ZLewis_APA Moral Compass
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Apr 3, 2024
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My Moral Compass
Zanquisha Lewis
American Public University PHIL 200
Professor Nancy Wack
September 24, 2023
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My Moral Compass
Theories:
The two theories I will be discussing is the utilitarian theory and the common good theory. According to the Markkula website, the utilitarian theory is based on how one’s action will impact those affected, which emphasizes the consequences of our actions. This theory holds on to the concept of taking the action that will produce the greatest good and cause the least harm to those involved. The Markkula website discusses the common good lens as the approach holds that life in a community is a good and people’s actions should contribute to that life. The common good approach calls for attention to common conditions that are important to the wellbeing of everyone.
Explanation:
One of the biggest issues today is the police system and how people are being treated. Many officers abused their power because they have a badge. People are being treated unfairly and unethical and several have loss their life at the hands of police. According to the utilitarian approach, people should think about their unethical behavior and abuse of power as it causes people to not trust the police. As people who are supposed to be serving and protecting the people, police need to think about how their actions will not only affect the good police, but it will also affect people as they will lose faith and trust in officers. According to the common good approach, the approach holds that life in a community is a good and our actions should contribute to that. As
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police officers, people want to know that overuse of power will not happen but rather only use that force when it is extremely necessary. Compass Applied:
Recognizing an ethical issue:
Police overusing their power is an ethical issue because many innocent lives are being loss at the hands of police. Many feel that since they have a badge, they are above the law and do not have to abide by the standards and training they received. This is an ethical issue because people are supposed to feel safe in the hands of the police, not afraid that if contact is made, he or she may not live. Many of those officers that overuse their power and not being punished how they should according to the law. This issue only hurts the people and the police department as a whole because many people are afraid that all police are the same way. Considering the parties involved:
The parties involved is the police department, the people over the police department, the citizens, government, and the chief or captain of the department. Relevant information:
On May 25, 2020, a man by the name of George Floyd was killed by police (Hill, Tiefenthaler, Triebert, Jordan, Willis, & Stein, 2020). The world watched for several minutes as officers pinned him down to the ground, with one officer placing his knee on
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his neck. As George cried out that he could not breathe and for his mother, citizens watched as this was happening advising the officers involved that the man could not breathe. The officers disregarded this man’s safety and health, or even that he was a human being as they did nothing to stop what was happening. Actions and Alternatives:
The approach I would take with this issue is the common good approach. The common good approach is needed because the police affect the community and the welfare of everyone in it. People want to feel save when they need to call the police, or they encounter a police officer. People should not have to fear for their life when dealing
with a police officer. Make a decision:
The common good approach is the best approach for this issue as the common condition of safety from police officers Such common conditions are important to the welfare of citizens in the world. Feeling safe with the police is not just a one person need, but it is needed for the entire world. Reflect on the outcome:
If police go back to adhering to the standards and training, they received, they will know how to properly handle certain situations without harming someone to the point that it causes death.
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References
Hill, E., Tiefenthäler, A., Triebert, C., Jordan, D., Willis, H., & Stein, R. (2022, January 24). How George Floyd was killed in police custody. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/george-floyd-investigation.html
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. (n.d.). “A Framework for Making Ethical Decisions.” Santa Clara University. https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/a-
framework-for-ethical-decision-making/