...Obey or Not to Obey: Unethical Military Orders Richard Cuoco SOC 120 : Introduction to Ethics and Social Responsibility Instructor : Stacey Hiles February 27th 2012 Military Orders 2 In a military environment following orders is essentially the top priority. Insubordination is generally defined as a willful or intentional failure to obey a lawful and reasonable request of a supervisor.1 Following orders shows that the organization is well structured and disciplined. Sometimes though an order comes down from above that you may feel is not ethical or it goes against your standard thought of what is right or wrong. Here I plan to discuss my thoughts on this topic as well as supporting my claim that through the use of utilitarianism, a solution to this issue could be reached. In the recent past the image of our military has been tarnished in perspective of the public eye as a result of some officers not following ethical conduct of the force. They believe that their thoughts and ideas about what can come from their orders are the only thing that matters and what you feel shouldn’t matter because you are a subordinate and should follow orders. With that said I believe that there should be an ethical process involved when making certain decisions. I also believe that all subordinates should let their superiors know what they think of certain common situations so there is no need to question someone’s ethics when there isn’t time to do so. In the civilian workforce people...
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...Morality Jody Herrig SOC 120: Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Prof. Linda Atkinson Monday, February 25, 2013 Relativism and Morality Relativism is a concept that forges reality advancing assumptions which declare nothing to be absolutely true or valid. This is so because what has been proven true or valid is always based on personal perceptions which may be influenced by various predisposing factors. Often they may be merely subjective sentiments which are not universal since they only represent the view point of a few, the minority, majority or imposition of a dictator (Baghramian, 2004). When conceptualized within the context of morality it impinges on the framework that truth is applicable only as it pertains to specific guidelines and adaptations. Hence, if morality then becomes as issue in determining truth; it is sieving intentions to decipher purity and whether they are based on justice or outcomes that are beneficial to all. Therefore, this section of my presentation will focus on Lenn Goodman’s (2010) ‘Some Moral Minima:’ A Perspective. Also, a discussion on whether the conceptual framework advanced by this author challenges relativism will be embraced as well as a personal analysis of the themes. Lenn Goodman- ‘Some Moral Minima:’ A Perspective Lenn Goodman (2010) as any social scientist has to justify the morals of society. To say otherwise is to be deemed anti- social and immoral from the point...
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...Theories to the Media and its Responsibilities Danielle Carter SOC 120 Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility (ACG1417K) Professor Ravenelle May 11, 2014 Applying Ethical Theories to the Media and its Responsibilities Media is best defined as a means of communication that reaches and could possibly influence people widely through radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and most recently the internet (media, n.d.). Malcom X stated it best when he said, “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses” (Malcom X, n.d.). No matter if you are young or old, rich or poor, or what race you are, media can influence a person both positively and negatively. The media has the ability to make a person that no one knew one day to the most talked about person in a country and they are also capable of running a person’s life in the matter of seconds. The main responsibility the media has is to present unbiased, fair, and accurate information to the public. The media typically reports on local weather, local traffic and traffic related accidents, local, nationwide, and sometimes worldwide crime, sports news and scores, government issues and news, entertainment news, and anything that would be of high public interest or controversies. Many ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics can be applied to the topic...
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...Corporations SOC 120: Introduction to Ethics and Social Responsibility December 1, 2008 The Role of Corporations The recent financial crises on Wall Street command a need for higher ethical standard in business. The behavior displayed by corporate heads has caused society, as well as other business to doubt the ability of these corporations to do the right thing. Because of the day-to-day demand of organizational performance not much attention is made to address unethical corporate behavior. Although current events in the business world have drawn our attention to the wrong doings, it there was more focus the process by which corporations meet the challenges of ethical behavior it may promote the practice of higher ethical standards within the world of business. In the past, corporations had little concern for non-economic ventures. The concern for political and social environments was next to none until they became concerns of society. When corporations decided to turn their attentions to the issues that concerned society the most, such as energy and natural resources, pollution control, equal opportunity, and consumer and worker protection there was much debate as to how these businesses should respond to these issues (Bateman & Snell, 2003). These debates resulted in the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) which was issued in 1971 by The Committee for Economic Development, stressed the social role of business as a vital instrument for social progress...
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... Kendra Jones SOC 120: Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Prof. Donna Falloon Monday, January 16th, 2012 Introduction Relativism is a concept that forges reality advancing assumptions which declare nothing to be absolutely true or valid. This is so because what has been proven true or valid is always based on personal perceptions which may be influenced by various predisposing factors. Often they may be merely subjective sentiments which are not universal since they only represent the view point of a few, the minority, majority or imposition of a dictator (Baghramian, 2004). When conceptualized within the context of morality it impinges on the framework that truth is applicable only as it pertains to specific guidelines and adaptations. Hence, if morality then becomes as issue in determining truth; it is sieving intentions to decipher purity and whether they are based on justice or outcomes that are beneficial to all. Therefore, this section of my presentation will focus on Lenn Goodman’s (2010) ‘Some Moral Minima:’ A Perspective. Also, a discussion on whether the conceptual framework advanced by this author challenges relativism will be embraced as well as a personal analysis of the themes. Lenn Goodman- ‘Some Moral Minima:’ A Perspective Lenn Goodman (2010) as any social scientist has to justify the morals of society. To say otherwise is to be deemed anti- social and immoral from the point...
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...Kelly Young SOC 120: Introduction to Ethics and Social Responsibility April 7, 2013 Week 3 Assignment Rough Draft Religion in the Workplace When one begins to talk about religion, everyone tends to be quite. Religion has and will always be a controversial subject to address. In society today with so many different religions available to practice one should not be attacked or treated differently for their religious beliefs when they enter the workforce. Under the First Amendment, Americans enjoy two freedoms with respect to religion: the right to be free from government-imposed religion and a right to practice any religion they choose to. Religion is a matter or belief and practice, and religious beliefs will rarely affect the duties of job employment. State and federal laws require that employees not be treated on the bias of religion. In deontology, the golden rule is to treat others as you would have the treat you. I know that if I respected someone’s beliefs to be atheist, I expect them to have the same respect for me and my belief in God or whatever religion I choose to place my faith in. Deontologist insist that actions should not be evaluated on the basis of the action’s consequences. The main thing about religion in the workplace is the fact that anyone can find something wrong in it. After all the different things that our nation has been through in the last few years, instead of find things wrong in...
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...Should Pornography be regulated? SOC 120: Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility SHOULD PORNOGRAPHY BE REGULATED? When applying ethical theories and perspectives to the issue of whether or not pornography should be regulated you are left with numerous results. Some may argue that pornography is an expression, allowed by freedom of speech, however others may view it as obscene therefore wrong. Pornography can be defined as printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate erotic rather than appealing or emotional feelings. Many people have different feelings concerning pornography with different reasons for holding these opinions. Many see pornography as a form of art, while other see it as offensive. Some may say pornography is a simple expression of two consenting adults and no harm is being done to anyone. However, some argue that if subjected to the wrong person, such as a teenager this form of entertainment can lead to future problems. It all depends on the way you analyze these concerns and this essay intends on doing just so. Here we will apply different ethical theories to the question, Should pornography be regulated? Many questions arise when dealing with pornography. How can the contact to pornography affect the personal growth of a specific person in a positive or negative way? How do facts and values factor in with the ethical points of pornography? Utilitarian...
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...Prisoner Treatment Ethical Treatment of Prisoners Kathy Dauber SOC 120 Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Instructor: Milagros Baez November 25, 2013 The following paper is about the ethical treatment of prisoners. It will discuss the ethical and moral issues that surround those that are incarcerated and what happens behind the scenes, when they need medical attention and other aspect that happen while in jail. Even those that are incarcerated need to have the proper care from a physician or medical staff, so that their needs can be met even if they have done something wrong. Ethical Treatment of Prisoners Medical Facilities When it comes to prison medical facilities, there usually are not enough in prisons to accommodate the inmates. It has been estimated that 95% of inmates received by the federal prison systems need immediate medical care for preexisting conditions (Alexander, 1972). Those that are larger prisons have their own hospital facilities while smaller prisons and jails use community hospitals. Jails have a more critical problem. The American Medical Association did a survey that showed 65.5% had only first-aid facilities and 78% had no formal arrangements with physicians in the community for the medical care of those in the jails. This same study also found that 80% of the medicines given in jails were given by non-medical personal (AMA, 1972). It is viewed that the inmates are not required or should receive medical treatment...
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...Eric Davis Soc 120 Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Joe Niehaus October 3, 2010 Environmental Ethical Issues History According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, (2008) environmental ethics began to come to the surface in 1970s. The environmentalists started urging philosophers who were involved with environmental groups to do something about environmental ethics. Most academic activity in the 1970s was spent debating the Lynn White thesis and the tragedy of the commons. These debates were primarily historical, theological, and religious, not philosophical. Throughout most of the decade philosophers sat on the sidelines trying to determine what a field called environmental ethics might look like. The first philosophical conference was organized by William Blackstone at the University of Georgia in 1972. Environmental ethics is the discipline in philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings to, and also the value and moral status of the environment and its nonhuman contents. In the literature on environmental ethics the distinction between instrumental value and intrinsic value has been of considerable importance. When environmental ethics emerged as a new sub-discipline of philosophy in the early 1970s, it did so by posing a dispute to traditional anthropocentrism. It questioned the assumed moral superiority of human beings to members of other species on earth. In addition, it investigated the possibility of rational...
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...Environmental Issues Carissa Gilson Soc 120 introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Ms. Soard 8/12/2010 History of environmental ethics: It started in the late 60’s with the publications of Lynn White’s “The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis” (March1967) and Garret Hardin’s “The Tragedy of the Commons” (December 1968). These publications and others started the debate into environmental issues. The first thing they needed to do was to decide what” the field of environmental ethics might look like”. There were many philosophers who got into the mix and started writing publications as well. Then in the 1990’s the International Society for Environmental Ethics was founded through the efforts of Laura Westra and Holmes Rolston, III (www.cep.unt.edu/novice). This started today’s various organizations such as Greenpeace, the earth charter initiative, the environmental protection society, friends of the earth to mention just a few. These organizations are designed to create an awareness of today’s environmental issues. Some of the issues we are facing in the future seem to have to do with global warming and its impact on the earth’s environment. The issue here seems to be our use of gas and oil and the need for an alternate energy source. There are so many thoughts as to what should be done in this area; it makes your head spin. I’m all for green technology provided it really works. It is very hard to sort out what green really means to the average person. One...
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...Gay Marriages: Right or Wrong? SOC 120: Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Instructor: Danielle Ely May 19, 2013 Gay Marriages: Right or Wrong? Gay marriage has been a touchy topic in society for many years now. It is an ethical issue because it goes against most people norms and this alone causes many problems. Deciding whether it is right or wrong is the issue at hand. Many people believe that two people of the same sex should not be allowed to get married, while others think that it is ok. In this case, who can we say is right and who is wrong. Is that really our decision to make? Mosser, (2010). states, “A natural way to see if an act is the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do is to look at its results, or consequences.” I agree that before making decision in life we must first determine how critical it is and how it might affect the people around us. Also, are we ready to suffer the consequences we may face such as family members and people in the community not supporting us? Utilitarianism believes that, if you are given a set of choices, the act that we should choose is the act which produces the best results for the largest number of people affected by that decision. Relativism disables us from making our objections to practices that appears not just wrong relative to a society's values, but plain out simply wrong. Also, it can be very hard to figure out what one's culture is in the relevant ethical sense to make relativism work, and it...
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...| L.E. Goodman Analysis | Sherry Casey | SOC 120 | Milagros Baez | 3/11/2013 | | Some religions believe that we are all born of sin and into sin regardless of what culture, race, ethnic identity, or class. The belief is that we all have a sense of what is morally right and the relativity of it. “There are traits, customs, and beliefs that make us distinctive to certain cultures, races, and classes, which due to the differences we all follow, a set of different moral standards. Each culture tackles moral questions based on their own moral beliefs.” (Winter, 2011) Relativism maintains when it comes to right and wrong there is neither, because what is virtuous within a particular individual, culture or societies morality must be understood and taken into consideration (Mosser, 2010). Lenn Goodman brings up arguments that there are certain things that are simply wrong. Some people would agree, if you follow his thinking, yet there will be a few that would present a logical argument that would contradict his arguments. The areas of moral debates that Goodman chose would bring on a mass debate of arguments when it comes to cultures, races, ethic identities, or classes. Within the American society there are a huge amount of different cultures. The cultures all function together and have different beliefs and values. It is these different beliefs and values that make America and interesting place to live. The beliefs of Lenn Goodman are based on the...
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...Gay Marriage Tina M. Keena SOC 120: Introductions to Ethics & Social Responsibility Instructor: Daniel Beteta August 31, 2012 Gay Marriage “The protection of fundamental human rights was a foundation stone in the establishment of the United States over 200 years ago. Since then, a central goal of U.S. foreign policy has been the promotion of respect for human rights, as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United States understands that the existence of human rights helps secure the peace, deter aggression, promote the rule of law, combat crime and corruption, strengthen democracies, and prevent humanitarian crises” (Bureau of Public Affairs). With this said and published why is there so much debate and argument over the rights of those in the Gay and Lesbian community being allowed to marry each other? The Bible does indicate that marriage is between a man and a woman, but the Bible was written by man as an interpretation of God’s word. This Country with many others has overcome so many obstacles within the times. Banishment of slavery, equal rights to women, and acceptance of interracial marriages has become respected and acceptable. If all of this can come full circle to where it is acceptable, the rights of those who are gay should also be accepted. Equal rights to all human beings regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation should be recognized. In 1967 there was much controversy over the interracial marriage of...
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...Ethical Concerns of Consumer Tracking Name SOC 120: Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Instructor September 2014 Ethical Concerns of Consumer Tracking The practice of consumer tracking has become commonplace through various public avenues, but there are certain aspects of this practice that could be construed as an invasion of privacy. There are so many activities that can be monitored in today’s technologically driven society. Retail outlets and other organizations have countless reasons to track their consumer or client base. The ethical concern is determining where to draw the line when collecting data or monitoring activity. Many companies will use the classical ethical theory of utilitarianism as the basis for collecting data from their consumer or client base. Kurt Mosser describes utilitarianism as an action that is chosen because it produces the best possible results for the greatest number of people (Mosser, 2013). At the corporate level, data is often collected to strengthen the operational processes of the business. This practice is often considered harmless by the businesses involved because their intent is not to use the accumulated personal information for any reason other than to improve the business. While previously working at the corporate headquarters for a retail organization, I was able to observe the practice of consumer tracking as it evolved. This particular organization purchased precious...
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