Ethics and the Human Condition

Ethical relativism is the subjective theory that states that moral beliefs are relative to the norms of a person; therefore, judging whether an act is right or wrong totally relies on the moral beliefs of the society that practices it. This implies that the same behavior can be deemed as morally acceptable in one society but be morally unacceptable in another society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethics and the Human Condition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This theory does not accept the existence of universal moral truths and it has two basic forms: personal or individual ethical relativism and social or cultural relativism. Egoism is the objective theory that takes moral relativism to its logical conclusion and instead of focusing on culture as a determinant of moral truth, it centers on the individual (Infantino and Wilke, 10). Egoism falls into two main categories. For a psychological egoist, he or she can only be motivated by acting to fulfill his or her self-interest. The psychological egoist can never act for any other reason. An ethical egoist holds the normative claim that he or she should act in ways that give him or her individually the highest achievable good. Utilitarianism and deontological ethics theories have been developed in an attempt to make justifications for moral rules and principles. Utilitarianism (or called consequentialism) holds that the moral worth of an act is achievable only through its utility in the ability to make sentient beings feel happy; therefore, the moral worth of an act is gauged through its outcome. Utilitarians perceive that no moral act is intrinsically right or wrong, but the rightness or wrongness of a deed is exclusively through the non-moral good generated in the result of performing that particular action. As a complement to the weaknesses of utilitarianism, deontological ethics evaluate the morality of an action centered on its adhere nce to a certain rule(s). For a deontologist, a behavior may be ethically right even if it does not lead to a net balance of good over evil since a behavior’s fulfilling duty is perceived to be morally correct in spite of its consequences. Deontological ethics has the following characteristics: first, duty ought to be accomplished for duty’s sake; secondly, people ought to be treated as objects of intrinsic moral value; third, any moral principle is categorically imperative. The theories of utilitarianism and deontology are both moral theories since they relate to moral beliefs of duty, concern and respect and, eventually, questions of what is right or wrong.Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, the theory of virtue ethics is orthogonal to all of these: first, it is mainly concerned with the character of the moral agent instead of conduct; secondly, virtue ethics can be advanced, not as a moral theory, but as an account of other ethically deep aspects of human life. Virtue theorists pay less attention on rules and instead assist individuals in coming up with good character traits, for example, kindness and generosity, which improves the ability of a person to make correct life decisions. Feminist ethics â€Å"is a body of philosophical speculation that, from diverse perspectives, purports to validate women’s different ethical differences and to identify the weaknesses and strengths of the values and virtues culture traditionally has labeled â€Å"feminine† (â€Å"Feminist ethics,† concluding section). It faults traditional ethics for showing less concern for women as opposed to the issues of men, implying that, generally, women are less morally mature than men are, and favoring male ideologies. Works Cited â€Å"Feminist ethics.† MPA 8300. Villanova University. N.d. Web.  http://www83.homepage.villanova.edu/richard.j acobs/MPA%208300/theories/feminist.html Infantino, Robert L., and Rebecca Wilke L. Tough choices for teachers : ethical challenges in today’s schools and classroom. Lanham : Rowman Littlefield Education, 2009. This essay on Ethics and the Human Condition was written and submitted by user Olivia P. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Richard M Nixon

Nixon, Richard Milhous (1913-1994), was the only president of the United States ever to resign from office. He left the presidency on Aug. 9, 1974, while facing almost certain impeachment for his involvement in the Watergate scandal. This scandal included a break-in at the Democratic national headquarters and other illegal activities by employees of Nixon's 1972 reelection committee. Nixon's attempts to cover up these crimes became a major part of the scandal. See Watergate. Nixon was succeeded as president by Vice President Gerald R. Ford. One month after Nixon resigned, Ford pardoned him for all federal crimes he may have committed during his presidency. Although Nixon left office in disgrace, he won respect for his conduct of foreign policy. As president, he ended U.S. military participation in the Vietnam War in 1973 and eased the tension that had existed for years between the United States and both China and the Soviet Union. Nixon became the first president to visit China while in office. He also visited the Soviet Union. Nixon won congressional approval of U.S.-Soviet trade agreements and agreements to limit the production of nuclear weapons. At home, Nixon was challenged by sharply rising prices. He placed government controls on wages and prices to halt inflation, but the controls had little effect. Nixon ended the military draft and created an all-volunteer system for the U.S. armed services. When Nixon was elected president in 1968, he climaxed one of the most extraordinary political comebacks in U.S. history. In 1960, while serving as vice president under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nixon ran for the presidency and lost to John F. Kennedy. In 1962, Nixon was defeated when he ran for governor of California, his home state. After this loss, Nixon held what he called his "last press conference." Reporters wrote his political obituary. But in 1968, Nixon showed that he was politically very much alive. He w... Free Essays on Richard M Nixon Free Essays on Richard M Nixon Nixon, Richard Milhous (1913-1994), was the only president of the United States ever to resign from office. He left the presidency on Aug. 9, 1974, while facing almost certain impeachment for his involvement in the Watergate scandal. This scandal included a break-in at the Democratic national headquarters and other illegal activities by employees of Nixon's 1972 reelection committee. Nixon's attempts to cover up these crimes became a major part of the scandal. See Watergate. Nixon was succeeded as president by Vice President Gerald R. Ford. One month after Nixon resigned, Ford pardoned him for all federal crimes he may have committed during his presidency. Although Nixon left office in disgrace, he won respect for his conduct of foreign policy. As president, he ended U.S. military participation in the Vietnam War in 1973 and eased the tension that had existed for years between the United States and both China and the Soviet Union. Nixon became the first president to visit China while in office. He also visited the Soviet Union. Nixon won congressional approval of U.S.-Soviet trade agreements and agreements to limit the production of nuclear weapons. At home, Nixon was challenged by sharply rising prices. He placed government controls on wages and prices to halt inflation, but the controls had little effect. Nixon ended the military draft and created an all-volunteer system for the U.S. armed services. When Nixon was elected president in 1968, he climaxed one of the most extraordinary political comebacks in U.S. history. In 1960, while serving as vice president under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nixon ran for the presidency and lost to John F. Kennedy. In 1962, Nixon was defeated when he ran for governor of California, his home state. After this loss, Nixon held what he called his "last press conference." Reporters wrote his political obituary. But in 1968, Nixon showed that he was politically very much alive. He w...

Week 3 discussion question 1 and 2 Personal Statement

Week 3 discussion question 1 and 2 - Personal Statement Example In the case of the oil embargo, it was being done just because politicians were playing economic war games using the people as their pawns. 2. Nixon lied about his knowledge of the watergate break-in and then tried to cover it up. If he had been open and honest with the american people from the beginning of watergate, do you think that we would have a better view of Nixon today? As part of his legacy, do you currently think that we can no longer trust our president and other politians? What makes you think so? The problem with President Nixon and Watergate is that he knowingly and willfully broke the law of the land in order to fulfill his selfish needs. It would not have mattered if he had come clean from the very beginning and confessed his activities to the people, he would have still violated the public trust. It is because of presidents like him that we have come to develop a distrust for the office of the president when it comes to certain issues. The Nixon presidency showed us that the presidents office is the highest office in the land, and also the most graft and corruption prone. Therefore, it would take a different kind of president and transparency in the White House to bring back the blind faith that people once had in the Oval