Week Two case study final

docx

School

University Of Arizona *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

200

Subject

Philosophy

Date

Jan 9, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by Trooperjoni

Week Two case study. Stealing to feed someone’s family. Jonathan O. Wright. University of Arizona Global Campus. Ethics and Moral Reasoning. Professor: Paul Boaheng. September 12, 2023.

Part 1: Introduction I chose case study #4 for this assignment: "Stealing to Feed One's Family." This topic comes from the book Les Misérables by author Victor Hugo, which tells a story about a poor man, Jean Valjean, imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family. This example of stealing bread is an example of doing what is necessary to provide for one's everyday sustainment. This example demonstrates how moral theories differ from conclusions about what is right to do, why, and why not. I will proceed in this assignment by discussing the central moral controversy of an ethical question. Part 2: Ethical Question I want to ask, "Is stealing to feed one’s family moral?” The central moral irony in this question is that stealing is against the law. Stealing is taking something that is not yours or taking something without permission. However, stealing would be morally correct to prevent a loved one from dying of hunger. This issue or moral issue impacts the merchant who sells the food and the individuals consuming the stolen goods. It will negatively affect the merchant, leading to a loss in their products and sustenance. However, this also affects the family's hunger issue, as it helps prevent malnutrition, which can be unhealthy. As people in society, this answer would be reasonable as it relates to the utilitarian way of promoting the most overall happiness. One merchant may be upset from the loss of food and products, but the family lacking food is grateful and happy to eat.

Part 3: Position Statement “Is it moral to steal to feed one’s family?” would be “It is not moral to feed one’s family?” I am biased because, ethically and morally, stealing is wrong. Yes, we may uplift the individual stealing to feed their family, but we cannot overlook that theft is still against the law in our society. Stealing to feed your family would be unjust and unethical. Part 4: Opposition Statement My opposition statement is, "It is moral to steal to feed one's family." A reason to support this statement is that stealing food would be for the more significant cause of providing and feeding one's family. It will take grit, moral wounds, and courage to steal to save their loved ones from starving to death. This shows that someone will do everything necessary to provide for their loved ones. Morally, doing all that is necessary to feed the ones you love is correct. Part 5: Application of Utilitarianism The principle of “the greatest good for the greatest number” comes from a view of value called utilitarianism and the founder of modern utilitarianism, Jeremy Bentham. Adding all the pleasure produced by action and subtracting the pain will result from the available activities or choices (Thames, B. 2018). This principle would support the opposing position as the person’s decision to steal food for their starving family will result in overall happiness for the family and pain for one merchant from whom it was stolen.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

References: How Should One Live? An Introduction to Ethics and Moral Reasoning. Thames, B. (2018). Available at: ( https://content.uagc.edu/books/Thames.5057.18.2/sections/ch03sec3.1 ) Let Them Eat Bread: The Theft That Helped Inspire 'Les Miserables.'Martyris, N. (2017) NPR. Available at ( https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/03/20/520459332/let-them-eat- bread-the-theft-that-helped-inspire-les-miserables )

Week Two case study final

Related Documents