Pursuit of Happyness

EDERA, Erma R. The Pursuit of Happyness

2JRN2 Christian Ethics - Mr. John Paul Balanquit

Pursuit of Happyness  is a moving tale about a father’s love for his son and working hard to achieve dreams, which is more than that.  It is also a poignant portrayal of the problem of homelessness in our society. Perhaps what makes the film so powerful is that it is based on a true story. The problems that Gardner faces are problems faced by many in our society every day. Here are some ethical systems that prevail in the movie:

1. As the family’s financial problems mount, Linda caves under the pressure and abandons him and their son. Under the deontological ethics, she is considered immoral because she did not fulfill her obligation/duty as a mother to take care of her son.

2. Chris defines happiness as being a responsible father, and accepts with that moral decision the accompanying difficulties. He is very satisfied and contented with his life together with his son, Christopher. (Eudaimonism)

3. This story is about a man who is determined to pursue the correct spelling of happiness, (as Chris' character attempts to do literally with the owner of the childcare center building on the side of which the misspelled word appears ... along with another word that begins with "F" and which describe the opposite of happiness). As the protagonist tries to get the word spelled correctly for the sake of his son's education, so he is determined to pursue the correct concept of fatherhood that will bring his character happiness. In short Chris Gardner, as a father, is determined to spell happiness correctly with the example of his life, no matter what difficulties he has to sustain. (Deontological Ethics)

4. Chris Gardner invests his entire life savings in portable bone-density scanners, which he demonstrates to doctors and pitches as a...