Ethics in the Justice System, Essay Example

While there are many succinct descriptions of morality, I tend to subscribe to the concept of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism states that the best moral action is the one that benefits the greatest number of people (Schneewind, 2002). As such, actions are not simply “good” or “evil”, but there are those that maximize benefit. Therefore, the most moral actions are those that contribute to the well-being and happiness of the greatest number of people. Furthermore, morality should be broadly defined as well-considered actions that are committed with good intentions in mind. Thus, the consequences of actions are less relevant than the intention and thought that has been put into the decision making process. Culture influences the belief systems of individuals by providing them with a set of rules and regulations that define morality. As a result, each individual has a different understanding of what ethical behavior really is.

Overall, utilitarianism is a beneficial understanding of morality because it supports the interests of the greatest number of people. In most instances, it is not possible to meet the needs of everyone, so utilitarianism is designed to maximize a positive effect. A real world example of utilitarianism is the government in the United States. Elections are hosted to ensure that a candidate that represents the interests of the greatest number of people is selected. This process exists to ensure that the majority will be appropriately represented. The consequences of the election aren’t as relevant in this situation either; an individual could be said to be acting ethically if they are choosing a candidate that represents the bests interests of the people in a manner that promotes the rights of the many instead of the few. If a candidate is elected and does not keep this promise, the voter is not at fault, so this result does not compromise their moral intent. In addition, the idea of the correct candidate varies for different individuals. Therefore, individuals with different upbringings will likely select different candidates during the election. Independently of the individual voted for, voters are acting within the context of their own culture that worked to define morality for them during their youth. Thus, they believe that they are making the most ethical decision, even if this decision would not benefit the greatest amount of people

In conclusion, it is apparent that morality is developed within the context of societal and cultural beliefs. As a consequence, different people have different understandings of ethics. While it would appear that the best way to ensure that an ethical decision is being made is by considering the number of people that it will impact, not all people agree that utilitarianism is the proper method by which to judge morality. Instead, some individuals focus on the consequences of actions, while others focus on a combination of intentions and actions (Martin, 1970). In spite of this, it is important to understand that individuals with good intentions do not mean to do harm. If this intent is not present, it would be erroneous to claim that they are not acting ethically. Occasionally, mistakes are made even when good intentions are present, and individuals should not be condemned for these errors. Overall, it appears that the world would be a happier place if all decisions were made with the understanding of the extent of impact that they will have.

References

Martin, Michael. (1970). A Utilitarian Kantian Principle. Philosophical Studies, 21: 90–91.

Schneewind, J. B. (2002). Moral Philosophy from Montaigne to Kant. Cambridge University Press.