Justification Essay, Ethics and Morals

My father alcoholism has reached the point of no return. The behavior and consequences of his intoxicated mindset have driven me and my family to the brink of insanity. I have battled alcoholism myself and am fortunate enough to celebrate five years of sobriety. My father, however, continually chooses to live in a destructive lifestyle with alcohol as his crutch and best friend. It has come to the unavoidable point with my father that something has to be done with our relationship. I cannot continue living a sober life for myself and my family while seeing my father obliterate himself into an intoxicated stupor. I have attempted every other avenue in communicating to my father that he cannot continue living the life he has with alcohol dictating his every move. As a sober adult, I am now faced with the moral dilemma of choosing to be a part of my father’s roller coaster charades and intoxicated lifestyle and attempt to help him on the path of recovery for the final time or choosing to permanently separate myself from my father without contact for my own sake and sobriety. Unfortunately, all other alternatives have been pursued and exhausted. I have attempted to keep my father “on the wagon” however, he refuses to talk about his problems with alcohol and continues to perceive nothing in wrong.

The moral judgment that has developed is that my father should not be drinking. The moral rule from this dilemma is that I cannot and will not associate with my father if he continually allows alcohol to govern his life. Since he is essentially choosing that alcohol is more important than the relationship he has with his son, then I believe I should break off all communication with my father and allow us both to go our separate ways. This will allow me to live without the emotional baggage ensued from contact with my father.

The decision of ceasing all communication with my father is justified by the ethical utilitarianism principles of consequentially and...