Introduction to Ethics Essay -- essays research papers

EthicsWhat be we like, and what should we do?As kind-hearteds we are faced with many decisions in life story, which in and of itself, distinguishes us from the animal kingdom. Im sure other animals make decisions, but as humans we apportion into account our values and morals. In choosing which path to take with some of lifes decisions, ethics, are often at the center heavily influencing our choices between what is justifiedly and what is incorrectly. Which are usually defined by society, as to what is acceptable and what is not. As time goes on, society evolves, so do the right and wrongs, our values and morals, and ethics. In philosophy, thither were three ethical theories by Aristotle, Kant, and Bentham & Mill and they were the Golden Mean, mat Imperative, and Greatest Good for the Greatest Number respectively.Aristotle believed the iodine goal everyone strived for was gaiety for ones ownself. If you were a happy person, that would eventually lead to macrocosm a good per son. He also believed that all living things had certain capacities, and that if one lives up to their full capacities, they will have lived well and had a gold life. He went on to state that the perfection of reason leads to the development of two worthy virtues, Moral and Intellectual. Moral virtues dealt with emotions. A person must keep these in balance, to go in either extreme of too much and too little, would be called the excess and the defect, respectively. The balance would be the crocked. For example, courage is the mean between rashness (excess) and cowardice (defect). The golden mean is further analyzed in NICOMACHEAN ETHICS. The RHETORIC, is where Aristotle sums up the three categories in an analogical description of life with the unseasoned Man (excess), the Elderly Man (defect), and the Man in His Prime (golden mean).The Intellectual virtues dealt with expectation and wisdom. Aristotle stated the attainment of these virtues could only be done by a select few. For one to be highly intellectual, is to be practically divine, next to the gods. With that be said, it discouraged a lot of people of that era. Thats when his theory was challenged and questioned. What virtually the artists or craftsmen? Are they denied happiness, because they havent attained intellectual perfection? Is in... ...ame-sex marriages and so on. It seems were in a shift of paradigms with the myriad of societal changes and acceptances. Is the solidarity of the human race degrading or evolving. Will todays ethics, be the resembling tomorrow or in the future? Will they evolve? It seems the jumbled world we live in, the right and wrong seem to favor those in power, or at least be influenced by those people. It also seems, we lower our standards to casing the masses. For example, the carrying of back packs in uniform, before it was prohibited for a Sailor to throw a bag oer their shoulder. Only if it was a seabag and only if both slashs were on the shoulders. That standa rd has been altered, to allow plain black back packs to be carried with both straps over the shoulders. There are too many people carrying the backpacks with one strap on the shoulder, presenting a relaxed unprofessional appearance. Is the same happening to society with what is right and wrong? Are we lowering our standards?ReferencesTHE STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY 5TH EDITION, S.MORRIS ENGELARISTOTLE ON THE MEAN, G.ZINIEWICZKANT, DUTY, AND RESPECT, P.STRATTON-LAKETHE ordinal CENTURY ROUTLEDGE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY VOL. 7, C.L. TEN Introduction to Ethics Essay -- essays research papers EthicsWhat are we like, and what should we do?As humans we are faced with many decisions in life, which in and of itself, distinguishes us from the animal kingdom. Im sure other animals make decisions, but as humans we take into account our values and morals. In choosing which path to take with some of lifes decisions, ethics, are often at the center heavily influencing our choices between w hat is right and what is wrong. Which are usually defined by society, as to what is acceptable and what is not. As time goes on, society evolves, so do the right and wrongs, our values and morals, and ethics. In philosophy, there were three ethical theories by Aristotle, Kant, and Bentham & Mill and they were the Golden Mean, Categorical Imperative, and Greatest Good for the Greatest Number respectively.Aristotle believed the one goal everyone strived for was happiness for ones ownself. If you were a happy person, that would eventually lead to being a good person. He also believed that all living things had certain capacities, and that if one lives up to their full capacities, they will have lived well and had a fortunate life. He went on to state that the perfection of reason leads to the development of two desirable virtues, Moral and Intellectual. Moral virtues dealt with emotions. A person must keep these in balance, to go in either extreme of too much and too little, would be c alled the excess and the defect, respectively. The balance would be the mean. For example, courage is the mean between rashness (excess) and cowardice (defect). The golden mean is further analyzed in NICOMACHEAN ETHICS. The RHETORIC, is where Aristotle sums up the three categories in an analogical description of life with the Youthful Man (excess), the Elderly Man (defect), and the Man in His Prime (golden mean).The Intellectual virtues dealt with foresight and wisdom. Aristotle stated the attainment of these virtues could only be done by a select few. For one to be highly intellectual, is to be practically divine, next to the gods. With that being said, it discouraged a lot of people of that era. Thats when his theory was challenged and questioned. What about the artists or craftsmen? Are they denied happiness, because they havent attained intellectual perfection? Is in... ...ame-sex marriages and so on. It seems were in a shift of paradigms with the myriad of societal changes and acceptances. Is the solidarity of the human race degrading or evolving. Will todays ethics, be the same tomorrow or in the future? Will they evolve? It seems the chaotic world we live in, the right and wrong seem to favor those in power, or at least be influenced by those people. It also seems, we lower our standards to suit the masses. For example, the carrying of back packs in uniform, before it was prohibited for a Sailor to throw a bag over their shoulder. Only if it was a seabag and only if both straps were on the shoulders. That standard has been altered, to allow plain black back packs to be carried with both straps over the shoulders. There are too many people carrying the backpacks with one strap on the shoulder, presenting a relaxed unprofessional appearance. Is the same happening to society with what is right and wrong? Are we lowering our standards?ReferencesTHE STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY 5TH EDITION, S.MORRIS ENGELARISTOTLE ON THE MEAN, G.ZINIEWICZKANT, DUTY, AND RESPECT, P.S TRATTON-LAKETHE NINETEENTH CENTURY ROUTLEDGE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY VOL. 7, C.L. TEN