PHI2600 HW5 Chpts 11 & 7 Rights Ethics & Ethical Egoism
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Feb 20, 2024
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Name: Nicole Jimenez
HW – Rights Ethics Chapter
ETHICS HW on Rights Ethics
Choose one of the following questions (A or B) and respond to it briefly.
1.
Ask someone a philosophical question.
a.
What did you ask?
I asked the following question to a person close to me, does our life have meaning or impact on the universe? b.
How did they respond?
"No, our lives compared to the magnitude of the universe are not significant, but they are significant to the extent that we generate an impact in our closest community so that our legacy is maintained in society. Even so, at a universal level, we can provide very little for the greatness that the universe has to offer."
c.
What happened next?
For me, the person's position was very interesting and wise, this led us to question many aspects of our lives that actually have no relevance to the value of the world; despite this, we still believe that our purpose as humans and society is to follow the unknown purpose of life and at least give some meaning to it.
2.
Look at something in a new way (maybe through the lens of a philosopher or a topic in our class).
a.
What did you look at? b.
What was new about the way you looked at it?
3.
(Recap) Respond to at least one of the following questions:
a.
What is a specific question
(related to our class) that stands out to you at the moment (from class, the reading, etc.)? Why does it stand out?
I think this question has accompanied me in multiple areas throughout the semester, which is “Who decides who gets limited resources?” This question formed a cornerstone of my research for the writing assignment, especially as I explored it within the context of the medical and healthcare field. Moreover, in our classroom discussions, this inquiry emerged as one of the most intricate to address, sparking conversations and adapting into various philosophical theories.
b.
What statement
, made by another student, stands out to you at the moment? Why does it stand out?
I think that each of the statements, even so, draws my attention that in each of the topics that we cover, the question arises of questioning who was the one who established some norm that is particularly innate for us and general in our society.
c.
What is one concept
on which you gained clarity in our most recent class? What is one concept that is still unclear for you, and how can you go about
clarifying it?
I consider that as we explore more ethical, moral, and philosophical theories, it is easier for me to understand in what position they are in the stages of moral development not only because of their definition but because of their social benefit. This has allowed me to investigate more about where my knowledge and moral development are and what characteristics of each of the theories, I should adopt to be a better person.
For me, the topic of ethical rights is still not clear, but I know that with the development of this activity, the support of the lecturers, and the detailed explanations of the book I will be able to develop myself on this topic.
Life, Liberty, Property, Justice (as fairness & deserving)
Use the concepts above as much as possible in your responses. Think: What is the BEST way to promote these concepts?
4.
What, do you think, is the purpose
of government
? (Use some of the concepts above in your response.)
In my view, the government's role is to set societal norms that offer people a sense of security. In addition, the government is responsible for various areas involving human life, such as safeguarding human rights (liberty), enhancing general welfare over the country, delivering good education and healthcare for every human being, ensuring protection from external threats, and maintaining a stable economy, among other duties.
5.
If somebody says “Hey, I have rights
,” what do you think they mean by rights
? Provide at least two examples
. (Use those concepts again.)
They mean that people are born with certain rights that everyone should respect to promote social equality. For instance, women have had the right to vote for just over a century, and even though it's still debated at times, we still have that right. Another example is when someone's health insurance denies them a life-
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saving procedure. In such cases, we all have to stand up for the right to life, and everyone, including institutions, should respect it.
Moral Rights
Legal Rights
Moral rights are innate to each person and are developed throughout our lives in practice with society. These rights generally, and in most situations do not have legal repercussions, however, if they affect the integrity of a person or entity, they can cause greater harm. Moral rights, for example, are to take care of our family members and maintain a good relationship with them, even though there is no law that requires us to do so, many people have that moral duty to do so. I believe that Moral Rights would be found at the post-
conventional level of the stages of moral development since to know how to act morally well considering our opinion from a higher character, wisdom is necessary, so a person knows how to respect Moral Rights through that wisdom.
Legal Rights are those rights and duties constitutionally established by the government throughout the history of humanity to achieve a good and just society where anyone who tries to affect it receives their punishment. Failure to comply with Legal Rights always leads to legal implications, which means they involve public institutions to question and solve all social problems. For example, every citizen or non-citizen child located in any state of the US is protected and shielded by the protection of the right to education, which means that they must receive any kind of education, consequently, if this is denied there will be legal implications on the person who committed the crime.
I believe that Legal Rights are at the conventional level of the stages of moral development since they are culturally and socially equal and are intervened by the laws.
6.
After reading through the section on “Moral Versus Legal Rights,” briefly explain the difference between moral rights
and legal rights
in your own words. Provide an example (one from the text, or one of your own) that illustrates the difference between them. AND – Where would each type go on Kohlberg’s stages of moral development model?
7.
In your own words, or in words directly from our class book, finish this statement: “According to natural rights ethics
, morality is determined by _inherent and universal rights and principles that stem from our human nature _
....
OR, the moral choice is the one that __respects and ensures life, liberty, property, and justice__.”
8.
Who is supposed to watch out for (stand up for) the rights of marginalized
groups? Of animals? Of the earth? Explain
. (Use those concepts again.)
As individuals, it falls upon us to take care of various groups, be it marginalized communities, animals, or the environment, as their well-being directly or indirectly impacts our own quality of life and the prospects for our future. Furthermore, these minority groups often face significant challenges and vulnerabilities, presenting us with opportunities to contribute to their advancement, thereby making the world a better place and enhancing overall quality of life for humanity as a whole.
9.
What do you think of John
Locke’s
notion of property in general
.
I do not agree with John Locke’s notion, since in many cases the property should not be modified by humans to obtain value since the land and nature itself provide too much environmental diversity which has much greater value. Furthermore, the right to life clearly has no greater value than that of property, since without life (human or not) the concept of property would not exist.
a.
AND – What do you think of
his concept of “
spoilage
” or “
waste land
”? Boss writes, “Locke was particularly contemptuous of the ‘several nations of the [Native] Americans’ who did nothing to ‘improve’ the land.” Do you agree with his notion of property? Do you think that land needs to be “improved” by humans to attain worth? Can undeveloped land have value in your opinion? Explain.
Land doesn't need to be improved to have its charm; many communities prefer the preservation of natural resources that are not found anywhere else in the world than turning it into a business which further pollutes the environment.
10.
How was Karl Marx’s
view of property
and ownership different from Locke’s? Is his view different from the way you
think of property and ownership? Explain using examples
or an analogy
. Karl Marx's vision was totally different from that of John Locke, since for Marx private property should not even exist because everything should be equal for everyone; Additionally, Marx marked the difference between personal articles and entities, but in itself all human beings should receive the same in order to apply equality. For example, for Marx, all people could and should have the same housing space, under equal conditions, and without social strata, this also applied to belongings, education, and work life.
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11.
Boss writes, “Respecting human rights on an international level involves respecting cultural diversity and national self-determination. On the other hand, respect
for the equal rights of all people also involves a duty to protest cultural practices that trample upon the most basic human rights of certain groups of people, thereby depriving them of dignity.” (p. 362 in 6
th
ed.) Do you agree with Boss? Explain using terms/concepts from the reading and/or from previous chapters.
I agree with Boss's thinking, respecting human rights means respecting human beings, their opinions, culture, perceptions, opinions, and descendance, among others. Likewise, we can give our opinion on whether we agree or not with certain practices that other communities/people carry out, but always keeping in mind respect for those rights.
12.
Boss suggests, that according to Buddhism
, “All living beings, not just humans, have a correlative right not to be harmed. The right to be treated with respect and not to be harmed extends not just to humans but to all of nature.” Do you agree? Explain using terms/concepts from the reading.
I find myself in total agreement with this phrase since we are all living beings, but the best way to be human is through respect for others in relation to appreciation, help, support, and charisma, among others. Likewise, it makes no sense for us to harm you since if we analyze our differences, they will always have something in common and a solution.
4)
(Synthesis) Think, and then write about liberty
& property
and how these two concepts are of central importance to understanding Hobbes, Locke, Rand, or Marx. OR
- Select at least one question from the “Exercises” in these chapters and provide a thorough response. (Choose a question that you find both interesting and challenging.)
Young adults are the group least likely to vote. In the 2008 presidential election, only 53% of people between 18 and 29 voted, compared to 64 percent of the general population. In our democracy voting is seen as a right, not a duty, whereas in many democracies voting is a duty and is mandatory. Should voting be mandatory in the United States? Do we as citizens have a duty to vote in presidential elections? Support your answers.
I believe that if it should be a duty to vote, today's world is invaded by apathy towards opinion, no one ever expresses their point of view, or investigates situations, or is simply interested in finding out what has happened in society, which has caused our influence as a people in the government to decrease exponentially and open the way to corruption. For me, at this moment it is very difficult to give an opinion on the political system in the US, but in Colombia, I know that people, despite the serious levels of corruption, make themselves be heard in one way or another, but also to evade protests the best option is to vote. Yes, I must accept that it is not an easy task to decide about the future, but it is better to leave it in our hands than in those of others.
Name: Nicole Jimenez
HW – Egoism Chapter
ETHICS HW on Egoism
1)
What is something that you know
you should not do, YET
you do it anyway?
I consider that because I am very perfectionist in all areas of my life, I clash a lot with my emotions to the point that I cannot control them. You should be able to
enjoy more of life and the opportunities that are offered to me, but for the reason of seeking perfection, I stress myself too much to the point of colliding with life and in some cases with other people.
2)
In your own words, or in words directly from our class book, finish this statement: “According to ethical egoism
, the moral choice is the one that __we can rationally calculate would benefit us more/ most favorable balance of good over evil for oneself__”
3)
Now, think about your answer to the first question. According to a ethical egoism, should
you do something that you know
you should not do? Explain.
Taking into account that from ethical egoism, our actions must favor us, being too perfectionist would benefit me since this quality allows me to develop things in a precise and "perfect" way to stand out in society as the best.
4)
Think of a time when you did something for somebody else, that is, when you did something altruistic
. Use that as an example, and consider this: Were you actually acting in your own
self-interest even in the act of doing something for somebody else?
During a recent visit to the grocery store, I came across an individual who appeared to be experiencing homelessness, attempting to find a moment's rest in one of the store's chairs. Given the lateness of the hour and the assumption that this person might lack both shelter and food, I immediately decided to take action. I purchased a cup of soup, a bottle of water, and a piece of bread. I must confess that there have been instances where I refrained from similar acts, not due to a lack of willingness to help, but rather because of concerns related to personal safety. Such situations, especially when one is alone, can be unpredictable, and it's challenging to anticipate how individuals might respond. It was at this moment that I considered involving one of the store's employees to deliver the food. My motivation for this act stemmed from genuine empathy and a sense of responsibility since I wanted to give him a brief moment of happiness. In my view, no one should feel hunger, and my actions were driven by a selfless desire to make a difference.
a.
Is it ever possible to truly act in the interest of others?
If possible, on many occasions humanity emerges from us without us looking for it and therefore allows us to offer the best of ourselves to others selflessly
and with the greatest of pleasure. I think that being human means that, offering all of ourselves without feeling any obligation to help others.
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b.
How would Ayn Rand
respond to this question? (See the excerpt from The Fountainhead.
)
“Doing something for someone is morally justified only when we can expect to get something of similar value in exchange” According to Rand's position, I think she would respond to the question by sharing that every human being should look out for themselves in terms of independence, without sacrificing for others or offering a false reality of individual character. Likewise, no one deserves what they haven't earned, and each person should work for their survival and well-being. Additionally, if there is no justice, in the sense that if a person offers something, he or she must also receive something in return, the action should not proceed.
5)
Come up with an example (from your life, film, or the media) of a person who acts in their own self-interest (or at least they think
they are doing so).
I know a person who is very kind and friendly with everyone when he/she meets them, this is so that later he/she can take advantage of them to help him/her with college work, or lend him/her money, or help him/her in some difficulty. The unfortunate thing (or fortunate for others since it is a false friendship) is that when he/she can't get more out of people, he/she stops treating them.
6)
Come up with an example of a person who acts in the interest of others (or the community).
The first person that comes to mind is my mom since she is always trying to serve and help others regardless of the situation in which they find themselves involved; In fact, my mother is a nurse and through her profession, she has acquired and learned the privilege and gift of helping, serving, and supporting others,
which brings her happiness and fulfillment and an immense respect from my part.
7)
Which of these two people do you think is happier? Why?
It is necessary to recognize that from a general perspective, both people are happy since they act the way they want; in any case, from my point of view, the person who is truly happy is my mom because, due to her humanity, her mind allows her to be a collaborative person who makes a difference in society as well as leaving a very good legacy for the people who know her. On the other hand, with the other person, I believe that constantly using people for personal benefit
is not only selfish but also questionable. Sooner or later, their true nature tends to reveal itself. Personally, I find it much more fulfilling not to owe anything to others and, instead, to help them genuinely from the heart.
8)
Do you agree with Adam Smith
and laissez-faire capitalism
? Explain. (Use the concepts of Life, Liberty, Property, & Justice here again.)
I have mixed feelings about this system. While its theoretical foundation seems solid, I am skeptical about how it plays out in the real world, especially when human error can lead to problems like inequality and exploitation. Nevertheless, I do see value in the principles this theory promotes, particularly in terms of encouraging competitiveness and personal growth; it provides a basis for developing job skills and self-improvement.
9)
Now read through some of the critiques
of laissez-faire capitalism. Describe one of the critiques & explain whether or not you agree with it. (Use the concepts of
Life, Liberty, Property, & Justice here again.)
“Rather than promoting the interest of the majority, capitalism benefits only a few at the expense of many”
I do not find myself in total agreement with this critique, but I don't disagree either. I think that it depends a lot on the way and the people who apply the capitalist system since if it is well applied it not only benefits large companies and their owners but also society with innovation and its employees with the desire to progress; however, I understand Marx's point, since in many situations capitalism is misused because from human nature comes the desire to take advantage of situations which do not provide benefits but rather instead social problems.
10)
Now, think of a sweatshop in which people (perhaps even children) work in poor conditions and receive very little compensation for their work.
a.
What would a laissez-faire capitalist say about this situation? Explain. (Use those concepts.)
A laissez-faire capitalist based on the mere theory of this methodology will always ensure the progress of the economy by providing decent and fair work to its workers; However, with the arrival of competition and the "desire to win" or to be the best company, weaknesses such as exploitation and injustice begin to be discovered. Therefore, a good laissez-faire capitalist would avoid this type of situation at all costs and would build strategies to improve their market, but a bad laissez-faire implementer would allow these injustices to arise because they claim that this is a good method of job.
b.
How would a Marxist respond? Explain. (Use those concepts.)
A Marxist would reject and withhold support for any idea displaying traces of injustice and inequity. Similarly, they would acknowledge the workers' struggle, advocating for their right to protest for improved working conditions. If such conditions are not met, protest remains the preferred course of action. This ideal aligns closely with socialist and communist principles, emphasizing equality for all.
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c.
Which would you
agree with more – the capitalist or the Marxist? Explain & provide strong justification using support from the reading. (Use those concepts.)
After evaluating the two postulates and finding pros and cons in each one, I would merge the positive aspects of each one so that they represent well-
being and growth in society:
• Respect for each of the people who make up society starts from childhood, hence the importance that children do not work and dedicate themselves solely and exclusively to learning in addition to enjoying their development until they reach adulthood in which Work is an important part of their life but not the most important.
• A better quality of life that generates both work and personal satisfaction in people.
• It is clear that both currents promote equality and respect for human rights, which are the pillars for the development of a good work environment.
• Workers do not feel that they must work to live and it becomes an activity in which there is creativity and respect for each of the ideas that are proposed, leading to the growth of companies, and promoting the creation of more businesses with entrepreneurship. and support from society.
• Although social classes exist, they can become allies for each of the individuals that comprise it, providing economic stability since the wealthiest will protect the most unprotected.
11)
Select an image, cartoon, or quote from the Rights Ethics or Egoism chapter. Write a statement or question that captures your understanding of the significance
of this image/cartoon/quote as it relates to the reading overall. Use an example
or create an analogy
to elaborate upon your initial statement/question.
To me, this image represents the fundamental purpose of humanity and society: an enduring dedication to the welfare of all, and a willingness to give without anticipating anything in return. With this image I am completely sure that I do not support the ethical theory of Egoism. As humans, we depend on
the community for survival, and it is crucial that we never elevate our own interests above the well-being of others for personal gain. For example, what would our life be like if we had appeared out of nowhere and were alone. Does selfishness have a purpose if there is no one to compare or fight for things?
Rather, thanks to society, which is not perfect but adapts to our needs, we have been able to discover our true purpose which is to support each other in happiness or adversity.
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