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Ethical dilemmas
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Teachers are faced with making ethical decisions everyday. In this scenario the teacher is solely responsible for making the ethical decision of whether to go against schools policy and continue sponsorship with McJacks which in turn discriminates against Molly. This essay will consider the possibilities for the teacher from four ethical frameworks and will discuss final recommendations based on this analysis.
Consequentialists would argue that an act is right or wrong based on the goodness or badness inherent in the consequences of that act (Hugh, 2000). Three possible consequentialist theories can be considered. Egoist theorists, such as Stirner, would argue that acts should be driven by self interest and should have the least negative outcomes for decision makers (Leopold, 2006; Regis, 1980). An altruistic theorist, such as Comte, believes that while the decision maker may benefit from decisions, they are morally obliged to serve the interests of humanity, even at their own expense (Abruzzi & McGandy, 2006). In contrast, Utilitarianism is when the actions of a person provide the most practical, workable outcome for the greatest number of people, including the decision maker (Mill, n.d).
A possibility from the consequentialist framework would reflect utilitarianism theory. This ought to involve; declining the sponsorship, adhering to school policy, continue educating students on healthy choices and suggest McJacks use alternative means to advertise their product. Although accepting the sponsorship benefits the school, they would be sending the wrong message to the students and community, leading to negative consequences in the future. By taking this approach the teacher upholds her valued position in the school, the student...
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...marketer's dream venue. The National Times. Retrieved, 15th July, 2010, from http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/schools-are-a-marketers-dream-venue-20091021-h8xj.html
Hugh, L. (2000).The Blackwell Guide to Ethical Theory. Blackwell Philosophy Guides. Oxford, OX, UK ; Malden, Mass., USA Blackwell Publishers.
Hursthouse, R. (1999). Virtue Ethics. Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 8th July, 2010, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue/
Leopold, D. (2006). Max Stirner. Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 11th July, 2010, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/max-stirner/
Mill, J. (n.d). Utilitarianism. Retrieved 7th July, 2010, from http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/m/mill/john_stuart/m645u/chapter2.html
Regis, E. (1980). What is Ethical Egoism. The University of Chicago Press. Vol. 91, No. 1, pp 50-62.
Cahn, Steven M. and Peter Markie, Ethics: History, Theory and Contemporary Issues. 4th Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.
Virtue ethics is an approach that “deemphasizes rules, consequences and particular acts and places the focus on the kind of person who is acting” (Garrett, 2005). A person’s character is the totality of his character traits. Our character traits can be goo...
Louden, Robert B. "On Some Vices of Virtue Ethics." American Philosophical Quarterly 21, no. 3 (1984): 227-36.
Hursthouse, R. (2003, July 18). Virtue Ethics. Stanford University. Retrieved March 6, 2014, from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2013/entries/ethics-virtue
Sidgwick, Henry ¬¬(1996), ‘Self-Regarding Virtues’ in The Methods of Ethics, London: Hackett Publishing Company, pp. 157-160
The utilitarian faces many problems because he loses any ability to live a personal life. By this is meant that in making decisions the utilitarian must consider the steps which lead to the highest level of goodness in society. The utilitarian reaches for the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Two main aspects dominate the light of utilitarian beliefs. The consequentialist principle explains that in determining the rightness or wrongness of an act one must examine the results that will follow. The utility principle is that you can only deem something to be good if it in itself will bring upon a specific desired state, such as happiness or fulfillment. There are two types of utilitarians: Act utilitarians and Rule utilitarians. An act utilitarian believes that a person must think things through before making a decision. The only exception to this idea applies with rules of thumb; decisions that need to be made spontaneously. The right act is the one that results in the most utility. Rule utilitarians believe that an act is only deemed appropriate if it fits in line with the outline of valid rules within a system of rules that target the most favorable outcome.
• Once more, the ordinary science’ proves itself as the master of classification, inventing and defining the various categories of Egoism. Per example, psychological egoism, which defines doctrine that an individual is always motivated by self-interest, then rational egoism which unquestionably advocates acting in self-interest. Ethical egoism as diametrically opposite of ethical altruism which obliges a moral agent to assist the other first, even if sacrifices own interest. Also, ethical egoism differs from both rational and psychological egoism in ‘defending’ doctrine which considers all actions with contributive beneficial effects for an acting individual
Egoism is a teleological theory of ethics that sets the ultimate criterion of morality in some nonmoral value (i.e. happiness or welfare) that results from acts (Pojman 276). It is contrasted with altruism, which is the view that one's actions ought to further the interests or good of other people, ideally to the exclusion of one's own interests (Pojman 272). This essay will explain the relation between psychological egoism and ethical egoism. It will examine how someone who believes in psychological egoism explains the apparent instances of altruism. And it will discuss some arguments in favor of universal ethical egoism, and exam Pojman's critque of arguments for and against universal ethical egoism.
This essay will provide a theoretical understanding of the four ethical frameworks: Consequentialism, Non- Consequentialism, Virtue Ethics and Care Ethics. When applied to a situation these frameworks help teachers to resolve and justify their decision making. The objective is to apply the four frameworks to the scenario Helping Molly, to establish the most ethical course of action. Finally, a recommended course of action will be justification. The overarching ethical issue present within the Helping Molly scenario is the community sponsorship and the alignment with school beliefs and initiatives.
Hursthouse, Rosalind. "Virtue Ethics", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = .
Weston, Anthony. A Practical Companion to Ethics. 4th ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2011. Print.
Let us discuss consequentialism first. Consequentialism focuses on consequences as the most important factor in the decision making process (Donaldson 3). For consequentialists the motives of an act are not as important as what comes out of it. Utilitarianism is one of the branches of consequentialism. Utilitarianism believes in the greatest good for the number (Donaldson 3). This method along with egoist consequentialism was probably the one that w...
Mayhew, Robert. The Journal of Ethics , Vol. 1, No. 4 (1997) , pp. 325-340
Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2011). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning.
sure that one's child does not hurt him or her self or others, and that