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Yu Chen Pua
Jennifer Caseldine-bracht
Introduction to Ethic
April 18
Applying Non-consequentialist Ethical Theory Overview
The systems of teleological moral are featured majorly by focusing on the consequences
or results that any action or behavior have on others. In a team, the action of one member may
either have negative or positive consequences on other members of the team. In a moral system,
for one to make a correct moral decision or choice, they have to consider the consequences of
their choices, actions or decisions on others. When one makes a choice, or take an action or
decision that leads to correct results and consequences, then they are considered to act morally.
One other hand, when they make choices or take action or decisions that lead to incorrect results
and consequences, then one is considered to act unethically or immorally. Human beings have
been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3). Therefore, the consideration of
consequences cannot be eliminated from a moral system because the actions of any individual
within an organization or a team would either have negative or positive consequences on others.
Often, the moral consequences are those consequences that results to the most benefits to human
beings and they promote the general welfare of all humans, human survival, human satisfaction,
human pleasure, and human happiness (Klee, Paul. Twittering Machine, 1992). The various
moral systems differ on how people balance the various potential consequences as well as on
exactly what the “correct consequences are”. Few choices are after all unequivocally positive and
this implies it is essentially figuring out the right balance of bad and good in whatever we do.
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Works Cited
Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and
Method.Berkeley: U of California P, 1966.
Klee, Paul. Twittering Machine. 1922. Museum of Modern Art, New York. The Artchive. "Klee:
Twittering Machine." 22 May
2006 http://artchive.com/artchive/K/klee/twittering_machine.jpg.html
Pua 1
Yu Chen Pua
Jennifer Caseldine-bracht
Introduction to Ethic
April 11
Moral Analysis
Moral dilemma applies to all people in their daily lives and the decisions that an
individual chooses dictates the rightness or wrongness of the dilemma. A solution to any moral
dilemma takes a moral analysis that incorporates various theories that are termed as fit in aiding
for a better solution (Kant, 45). My profession as part of a processing company entailed ensuring
quality in products and providing economic benefit to the organization. During one of my
product analysis, I found the inclusion of a preservative that could cause long-term health effects
to consumers. After consultation with the management, they decided to offer a bribe in order to
leave the situation and continue production with the same product. The moral dilemma, in this
case, was to both take the bribe and become rich or to testify the issue to the obligated authorities
and save the lives of many consumers. The outcome of choosing to refuse the bribe in this
scenario was to lose my job and at the same time affect the organizations brand and its overall
market percentage. Following this case scenario, the natural law theory can be employed to help
solve the dilemma. This theory is based on the impression that correct actions are those that
concur with natural law which is implanted in nature. In this case, choosing to take the bribe and
get rich without considering the number of consumers who will get to suffer goes against the
natural theory that believes in the importance of human life. Even though taking the bribe will
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improve my life status, the justification of this action in relation to the number of lives that will
suffer from the products does not equate this action. Therefore, the performance of a bad action
with an aim to achieve good is never permissible in this theory. In favor of the natural theory, I
would choose to report the matter to the necessary authorities even though I might lose my job
and affect the company's welfare.
Autonomy is the principle aspect towards ethical decision making since it helps to
liberate the decision creator from the subjective concerns of personal desires and prejudiced
decision-making influences. In this scenario moral universalism apply in that regardless of a
person's origin, race or gender taking a bribe is considered morally incorrect and under even if it
is meant for personal good. Based on Kant's categorical imperative choosing a good deed for the
sake of evil is a universal decision that applies to all societal norms, time and cultures. This
decision involves putting into consideration if the decision maker was on the receiving end of the
decision. Would the decision please him or her? A Kantian, in this case, will solve the dilemma
based on a maxim of the end that it can be a universal law for everyone that involves doing what
is morally right (Wedgwood, 795 - 814). The act of taking the bribe is wrong to everyone but on
the other hand, it is good for the person taking it. The bribe can improve the person's livelihood
but on the other hand, people's health will be affected. Therefore, a Kantian may decide to take
the bribe and at the same time report, the matter to the necessary authorities since doing
something good because one is inclined to it goes against a Kantian. Secondly, a Kantian can
also reluctantly decide to report the matter to the necessary authorities even though it may affect
the company's brand and business activities.
The theory that best fits, in this case, is Kantians moral theory that elaborates that states
the rightness or goodness of a particular deed or action does not depend on the consequences but
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rather on whether they complete our role. The supreme principle of morality in this case known
as categorical imperative directs towards making the best decision without being guided by a
reason but rather by what we view fit and reasonable. The act of taking a bribe is evil and
therefore making a decision based on this belief results in a failure in the decision-making
process. On the other hand, poisoning the consumers are also evil but at the same time has
benefits to the organization. Therefore, the most important theory to employ in this case is the
Katian's moral theory that goes into a close relationship with divine command theory (Aune, 45).
This theory mostly emphasizes on following what is good but at the same time, an option is
provided to choose on what to follow based on personal view on the dilemma.
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Work Cited
Aune, Bruce. Kant's theory of morals. Princeton University Press, 2014.
Wedgwood, Ralph. "Two Grades of Non-consequentialism." Criminal Law and Philosophy 10.4
(2016): 795-814.
Kant, Immanuel. Kant: The metaphysics of morals. Cambridge University Press, 2017.
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