Reflecction on Ethical Systems

Christopher Brown

Ms. LaBounty

HU4640/Ethics

Project Part 3: Reflection on Ethical Systems

Consequentialism is the class of normative ethical theories holding that the consequences of one's conduct are the ultimate basis for any judgment about the rightness or wrongness of that conduct. Non – consequentialism judges the rightness or wrongness of an action based on properties intrinsic to the action, not on its consequences. When discussing consequentialism and non-consequentialism and my personal moral code I pretty much agree with Thiroux’s synthesis which states “to have basic concern with consequences in one moral’s system and yet be aware that the end, even a good end, does not justify the means or the motives that lead to it.”

I think it is natural for people to act in their own self-interest, but at the same time I don’t believe that acting in your own self –interest is not a valid concept to base your moral system off of. I believe that you should act in the best interest of other to get the best outcome. I think that if people based their moral code and act in their own interest then there decisions will most likely have a negative effect on other people. You can look although history and see the where people have acted in their own beliefs and self-interest (i.e. The Holocaust and American Slavery) and the negative effect that it had.

Emotion and reason are complicated for me. I am very emotional when it comes to certain moral issues and tend not to think rationally or be reasonable. But most moral issues are emotional ones so it is only natural to feel strongly about them. I’m probably the most emotional when moral issues that involve racism occur. Racism is a very sensitive subject and I tend to think from an emotional standpoint because it can directly affect me.

We were given a scenario where friend is going into surgery and requires a blood transfusion and asks you to give blood instead of receiving blood from a blood bank. And he is...