiness is intended pleasure and absence of pain. According to utilitarianism the only ends which are desirable are pleasure and freedom from pain and are considered to be inherently good.
...s to make traffic more efficient. For example, the Ohio Revised Code in section 4511.21 states clearly that "No person shall operate a motor vehicle, trackless trolley, or a street car at a speed greater than reasonable or proper due regard to the traffic." Road speed limits are used to regulate the speed of vehicles. Sometimes people try to get somewhere and they go over the speed limit not realizing that they are putting themselves in danger. Now every time I get in a car with a friend or a family member, I make sure that they are going by the speed limit, not texting and paying attention on the road. It is very important that we follow this rules because they are only protecting us, and keeping us safe. If we want to reduce the millions of deaths that are caused by this imprudence every year we need to start being more responsible when we get behind the wheel.
Utilitarianism is defined to be “the view that right actions are those that result in the most beneficial balance of good over bad consequences for everyone involved” (Vaughn 64). In other words, for a utilitarian,