Ethics in America, Essay Example

There exists an ethical contradiction in that we demand that our children be honest and morale whilst at the same time be successful.  The push towards success cannot always be contained within honest and morale boundaries because of the stress in order to achieve.  This can often lead to the actions of cheating at school and making progress by disadvantaging others.  Honesty means telling the truth, being considerate of others and being open or transparent in your dealing with others.  This is not a strategy for success which is more associated with being devious, manipulative and self-centered. This in turn creates two very distinct sort of personality development.  (Newton, L.H.  2003).

Being a morale person is to be guided by a sense of personal ethical standards and to live within the confines of the law and your religion.  This means respecting the rights of others and being equitable in your affairs with people.  Success often is born from opposite morale values like bending the legal framework to your own advantage ( manipulative) and disregardinmg the rights or concerns of others putting your own self-interests first.  Obtaining personal ethics is really to define who you are as a person i.e. one of substance and integrity or self-centered and manipulative.  Establishing your ethical framework may be obtained at an early age by becoming involved with social clubs, communities, sporting events etc.  It is good to be competitive provided you retain a sense of personal balance and you do not become obsessive about it. Life offers many other facets that are equally rewarding, nurses being an example of people who find a great deal of satisfaction by helping others whilst retaining a healthy ambition to succeed at their job.  (Newton, L.H.  2003)

Q2 The concept of intervention from an ethical stand-point is really based upon the premise of someone doing harm to another.  Personal intervention is based upon an assessment where someone needs help and you can make a difference without incurring personal injury or making the current situation complex or worse.  Where a criminal activity is taking place or a breach of the law then it is a Citizens duty to inform the police for legal intervention.

Considering the following types of examples.

• A Noisy Quarrel next door – May be a domestic argument, if you know the people a personal intervention on asking if they are alright might help defuse the situation.
• A brawl on the street – Call the police
• Parent dragging howling child – Personal intervention – child may be just misbehaving or equally resisting potential abduction. Talk to the child before calling police.
• Ragged man with vacant eyes wandering in traffic – Call the police – he may be drugged and pose a threat to personal intervention
• Woman lying face down in a doorway – Personal intervention, check status of person if injured or ill call ambulance and notify police
• A man lying face down in the gutter – Personal intervention, check status of person if injured or ill call ambulance and notify police
• A child torturing a kitten – Personal intervention. Stop the act. Notify both police and RSPCA. Child requires psychological examination.
• A woman kicking a dog – Notify the RSPCA of the incident

Q3 Christianity is an example of a religion that forbids adultery or abandonment of children. The moral incentive being that the premise of a good family is based upon love and a happy environment. Modern society has abandoned many of these moral doctrines resulting in high rates of divorce, children with broken homes and children placed into foster homes.  This can create tremendous psychological damage and trauma to the children in their formative years when the caregivers are removed.

Q4   The open families concept is not a good one as the child needs to bond with the primary caregiver which is normally the mother.  This is a bonding that lasts well into adulthood. Unrestricted sexual activity deprives the child of a primary care giver and as such the child does not form a proper bonding. This can create a great degree of stress and trauma for the child and restrict personality development and potentially lead towards other psychological problems.

Q5  Plato discusses the concept of love (eros) in both the symposium and lysis. Plato looked upon love between men and women as procreant and considered true love is born between men and boys who had the courage to seek wisdom.  Jesus was concerned that people should love one another and respect the laws of God ( 10 Commandments)[1].  Moses was concerned more that the followers obeyed the commandments and worshipped God as their saviour.  In the last sermon Jesus washed the feet of the twelve apostles and in this act told them to love one another as he had sacrificed his life for them. It was their strong communion in their love for one another that the foundation of the Christian church would be built.

References

Newton, L. H. (2003). Ethics in America, 2nd Edition. New York: Prentice Hall.

[1]’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment