...law is not a good tool for all purposes. Thus, the aspects of common good supported by authoritative rules are the appropriate aims of law. This object of this paper is to examine five controversial laws in US that restrict or regulate behavior and present a philosophical argument for or against why such laws advance a proper aim of law. Controversial Laws in US Due to their sensitive nature, there are several topics which are highly disputed. Since prudence and emotions never go hand-in-hand, it becomes hard to arrive at a conclusion. There are a number of issues, topics and laws which can be debated upon like laws permitting or prohibiting gay marriage, abortion, use of marijuana, assisted suicide, child pornography, animal cruelty, health care, human rights, recreational drugs, gun control and harm to the environment etc. Here we will discuss five of these. 1) Homosexuality – Gay...
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...to cause an abortion” (United States). A physician should uphold his or her duty to save a person’s life, even though that person may be in immense amount of pain and rather die. This is where the debate over legalizing euthanasia comes in. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are very similar, however, dissimilar at the same time. In all technicality, physician-assisted suicide is the active form of euthanasia, and it gained popularity after the largely controversial case of Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Comprehending the basic knowledge of euthanasia and its history will help one to understand why euthanasia is not such an unacceptable practice, but also why legalizing euthanasia can benefit many people. Euthanasia is derived from “the Greek word for ‘good death’” (Terri). This “may imply that the Greeks and Romans who coined the term agreed on the basic issues [of euthanasia although,] history shows on us that this is not the case” (McDougall 3). Until Christianity came about, if the person is suffering from immense pain and/or the quality of life is futile, a physician’s duty to kill was equated to the duty to heal. Unfortunately, euthanasia received a much more dramatic, negative reputation in Germany in the 1920s when people “who were handicapped, mentally ill, or in asylums … were killed in a program secretly approved by the government” (McDougall 5). This then lead to Adolf Hitler’s propaganda, which further the horrid image of euthanasia, though, euthanasia is indubitably...
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...disparities, etc. List of Social Issues in Today's Society Alcoholism Food and Drug Safety Tax Reform Church-State Separation Global Warming Birth Control Abortion Suicide Drug Abuse Capital Punishment Misuse of social networking Animal and environment abuse Homophobia Poverty Women's Rights Religion-based Discrimination World population Organ & body donation Human Rights Violations Environmental Pollution Children's Rights Corporate Downsizing Defense Spending and Preparedness Euthanasia & assisted suicide Eating Disorders Unemployment Homelessness Racial profiling Welfare Recycling and Conservation HIV/AIDS Civil Rights Genetic Engineering Consumer Debt and Bankruptcy Obesity Terrorism Judicial Reform Censorship Violence Academic Freedom Gun Control Gender issues Environmental issues Single Parenting Child Labor Immigration Tobacco Nuclear Proliferation Ageism Stress Cancer Prostitution Gay Marriages Education Health Care Reform Embryonic Stem Cell Research Affirmative Action Revelations about Social Issues in Today's Society Health Issues Health issues, which arise due to the increase in number of people detected with life-threatening diseases like cancer and AIDS every year. This social issue can be handled only if another issue i.e. health care reform, is dealt with appropriately. Teen Issues There are plethora of teen issues which society is facing today, right from increase in alcohol abuse, to eating...
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...CONTENTS Click on the up arrow to return here 1) INTRODUCTION 2) DEFINITIONS 3) ETHICAL THEORY 4) ETHICAL DECISION MAKING 5) NEGLIGENCE 6) CONSENT IN COMPETENT ADULTS 7) CONSENT IN CHILDREN 8) CONSENT IN INCOMPETENT ADULTS 9) CONSENT CONCERNING UNUSUAL IDEAS 10) ADVANCE DIRECTIVES 11) CONFIDENTIALITY 12) CONFIDENTIALITY AUDIT 13) EUTHANASIA 14) ABORTION 15) BIOTECHNOLOGY 16) SUGGESTED READING ONE – INTRODUCTION (Registrar) The importance of Ethical thinking in General Practice is becoming more and more apparent. It should not be thought that Ethics merely relates to the “Life and Death” issues in our Professional life – Abortion, Contraception, Euthanasia and the like. Ethical issues affect some part of almost every consultation, even if the ethical issue is something more mundane like obtaining adequate consent for an examination or respecting a patient’s dignity. Indeed, it could be argued that the Consultation skills that we foster so assiduously are actually Ethical skills – and that we need to know the patient’s “Ideas, Concerns and Expectations” in order to respect his Autonomy as well as in order to improve the outcome of the Consultation. In the 1998/99 academic year, I was appointed the deanery’s Medical Ethics fellow with a bursary from the MDU. I developed an approach to the teaching of GP ethics based on two half day sessions, which...
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...Chapter 7 : Moral Issues 7. 1 The Environment 7. 2 Life 7. 3 Rearmament and War 7. 4 Business Ethics 7. 5 Sexuality and the Family 7. 6 Discrimination 7. 7 Freedom of Information 7. 8 Science and Technology Chapter Overview This chapter will discuss the contemporary moral issues. There are eight main sub-headings and examined in turn. Students may not only learn about moral facts, principles and theories, but also some important moral issues so that they will kept in phase with current issues in facing the challenge out there. This chapter also encourages students to ...
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...Chapter 1: Ethical Theory Meta-ethical positions include: * Ethical non-cognitivism (concept that ethics is a matter of feelings) * Ethical relativism (concept that ethics is relative to a particular point of view) * Ethical objectivism (notion that ethics is objective in nature). Meta-Ethical Positions Ethical Non-cognitivism The basis of ethical non-cognitivism is that ethical disagreement can be a highly emotional affair where no amount of reasoning is likely to convince the other party. * Example: “Let’s just agree to disagree” Ethical Relativism * Ethical relativism says that while ethical statements are cognitively meaningful, they do not hold in any objective sense because they depend on our point of view. * If we accept ethical relativism, then ethical disagreement among people who do not share the same perspective becomes impossible. * It assumes that if people agree on something, then it must be true. * Ethical relativism is suspect for a pragmatic reason: it is fundamentally at variance with our social practice. * Example: “To each his own”, or the belief that what’s right for one group isn’t necessarily right for another Ethical Objectivism * Ethical objectivism holds that right and wrong are objective phenomena. * Example: “I’m right and you’re wrong” What is Ethics? * As a discipline, ethics is a branch of philosophy. * It deals with questions of right and wrong conduct, and with what we ought to do and what...
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... disagreement B. If Paul “drs should sometimes assist their patient’s death, Helen: No (then real disagreement) C. There is a point here about disagreement A characteristic of ethics and ethical argumentation consistency: A. It is always wrong to kill a human being B. Abortion is not always wrong C. I am committed to holding that abortion isn’t always the killing of a human being a. This sets a limit on the subjectivity of ethics b. Another such limit: factual accuracy c. One can enjoy a taste without knowing what it is d. In ethics we have to understand the facts of the matter: patient’s prognosis, wishes etc in regards to resuscitation (2) Ethical relativism A. Similarity to subjectivism: B. Ethics depends upon a group, a culture etc. a. Darius: eat or burn one’s dead b. Herodotus each culture things its custom best c. Nomos vs. Phusis d. Anthropology: no superior morality which...
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...Houston Community College Homework 1-5 Presented To: Lloyd W. Gaddis By Yushana Ford Government 2305 8:00A.M- 9:30A.M Mon/Wed 09/20/2015 Chapter 1: The More Things Change…The More They Stay the Same 1. Analyze current problems and issues in American Government by applying Historical perspectives: -History Repeats Itself +A new Communication medium paves the way to Electoral Victory- Meaning the internet and social media have revolutionized American politics. Campaign advertising is the use of an advertising campaign through the media to influence political debate and ultimately voters. Political advertising has changed drastically over the last several decades. Harry S. Truman was proud of his accomplishment of shaking approximately 500,000 hands but his accomplishment was soon pale compared to the next presidential election with the advent of television, war hero and presidential candidate D.W Eisenhower created commercials to get votes and so on and it different with different elections and different decades. +The Power of Incumbency- It is usually used in reference to elections where races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbents. Incumbents have easier access to campaign finance and government resources that can be indirectly used to boost a campaign. Incumbency is any elected official who is already in office and seeking re-election. 2. Explain the Philosophical underpinnings of American Political System through...
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...FAITH AND PHOLOPHIES OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS TOWARDS HEALTH CARE The problem of respecting the patients’ religious based decisions is playing an increasingly important role in medical practices probably because bioethical standards accentuate the principle of the respect for autonomy (the departure from medical paternalism) and the contacts between people belonging to different religious traditions are becoming more and more frequent because of globalization. (Silesian Medical University [SMU], 2006) For this research paper on analysis of world view of two faiths philosophies towards providing healthcare, we have chosen two faiths which are Christianity and Hinduism. Christianity and healthcare- Beliefs- Christian science is based on bible and teachings of Christ. There is emphasis on spiritual healing which is based on prayers. HealthCare Chaplaincy (2012) points out Christians beliefs: * Jesus Christ is the savior of humanity. * Jesus Christ is the holy son of God. * The Christian Scripture (New Testament) is a continuation of the Hebrew Scripture (Old Testament) * Believe in presence of spiritual powers that operates on mind and body. * Faith does not rest in blind faith, rather understanding perfection of god’s spiritual creation in present. * Illness believed to be the result of disharmony between mind and matter * Believe that healing occurs when one draws closer to God and experiences moral and spiritual change. Bible verses on health- 19 Do you...
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...Notes for the Course: Religion and Ethics in our Modern Society, 2012 By Dr H Ndlovu Definition and Nature of Christian Ethics Ethics is derived from the Greek word “ethos” that is also comes from another word “ethika.” Ethika means norms, conventions, values, customs the society. Thus ethics is a discipline that examines one’s moral standards or the moral of a society. These are absorbed from family, church and friends. Why Study Ethics There are nine reasons why human beings have to study ethics. 1. Human beings are capable of reasoning from cause to effect with the understanding that everything done has effect. 2. Human beings are capable of making choices after comparing the alternatives, that is, internal and external. People have two cells namely: a. Real – what we have now b. Ideal – what we are aiming at 3. Human beings are self – conscious. This means we can study ourselves by being a subject and be the object at the same time. 4. Human beings are finite or limited not knowing what will happen from the next moment or next door. Thus, we must have principles to apply when situations comes. 5. Human life is an active dynamic phenomenon – We do something as if we do nothing. 6. People also can be taught to be good (Isaiah 1 :18) 7. Human beings are capable of filing an obligation 8. Human beings are also capable of understanding what moral terms like freedom, dignity and so on affects other people. 9. Finally, human beings need to survive. Human civilization...
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...behaviour results in the greater good then it’s ethical | Class exercise: Trying to define legal versus ethical (class asked to provide examples of where legal/illegal/ethical/unethical meets): | |Ethical |Unethical | |Legal |Stopping at a red light |War | | |Paying taxes |Adultery* | | |Paying > minimum wage | | |Illegal|Abortion (still on the books as illegal, but many exceptions |Drug dealing (~half of class didn’t think it was bad, re/ | | |as to when it may be performed) |marijuana) | | | |Murder (another debate re/ mercy killings, e.g. Robert | | | |Latimer) | | | |Capital punishment...
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...UNIT 1 Special Note: The argumentative essay is a very useful test of a student’s ability to think logically. Argue: v. 1. to persuade someone to do or not do something. 2. to give the reasons for your opinion, idea, belief, etc. Argumentative: adj. someone who is argumentative often argues or like arguing. Argument: n. a set of reasons that show that something is true or untrue, right or wrong etc. When you have an opinion and try to convince your listener or reader to accept your opinion, you are agreeing with or disagreeing with something. For example: In an everyday situation, you may try to convince a friend to go somewhere or in a composition or speech class, the instructor may make an assignment in which you must support or oppose the use of nuclear energy to produce electricity. If you agree or disagree on an issue, you will want your reader or listener to accept your point of view. There are a few types of argumentative compositions such as: 1. Advantages and disadvantages 2. Expressing opinions/providing solutions to problems 3. Expressing arguments for and against a topic 4. Compare and contrast something or somebody PURPOSE of ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS * An argument follows when two groups disagree about something. * People can have different opinions and can offer reasons in support...
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...adfh JIS S e c 3 (1 ) 2 0 0 7 Journal of Inform ation System Security w w w.jissec.o rg Ethics and Morality - a business opportunity for the Amoral? Ian O. Angell Professor of Information Systems Information Systems Department London School of Economics and Political Science London, United Kingdom Preamble It is common for speakers at computer security conferences to tell audiences that 'they should do' this, and 'should do' that. The word 'should' is regularly thrown about as some jumbled-up mixture of efficiency and ethics, without any justification of the imperative. This paper will concentrate on the ethical issues, and so it will quickly dispose of 'efficiency,' leaving detailed argument for another time. Then, taking the devil's advocate position, it will focus on demolishing the certainty behind the ethical obligation, by questioning the role of ethics in society in general, but specifically in computer security. Indeed this paper will claim that an unsuspected morality and ritual lies behind many real-world security choices and much so-called 'objective' academic analysis. Furthermore, it will propose that such moralistic positions are highly problematic, and that all recommendations phrased in terms of virtue rather than pragmatism be treated as highly suspect. This polemical paper formed the basis of a keynote address given at the 5th Computer Security Conference, held in Las Vegas on the 20th-21st April 2006. 4 Angell, JISSec ...
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...adfh JIS S e c 3 (1 ) 2 0 0 7 Journal of Inform ation System Security w w w.jissec.o rg Ethics and Morality - a business opportunity for the Amoral? Ian O. Angell Professor of Information Systems Information Systems Department London School of Economics and Political Science London, United Kingdom Preamble It is common for speakers at computer security conferences to tell audiences that 'they should do' this, and 'should do' that. The word 'should' is regularly thrown about as some jumbled-up mixture of efficiency and ethics, without any justification of the imperative. This paper will concentrate on the ethical issues, and so it will quickly dispose of 'efficiency,' leaving detailed argument for another time. Then, taking the devil's advocate position, it will focus on demolishing the certainty behind the ethical obligation, by questioning the role of ethics in society in general, but specifically in computer security. Indeed this paper will claim that an unsuspected morality and ritual lies behind many real-world security choices and much so-called 'objective' academic analysis. Furthermore, it will propose that such moralistic positions are highly problematic, and that all recommendations phrased in terms of virtue rather than pragmatism be treated as highly suspect. This polemical paper formed the basis of a keynote address given at the 5th Computer Security Conference, held in Las Vegas on the 20th-21st April 2006. 4 Angell, JISSec adfh The quest for efficiency, where...
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...A2 Religious Studies Revision Booklet To be used alongside the textbook and your classnotes. Contents G581: Philosophy of Religion Religious Language......................................................………p.1 Religious Experience........................................................…...p.7 Miracles..................................................................…………...p.12 Nature of God............................................................………...p.16 Life and Death.........................................................…………..p.20 G582: Religious Ethics Meta-ethics...........................…………………………………….p.25 Free Will and Determinism………………………………….……p.28 Conscience.......................…………………………………….…p.32 Virtue Ethics………………………………………………………..p.36 Sexual Ethics…………………………………………………...….p.40 Environment and Business Ethics……………………………….p.44 Religious Language Introduction The problems of religious language: • If we use language univocally about God, then we are limiting him / making him like a human • If we use language equivocally about God, we cannot be sure what the word means when applied to God • Are statements about God supposed to be cognitive – if so, what evidence proves / disproves them? • Are statements about God supposed to be non-cognitive – if so, do they have any meaning? The Verification...
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