Christal Anderson PHI208: Ethics and Moral Reasoning Julie Pedersen Peter Singer September 30, 2013 Singer’s overall goal was to inform us about things that we can help contribute to. He was trying to explain the morality of the world. For example he stated, “The decisions and actions of human beings can prevent this kind of suffering. Unfortunately, human beings have not made the necessary decisions. At the individual level, people have, with very few exceptions, not responded to the situation
Words: 1101 - Pages: 5
Humans have a history of experimenting on animals, most often in the areas of medical and cosmetics. Humanity would not exist as it is today if animal experimentation was eliminated. The argument animal testing is useful cannot surpass its’ cruelty. With advancements in science and medical technology, animal testing no longer stands as a morally justifiable option. Animal testing lacks proof of necessity because it inhumanely abuses animals, carries inaccuracy, and is outdated. Animal experimentation is an abusive method of testing
Words: 1088 - Pages: 5
In Peter Singer's "Famine, Affluence, and Morality", he argues that the way people in relative affluent countries react to a situation like that in Bengal cannot be justified. His reason for saying this is due to his belief in his principle "if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally to do it". I disagree with his point of view and I will provide explanations as well as bring in my own arguments to
Words: 592 - Pages: 3
that can be answered with the same boundaries for all points collectively. Although a case by case basis can be given, a unified answer lies in the fact that the all points can collectively be answered ethically. As defined by Mary Warren in her argument that abortion is an ethically acceptable action, a person is a being that fulfills five characteristics: consciousness, reasoning, motivation, capacity to communicate, and the concept of self (the ability to see oneself as an entity). She concedes
Words: 1691 - Pages: 7
Europe and expanded even further in the second half of the 19th century. Previous to this era, the antivivisection argument was that vivisections did not provide useful medical knowledge, but this argument quickly shifted to preventing unnecessary suffering to animal subjects. Near the end of the 19th century, people began realizing that there was some validity to both sides of this argument; although animals suffered, some scientific advancement was coming out of it. Instead of choosing a side on the
Words: 1818 - Pages: 8
was not fully convinced by either writer. Therefore, I will attempt to rationalize my questionable judgement by comparing both writers’ flaws, as well as addressing their fair points. Singer’s Solution to World Poverty Hypothetical Scenario “The Singer Solution to World Poverty” consists primarily of hypothetical situations, two to be exact. The first is based on a Brazilian film, Central Station, which involves Dora a retired schoolteacher who is given the opportunity to pocket $1,000 simply by
Words: 1267 - Pages: 6
"Describe and evaluate a significant moral controversy in medical ethics, with reference to the topic which you have investigated” [50 Marks] Abortion is the deliberate expulsion of a foetus in order to terminate a pregnancy so that a woman does not give birth to a child. The issue of abortion has raised a serious amount of controversy in the medical and religious world which continues to create conflict to this day and age. There are two ways of which a pregnancy can be terminated which are widely
Words: 2665 - Pages: 11
Peter Singer’s main argument in his essay “Famine Affluence and Morality” is that we, in affluent countries, have a moral obligation to give equally and substantially to those suffering across the globe. Thus, he would refute any claim that there is moral justification for people to care more about those close by than those far away. His Principle of Sacrifice highlights this idea: If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable
Words: 1649 - Pages: 7
We humans need to weed out the weak and unwanted from our species to ensure the survival of healthy human beings as a whole. If a fetus is unwanted I believe that it is the mother’s decision of aborting, for that fetus has no decision or knowledge of the world yet. If born with a defect, inhibiting its ability to further realize its existence, I am for euthanasia. There have been around 40 million abortions since the Roe v. Wade decision was finalized on January 22, 1973. Many strong opinions arise
Words: 1215 - Pages: 5
issues surrounding euthanasia. Euthanasia is a painless, peaceful and lucid death who some agree to be moral while others consider the complex issues surrounding the procedure. These issues include religious perspectives such as the sanctity of life argument and concern for quality of life, autonomy and personhood. The sanctity of life proposal stands strong for those who adopt Judaeo-Christian values because they believe that God is the only one who can take or give life because he has created all
Words: 819 - Pages: 4
