...After reading about the present in Module 10, World History, I’ve learned a lot about the struggles we’re going to have to face in the future. I think one of the greatest challenges ahead for the 21st century is focusing back on morality. In the past few decades, the United States, and the world, have started to disregard all forms of morality. I think the reason for this is societies. People are starting to believe more and more of what other people say, instead of the listening to the truth. I believe in the end, that’s what going to be the thing that hurts the world the most. If we leave morality out of all our decisions, the end result is going to be extremely destructive. Without morality, how can you determine what the right or wrong...
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...Blurred Morality in “A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemingway and TS Eliot’s “Wasteland” Morality, as defined by Microsoft word, are principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. Mortality, or the state of being subject to death, is also something most people see as straight forward. These definitions and most people’s general knowledge would make it seem as all decisions are either right or wrong and all behavior is good or bad but both “A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemingway and “Wasteland” by TS Eliot blur these defined lines. Ernest Hemingway uses a combination of detached prose, random changes from first to second person viewpoint and from the events taking place to keep the reader from questioning the morality of his actions. Henry’s relationship with Catherine is what initially causes his morality to be called into doubt. The loss of Catherine’s fiancé makes her desperate for some type of love again which leads to the first questionable moral act by Henry. After just their first few meetings Catherine asks, “You did say you loved me, didn’t you?” Henry replies “yes” but follows it by thinking “I knew I did not love Catherine Barkley nor had any idea of loving her. This was a game, like bridge, in which you said things instead of playing cards.” (Hemingway, 30) Whether he was unsure of his true feelings or they changed rapidly is unknown but within just a few short chapters any free time he has while away from Catherine...
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...Cowardice and Abandonment The perception of what is wrong wrong or right is questioning your morality. Should you do what is wrong in order to save yourself or do what is right therefore saving another? Do ethics and morality vary based on the situation? What would someone do if their will was in someone else’s hands? Both John Wheelwright and Tim O’Brien had these lingering in their minds since the draft. These two men are put into a situation where many do not have a notion on what to do. They made their choices on beliefs and with the help of others. In A Prayer for Owen Meany and The Things They Carried, Tim and John struggle with morality due to the fact that it is a cowardly act to abandon their nation but also cowardly to abandon one's...
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...Dershowitz and Alan Keyes contended many issues on religion and morality. Alan Dershowitz, a Harvard law professor, believed that “morality can be maintained without religion.” He also stated that it must be maintained without religion because times have changed. He said that if religion is not separated from state it could have severe damage, such as the Crusades and the Holocaust. Dershowitz believes that there is a difference between morality and religion. When people are moral without religion, they are being virtuous on their own, not because they are afraid of God. He stated that religion should not consist of a Cost-Benefit Analysis. Alan Keyes, a former Republican presidential candidate, stated that religion sets the standard for what’s moral. Keyes argued “power only ultimately respects another power,” and Martin Luther King Jr. was not a preacher byaccident. Dershowitz also stated that not everything in the Bible should be believed word-for-word, even George Washington said “indulge religion with caution.” Keyes believed that if state and religion should be separated, then why does the Declaration of Independence contain so much about religion? Alan Dershowitz and Alan Keyes would have argued endlessly about religion’s role in society if there were not a moderator to stop them. Religion and morality exist together in parallel according to Alan Keyes. Alan Dershowitz stated that if religion and morality are not separated, it could have negative discourse. James Fowler...
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...Question 1 e). Describe some characteristic of good moral reasoning. Moral can be defined as a process thinking with objective to determining an idea is right and good. Good or right should involve pleasure, happiness and excellent and also lead to harmony and creativity. According to the American psychologist, Lawrence Kohlberg, people develop through three levels of moral reasoning as needed by situations they encounter. The lowest level of development involves making decisions of morality based on the prospect of punishment in other words, by trying to avoid getting punished. At the second level a person perceives an absolute right and wrong and believes the law is the judge of morality. A person has reached the highest level when they make moral choices based on social contracts, or unspoken agreements to behave a certain way, and when they can generalize ethical principles beyond their own interests. This is a more abstract type of reasoning and not one based on simple ideas such as trying to avoid punishment. First characteristic of good moral reasoning is having respect for others. Having respect can be define as recognize and observe the right, freedom and status of others. Having respect for others as good moral because to prove our humane identity among all others creatures present on this earth. Respect in important element to live in peace in one place that have many community. The awareness about respect must be practice in every human being from childhood whether...
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...Norms of Morality Prof. Fernandino J. Pancho Definition •Norms of morality ◦is the criteria of judgment about the sorts of person we ought to be and the sorts of action we ought to perform. ◦the quality of things manifesting their conformity or non-coformity with the norm or criteria. (that which conforms is good or moral, that which do not conform is evil or immoral) ◦The subjective norm of morality – Conscience ◦The objective norm of morality – Law (natural) •Both natural law and conscience are rooted on Eternal Law, the ultimate norm, thus, there is only one norm. Loading... Conscience •The subjective/proximate norm of morality. ◦It is proximate because it is what directly confronts an action as good or bad. •Function: to examine/investigate, to judge, to pass punishment on our moral actions. ◦It approves & commends; reproaches & condemns; forbids & commands; accuses & absolves. •Synderesis – it is the quality by which man naturally perceives the truth of the self-evident principles of the moral order. Conscience - definition •Derived from the Latin words “con” plus “scientia” which means “with knowledge” of what is right or wrong or “trial of oneslf” both in accusation and in defense. •It is the “inner or little voice of God in man” crying out man’s moral obligations and telling him what to do and what to avoid in the moral order. •It is an act of the practical judgment of reason deciding upon an individual...
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...The Use of Morality within Society Plato’s Myth of the Cave is and eye opening piece of literature. Within the passage, Plato attacks the presets of society by addressing the lack of observation and questioning. He uses the analogy of the cave to point out the close mindedness of the world around him. Unavoidably, while one questions society the issue of morality will arise. Morality, as a whole, is a complex concept that is based on the ideal of right and wrong. By applying Plato’s principle of questioning, the need society has for morality is made clear and can be understood. Aspects of society, such as religion, control what people perceive. For example, a religion can change a population's perception on an action by deeming it immoral. However it is not just religion that can do so, it can also be something as small as a teacher stating to a class “Questioning authority is bad. And it should not be done”. Plato states, “They can only see what is directly in front of them, since they are prevented by the chains from turning their heads” (Plato). In other words, Plato is remarking on the...
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...RELATIVISM AND MORALITY Week 2 Assignment Sarah Knight SOC120: Introduction to Ethics and Social Responsibility Prof. Thomas Reeder November 4, 2013 Relativism and Morality Moral choices are conducted on a daily basis, by every culture, which can be viewed on an ethical scale of right or wrong, by other cultures. In her writing of “Some Moral Minima”, Lenn E. Goodman views several aspects of morality and relativism, and argues that certain things are just wrong. In presenting my own morals, I agree with this statement; however, pondering the image, that only one accurate ethic exists and that we may be able to find universal moral requirements and arrive at a multiethnic agreement on issues presented by Goodman is a parable. In this paper, I will state my opinion on challenges Goodman presents to relativism. I will also provide my thoughts on if there are such universal moral requirements. In Goodman’s initial area of discussion of “Some Moral Minima; Genocide, Famine, and Germ Warfare (Goodman, L.E., 2010)”, she states “Genocide targets individuals as members of a group, seeking to destroy a race, a culture, a linguistic or ethnic identity (Goodman, L.E., 2010)”. I reflect back to after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were made on The United States. The threat of germ warfare became a very real aspect of war for our nation. Governmental groups, that we were at war against, were considering the decision to use this type of weapon in order to defeat their...
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...Nietzsche (On the Genealogy of Morality, First Treatise; Section 11 of Second Treatise): • True goodness is not just being altruistic • To find out real human goodness, Nietzsche goes back to study history and the study of words-etymology • In the words and roots that designate good, the nobles felt themselves to be humans of a higher rank. Call themselves the truthful.esthlos means the one who is, who possesses reality, who is true. Becomes the catchword of the aristocratic and feel like it distinguishes them from the common “lying” man. • *Origin of morality is power* • Justice is a product of power. It puts order in place/creates laws/preserves power so it continues. There isn’t universal justice. • Life is understood as the desire for power. • Nietzsche believes there have been two types of moralities: o The first morality- aristocratic morality-moral reality The “good” are the few. They possess reality. They have power, strength, victory, self-affirming, freedom, possessors of truth, active. They have a healthier expression of life. More beautiful. They look down upon and despise the “bad” The noble human beings live with himself in confidence and openness The “bad” are the many. They are lower in class, weak, simple, restricted, lacking, degenerate, oppressed, plotting, hating, lying, and passive. They will eventually gain power which leads to Nietzsche’s slave morality. The priests are the leaders of this “bad” slave morality. Priests are the most powerless...
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...The Works of Thomas Hobbes The moral and political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes is very different from those of the ancients, specifically Aristotle. As a thinker during the Scientific Revolution, his picture of morality is framed in science. And while science is usually thought of to have no opinion about questions of right and wrong, Hobbes would argue otherwise. He wanted to move moral and political philosophy into the realm of science, where answers can—and should— come from science and reason, and away from the monopoly over human values held by religious texts. Furthermore, he called for a powerful, civil authority to combat what he called “the state of nature (Leviathan).” It may seem normal to define morality and science as entirely separate from each other, that is, to say that science can help explain why we may value certain things, but it can never determine what we should value. However, Hobbes sees an overlap between facts and values and attempts to use empirical answers to help figure out philosophical problems. This idea of applying facts to issues of good and evil rests upon the notion that questions such as “What is truly worth living for?...Or even dying for?” “What is morality?” and “What is a ‘good’ life?” have answers. Hobbes would say that they do, and with good reason. Questions like “What food is healthy?” or “What exercises are best?” are much like moral questions because it is difficult to find an exact answer due to the many different, correct...
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...of the discussion. The category of obscenity will serve as an introduction. This society is obscene in producing and indecently exposing a stifling abundance of wares while depriving its victims abroad of the necessities of life; obscene in stuffing itself and its garbage cans while poisoning and burning the scarce foodstuffs in the fields of its aggression; obscene in the words and smiles of its politicians and entertainers; in its prayers, in its ignorance, and in the wisdom of its kept intellectuals. Obscenity is a moral concept in the verbal arsenal of the Establishment, which abuses the term by applying it, not to expressions of its own morality but to those of another. Obscene is not the picture of a naked woman who exposes her pubic hair but that of a fully clad general who exposes his medals rewarded in a war of aggression; obscene is not the ritual of the Hippies but the declaration of...
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...Review : Some Moral Minima Morality has been an issue that several societies around the world have tried to decipher and label, based on diverse sociology thesis. Morality is described as the acceptable code or behaviors and choices in the content presented or society. On the contrary, the term moral minima is considered to compliment or be as congruent with morality. " The advent of civilization has given room to various forms that moral minima can be derived." ( Goodman, 2010, p.87) In such a way, that morality has become an issue that because of its vast interpretation can be misconstrued. Thus, morality is received or acquired in the ideas. The first is the laws in which a nation upholds to which is demanded as right then is consider to be morally right. Succeeding, morality is believed to be derivation from religion, in which several religious associations follow by-laws that members are deem to follow and behave in a required conduct. Lastly, morality is the individual take of what is morality. These ideas is what has ignited debate of the understandings and interpretation of morality. Influential philosophers, consequently, argue on things which are deems absolutely wrong morally. This review inspires to credit Lenn Goodman's contentions. Goodman, in his argument, verifies the continuation of four essential and widespread ideas that are to be considered morally wrong and deemed intolerable in society. Genocide that is politically initiated deprivation and...
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...Nietzsche's basic radical contentions were the new traditional values represented primarily by Christianity create a loss of power in the lives of individuals. His most “dangerous idea” he expresses a proclamation “God is dead.” He was convinced these new customary values presented in the Christian religions represented a slave morality (Class Notes). This was a morality which was created by weak and resentful individuals who encouraged such behavior as gentleness and kindness because the behavior served their interests in the afterlife. I do not believe that Nietzsche's bold ideas and provocative language were not meant to please the aristocratic elite but to free individuals from the solitude of their pathetic lives. When Nietzsche spoke of slavish morality or of contemporary Europe in general, he gave an offensive outlet to his abhorrence at what culture has done in the name of morality. He rejects society's repugnance of the self-contained peoples who point out its hypocrisies of class, ranks, and morals. The solitary is he who challenges society's desire to turn the human being into an animal. Nietzsche’s viewpoint, to fully understand the concepts of Good and Evil vs. Good and Bad, one must first understand certain how moral systems developed and how culture played a role in its development. Nietzsche felt that moral systems were not created by exterior beings. He feels that moral systems are developed from within a society. This claim was one of the reasons his works were...
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...When examining history, it is a common occurrence that mankind plagues itself with war and needless fighting. As a result of this disposition, war ushers forward a sort of calamity that effects the emotions and physical endurance of all parties involved. With that in mind, a short story that perfectly captured this concept is “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. This is so because it deals with the destructive properties of war, and more importantly, how war effects the physical and emotional endurance of the people involved. Further, it can be said that there are several aspects of war, within this tale, that proves that war negatively effects the emotions and physical endurance of everyone within its realm of influence. Therefore, war itself must be held accountable within “The Things They Carried” and be exposed for its monstrous acts, for it is a...
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...elaborate on the differences and similarities involving virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. Also addressing how each theory deals with ethics and morality. In addition, I will reflect on my personal experience through which I will expound on the association between virtue, values, and moral concepts as they relate to one specific of the three theories. A description of the differences in how each theory addresses ethics and morality is as followed. Virtue theory is different to the other two normative theories; utilitarianism and deontology (Weineck, 2007). Virtue theory centers more on the person, and their traits, as opposed to just observing an action that was carried out. Virtue ethics can be seen as an ethics of individual improvement. People can acquire virtues over time, and so in theory, mature into a respectable human. Utilitarianism is a theory that suggests that an action is morally right when that action produces more total utility for the group than any other alternative (Boylan, 2009). Utilitarianism is holding to the views that the right actions will produce the good in someone, and it holds the theory of what it takes for the greater good. One of the worst examples happened during the first Gulf War in 1991. United Nations troops were called into action against the Iraqi war machine. They steadily overwhelmed Saddam Hussein’s forces and instead of being overthrown was kept in power for the greater good of keeping Middle Eastern peace. Deontological...
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