Logic and Ethics, Essay Example

In the scenario described, the dilemma that is posed is: with no job and two hungry children to feed, is it an acceptable solution for Mary to steal groceries from a store? On one hand, there is no question that stealing is breaking the law, and our society is based on order that derives from citizens following acceptable rules. The alternative, which happens frequently when the social order is disrupted, becomes rampant looting were people who would not normally steal will be seen carrying anything from food to appliances out of stores. Nevertheless, if Mary lets her children go hungry, she is violating another law: child protection standards. These principles consider not feeding one’s children as neglect, and the consequences of doing that could be Mary going to jail after being charged with child endangerment or neglect, as well as her children being removed from her custody. Given those alternatives, I believe that the ethical path would be to take the food for the children, despite the fact that it is illegal, rather than let the children suffer by going hungry. One would hope that if Mary were to be arrested for stealing, there would be some compassion on the part of the court system for her plight, with the ideal outcome being a referral to social services which would hopefully link her with legitimate means of feeding her children.