You may have seen the very popular Broadway show or movie Les Misérables, based on Victor Hugo’s epic nineteenthcentury French novel of the same name. The main character, Jean Valjean, steals a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving family and is arrested and sent to prison. If we apply conventional reasoning and principles of law to his crime, Valjean genuinely is guilty as charged and we do not need to consider any extenuating circumstances. However, in a Kantian ethical framework, we would take into account Valjean’s motives as well as his duty to treat his sister’s family as ends in themselves who deserve to live. Valjean’s fate demonstrates what might occur when there is a gap between the legal and the moral. Clearly, Valjean broke the law by stealing the bread. However, he acted morally by correcting a wrong and possibly saving human lives. According to Kantian ethics, Valjean may have been ethical in stealing bread for his family, particularly because the action was grounded in good will and provided benefit to others more than to himself. 2. A single mother from Negeri Sembilan had resorted to stealing from a supermarket to feed her hungry daughter. Sinar Harian reported on 10 Aug 2016, that Nor Farina Che Ya admitted to stealing from a supermarket in Seremban 2 on 5 Aug 2016. The stolen items included mutton, turmeric leaves, a bottle of shampoo, ointment, undergarments, a pair of pants, and a tudung ( headscarf) amounting to RM262.86. A distressed Nor Farina said she makes her living by selling discarded boxes and scrap items. She also has been receiving RM150/month government aid, and it is not sufficient for herself and her 10-yr old daughter with hypoglycemia. Her Baitulmal (Islamic welfare) application had not been successful. She tearfully informed the court that she stole mutton, lemongrass to make rendang because she couldn’t afford to buy it. She said she determined to commit the act despite knowing it was a crime and a sin because she was desperate and couldn’t bear for her child being hungry. The only thing she could pay was the glutinous rice cost RM5. As for the clothes, she just wanted to know how it felt to wear them – for herself and for her daughter. 1. It has been said that in Kantian ethics, duty comes before beauty and morality before happiness. Is it appropriate to break one moral code to satisfy another, perhaps greater one. What are your deciding factors in each case. 2. What would you do if you were Jean Valjean and Nor Farina?
You may have seen the very popular Broadway show or movie Les Misérables, based on Victor Hugo’s epic nineteenthcentury French novel of the same name. The main character, Jean Valjean, steals a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s
starving family and is arrested and sent to prison. If we apply conventional reasoning and principles of law to his crime,
Valjean genuinely is guilty as charged and we do not need to consider any extenuating circumstances. However, in a
Kantian ethical framework, we would take into account Valjean’s motives as well as his duty to treat his sister’s family as
ends in themselves who deserve to live. Valjean’s fate demonstrates what might occur when there is a gap between the
legal and the moral. Clearly, Valjean broke the law by stealing the bread. However, he acted morally by correcting a
wrong and possibly saving human lives. According to Kantian ethics, Valjean may have been ethical in stealing bread for
his family, particularly because the action was grounded in good will and provided benefit to others more than to himself.
2. A single mother from Negeri Sembilan had resorted to stealing from a supermarket to feed her hungry daughter. Sinar
Harian reported on 10 Aug 2016, that Nor Farina Che Ya admitted to stealing from a supermarket in Seremban 2 on 5
Aug 2016. The stolen items included mutton, turmeric leaves, a bottle of shampoo, ointment, undergarments, a pair of
pants, and a tudung ( headscarf) amounting to RM262.86. A distressed Nor Farina said she makes her living by selling
discarded boxes and scrap items. She also has been receiving RM150/month government aid, and it is not sufficient for
herself and her 10-yr old daughter with hypoglycemia. Her Baitulmal (Islamic welfare) application had not been
successful. She tearfully informed the court that she stole mutton, lemongrass to make rendang because she couldn’t afford
to buy it. She said she determined to commit the act despite knowing it was a crime and a sin because she was desperate
and couldn’t bear for her child being hungry. The only thing she could pay was the glutinous rice cost RM5. As for the
clothes, she just wanted to know how it felt to wear them – for herself and for her daughter.
1. It has been said that in Kantian ethics, duty comes before beauty and morality before happiness. Is it appropriate to break one moral code to satisfy another, perhaps greater one. What are your deciding factors in each case.
2. What would you do if you were Jean Valjean and Nor Farina?
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