Deontological Ethics In The Movie 'Thank You For Smoking'

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Thank You for Smoking was best described best described by the Seattle Post as “… a breathtaking satire.” The movie is a hilarious comedy about a lobbyist, Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckert) who is a charismatic Spokesperson for Big Tobacco whose job is to discredit all the problems associated with smoking to the public, even if it kills him. This movie puts many ethical theories and concepts into perspective, which normally aren’t discussed in film. The major ethical dilemma that is present throughout the movie is how Naylor and Finistirre both go against everything Deontological ethics stands for.
Deontological ethics states that an action is considered morally good because of some characteristics of the action itself, not because the product of the action is good. A German philosopher by the name of Immanuel Kant’s is commonly associated with Deontology. His Law of Autonomy states “A moral agent is an agent who can act autonomously, that is, as a law unto himself or herself, on the basis of objective maxims of his or her reason alone.” Kant believed that all people are morally bound to do good because we are creatures invested with reason. One of his most important principles is the freedom to act morally, which for him is desire to do what is right. The problem with Kant’s ethics, are that not all good actions can be universalized and where has the line been drawn. For example if we have a categorical imperative not to lie, it is wrong to lie even if by lying to a crazy gunman, we can save an innocent person’s life?
Naylor’s greatest enemy in the movie is Senator Ortolan Finistirre (William Macy) who campaigns for cigarette companies to put a picture of skull and crossbones on every pack of cigarettes. Ultimately Naylor and Finist...

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...use he also does some ethically questionable things to get supporters for his cause. He deceivingly uses a child with cancer as a plant to boost his campaign and supporters. Senator Finistirre says:
“Fucking non-profits! When you're looking for a cancer kid, he should be hopeless. He should have trouble talking, he should have trouble breathing. He should be in a wheelchair, carrying a little goldfish in a Zip-lock bag, hopeless.”
He obviously doesn’t care about the kid who has cancer; he just wants support by any means necessary proving Naylor correct. The governor uses terms like “cancer boy” like he is an object, he only cares about his election. Even though the product of Finistirre’s campaign is positive, the actions he takes throughout the movie are considered morally wrong. This is the absolute opposite of what the deontological ethics states.

Personally I

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