Ethics in the News (1)
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1100
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Philosophy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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Uploaded by JusticeMask25655
Smith 1
Dr. Boyce
Philosophy 1100
12 December 2020
Ethics in the News
1.
The news item I am choosing to discuss is about is called “CNN questions pastor
who falsely says Covid-19 is a ‘fake’ pandemic.” In the clip, the pastor in Wilson County,
Tennessee is refusing to take the recently released Covid-19 vaccination. He is
encouraging his church to also refuse the vaccine due to his belief that the Covid-19
pandemic is false.
a.
CNN. (2020, December 10). CNN questions pastor who falsely says Covid-19 is a 'fake
pandemic'. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWfBAqCJ3nM
2.
In the news clip, a pastor does not wish to take the released vaccination. In
addition, he is attempting to prevent his church from taking the recently released Covid-
19 vaccine. The pastor and his followers are representing the outspoken minority of
individuals who believe that Covid-19 is not a pandemic and the disease is overestimated.
They refuse to wear masks in public facilities and refuse to take the vaccine due to their
beliefs. The pastor specifically states how the government cannot force him or his
children to stick a needle into his or their arms. Contrary to this belief, the reporter is seen
to be in utter disbelief that the pastor does not believe this pandemic is real. She
represents many individuals who believe that this pandemic should not be
underestimated, and the vaccine is necessary to prevent the spread of the virus. Through
Smith 2
these contradicting viewpoints, the problem regarding the right to autonomy is brought to
light as to whether they should take this vaccine or not.
3.
Regarding this issue, there are two different ethical theories that have varying
beliefs on this matter. These ethical theories are the Utilitarian and Kantian beliefs
concerning the right to autonomy argument. Utilitarianism emphasizes that morality of an
action or decision as determined by its consequences. An action is considered moral and
good if it results in providing greater happiness for others, regardless of its intention. As a
result, I believe that this ethical theory’s verdict would be that the pastor and his
followers should take the vaccine. According to Utilitarianism, taking this vaccine is
ethical because about sixty percent of people have decided that they will take the vaccine.
As a result, due to more people wanting to take the vaccination than those who refuse,
they should take it. Moreover, utilitarianists believe that what is right is whatever
produces, what is believed to be, the best outcome for the most people and what is wrong
is anything that fails to do that. Therefore, despite the pastor and his followers refusing to
take the vaccine, utilitarianism says that they should chose the action that would produce
the most overall happiness for the group, even though it would produce them to be less
happiness. As a result, since taking the vaccine would produce the most happiness, they
should take it.
On the other hand, Kantianism emphasizes that morality of an action or decision
is not determined by its consequences but by the motivation of the doer. Furthermore, an
action should be motivated by goodwill and duty and the morality of an action is not
measured by its consequences. He also believes that people do not exist to be used by
others and that humans are rational and autonomous. They can set their own goals and
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work toward them. Kant believes that a person should act so that you treat humanity,
whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a mere
means. However, through the pastor spreading false information and using his church to
gain awareness, he is violating Kantianism. As a result, I believe that this ethical theory’s
verdict would be that the pastor and his followers not taking this vaccine is a violation.
The pastor is spreading false information and using his church for his own personal gain.
His motivation for the good of himself and his followers are corrupt and selfish. He
obviously does not acknowledge his own fellow churchgoers' goals and ambitions about
the corona virus. Pastors have a lot of influence on their audience and this pastor appears
to utilize that for his own benefit. As a result, not taking this vaccine would be a violation
because of the pastor’s views go against the moral principles of Kantianism.
4.
I believe that my views tend to align with Kantianism. Personally, I think that the
Kantianism is more reliable than an ethical theory that relies solely based on an
individual’s happiness. In Kantianism, all people are perceived as having equal moral
worth with their own goals. I respectfully agree with this mindset and believe that no
individual is above another and that his or her goals are more important because of things
such as social status. In addition, Kantians also believe that people should never be used
in order to benefit society, and they should be seen and treated as rational people. I also
agree with this statement. Every person should be treated as a human being rather than a
mere object that can be utilized in order to benefit another individual. As a result, I agree
with the verdict of the Kantian standpoint because I believe that the pastor spreading false
information and utilizing his followers in order to spread awareness for his own personal
benefit to be morally wrong.
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