Reflecting upon your beliefs about what is good

The purpose of this discussion assignment is to reflect upon your beliefs about what is good by discussing how you would resolve an ethical dilemma of your choosing. In 1-pages, address the following:

Identify an ethical dilemma you or someone you know has faced.
Identify and explain the ethical philosophy from the reading that you think either should have or did inform how you resolved the dilemma. You can choose utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, care ethics, Buddhist ethics, African ethics, or existential ethics.
Identify and explain an ethical theory that would take a different approach.

Full Answer Section

Deontology: Deontology is an ethical philosophy that judges the morality of an action based on its duty or obligation. In this case, a deontologist would argue that it is not moral to prescribe the drug because it would violate the doctor's duty to uphold the law. The doctor would be breaking the law and could be punished for doing so.

Virtue ethics: Virtue ethics is an ethical philosophy that judges the morality of an action based on the character of the person who is doing the action. In this case, a virtue ethicist would argue that it is important for the doctor to act with compassion and mercy. The doctor would need to weigh the patient's suffering against the law and decide what they believe is the most virtuous course of action.

Care ethics: Care ethics is an ethical philosophy that judges the morality of an action based on the relationships between people. In this case, a care ethicist would argue that it is important for the doctor to care for the patient and to relieve their suffering. The doctor would need to put the patient's needs first and decide what they believe is the most caring thing to do.

Buddhist ethics: Buddhist ethics is an ethical philosophy that judges the morality of an action based on the principle of non-harming. In this case, a Buddhist ethicist would argue that it is not moral to prescribe the drug because it would harm the patient. The drug would end the patient's life, which is considered to be a form of harm.

African ethics: African ethics is an ethical philosophy that judges the morality of an action based on the community's needs. In this case, an African ethicist would argue that it is important to consider the needs of the patient's family and community. The drug would relieve the patient's suffering, which would benefit the family and community.

Existential ethics: Existential ethics is an ethical philosophy that judges the morality of an action based on the individual's conscience. In this case, an existentialist would argue that the doctor must decide what they believe is the right thing to do. There is no right or wrong answer, and the doctor must make the decision based on their own values and beliefs.

These are just a few of the many ethical philosophies that could be used to resolve this ethical dilemma. The best approach will vary depending on the individual's beliefs and values. It is important to consider all of the different perspectives before making a decision.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to prescribe the drug is a difficult one. There is no easy answer, and the doctor must weigh the different factors involved before making a decision.

Sample Answer

Here is an example of an ethical dilemma and how it can be resolved using different ethical philosophies:

Ethical dilemma: You are a doctor and you have a patient who is dying of cancer. The patient is in a lot of pain and asks you to prescribe them a drug that will end their life. You know that the drug is illegal, but you also know that it will relieve the patient's suffering.

Utilitarianism: Utilitarianism is an ethical philosophy that judges the morality of an action based on its consequences. In this case, a utilitarian would argue that it is moral to prescribe the drug because it would lead to the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The patient would be relieved of their suffering, and their family would be spared the pain of watching them die.