Touching the Void, Essay Example

How does the movie relate to what we are studying in Ethics class? What theories have we learnt in class (Five Sources of Ethical Standards)? How would they apply here? 

Life is in itself an important part of being human; respecting it entails a necessary foundation of what makes up the reality behind human nature. The story between Joe and Simon was a distinct sense of what is meant by the real value of choices. In life, people have to make choices, and in this particular story, it has been shown how different elements of human relationship such as friendship and personal value could affect how ethical conditions could be readjusted for the sake of determining what is most important in a person. Noticeably, in the case of Simon and Joe, they were entangled with an almost impossible situation and choices had to be made. Letting go of each other was a distinct choice that they had to do in order to survive; the ethical question of whether to choose one’s own life over another is a definite term that identifies how people make decisions based on ethical grounds that could protect them and those who are important to them.

In consideration with the choices that had to be made, the aspects of applying ethics in the discussion, the fairness or justice approach as well as the common good approach could be assumed for application. Practically, the common good approach could be noted to explain the concept of deciding on whose life would be saved; or whose existence would be more important. The responsibility that one has towards the other is measured through the idea of retrieving what is noted as a definite sense of realizing what needs to be assumed as necessary for the sake of keeping what was valuable. The point of fairness or justice approach is applied to impose a sense of balance, one that creates a definite term that makes a considerate form of determination on how decisions are made according to justifiable acts that measures important values accordingly.

According to you, did Simon make the right/wrong choice, and why?

The choice to let go was rather necessary. While one has an ethical responsibility towards others, he also has an ethical responsibility towards himself that marks his being human. Recognizing such value for life is considered valid and determinably important especially in pointing out how life is respected in relation to ethical measures related to making decisions and choices.