Moral Dilemma
As human beings, we are forced to accept the inevitability of being unwillingly confronted with situations that test the strength of our morality and character. In the midst of deep moral conflict we become immensely introspective and we follow our intuition with the hopes of it guiding us towards the morally correct decision. However, how can we be sure that we have acted morally in a situation that is so morbid and perverse that our intuition is completely torn? This is the dilemma that is faced by the mother who is given a terrible choice by a Nazi officer: either the officer will kill all three of her children, or the mother must kill one in order preserve the lives of the other two. In this situation, guilt remorse and intense emotional pain are unavoidable, thus the mother is forced to reflect upon her intrinsic morals and values to guide her choice, however horrific it may be.
In beginning to tackle this terrible dilemma, a fundamental aspect of this situation must first be realized: it is a woman who is faced with this crippling decision. Although subtle, there is an insinuation behind this that will ultimately play a large role in the determination of the final decision. In assigning the moral responsibility to a woman, and more specifically a mother, there is an implication that a different and distinct type of moral deliberation comes into play. In a study performed by psychologist Carol Gillian, it was found that the moral reasoning of a group of women was "typically more embedded in a context of particular others than was the reasoning or a comparable group of men" (Held 724). When we focus on the experience of women we are "able to see a set of moral concerns becoming ...
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...nt emotion as a part of morality, we must regard every action in the same context, and this is clearly an impossibility for us as human beings. We appreciate and understand that we are all practical, emotional beings as opposed to rational, calculating beings. Thus, we allow our emotions to influence what actions we deem as morally acceptable and it is only natural that they should be an integral part of moral deliberation.
In any situation as atrocious as this, the correct line of moral action is not always clear. However, in considering both emotion and reason, it is possible to reach a moral decision. Sometimes when we are put in situations against our will our intuition is torn and making the right decision can be difficult. The only thing we can do in these situations is turn introspectively to our feelings and reason, and understand that we are only human.
Book Title: The American Civil War: A Handbook of Literature and Research. Contributors: Robin Higham - editor, Steven E. Woodworth - editor. Publisher: Greenwood Press. Place of Publication: Westport, CT. Publication Year: 1996
Moral Actions are comprised of an individual’s moral awareness, judgment, motivation, and character. Moral awareness is a person’s ability to understand the difference between acting ethically and doing the right thing under a given set of rules. Or simply put, the understanding of when an ethical decision needs to get made. In the case study of the LCS Commander deciding whether or not to assist the distressed crew in Chinese waters, the moral awareness of the commander will let him know that his decision is not as simple as right versus wrong. His decision will affect the lives of those in present need, and could potentially affect the lives of many more if he were to escalate the situation into international conflict. The action that ultimately gets taken depends most importantly on the Commander’s ability to judge morally. His emotions, personal experience, and ability to reason affect his moral judgment. The commander needs to understand the political environment, give his own experience the proper weight, but not over-rely on “gut emotion,” and clearly think through the
Even after the disease and its modes of transmission had been correctly identified, fear and ignorance remained widespread. In the mid 1980s, “AIDS hysteria” became a well known term in the media and public life. For example, a magazine published details about how extensive AIDS/HIV related discrimination became. “Anxiety over AIDS in some parts of the U.S. is verging on hysteria,” the authors wrote; they later published this disturbing example:
Having an abortion is a moral choice. The essay “A Moral Choice” by Mary Gordan discusses many issues concerning abortion, the author clearly favors pro-choice. The debate about when a fetus is alive (437) is a concern as to when it is acceptable to get an abortion. As well as the morality of abortion judged in the media, religion, society, and by self. The women who get abortions are critiqued as cold and technological (441). These normal everyday women have made this moral decision for centuries. Although society needs to be realistic our world is over populated and some women are not designed to have children. How do women make this moral decision?
The European Union has been helped economically ever since World War II. Right after World War II’s end, Europe was struggling to hold on. The countries of the modern-day European Union thought it would be a good idea to come together and help each others struggling economy. To this day, this decision has had a very positive outcome on the EU’s economy. As shown in Diagram 1, the European Union combined together has the world’s highest GDP at 18.3 Trillion USD as compared to the United States’ 17.4 Trillion USD GDP and China’s 10.4 Trillion USD GDP. The idea
...: Reassessing Legitimacy in the European Union. Journal of Common Market Studies, 40 (4), pp. 603-24.
The purpose of Dracula’s physical description is to place him against humanity and see how he stacks up. He has various features which obviously make him a vampire, such as a set of sharp teeth. But there are other peculiarities to his description which mark him as being an outsider. For instance, when Jonathon Harker, and by extension the reader, first meets Dracula, he describes him as being “a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot” (Stoker 15). At this point, he is a regular looking man, or at least normal enough that nothing elicits a reaction in Jonathon. Later, however, the aberrant constitution of Dracula co...
Weissman, J. (1988) Dracula as a Victorian Novel in Dracula: The Vampire and the Critics, UMI Press.
Bram Stoker's Dracula. Screenplay by James V. Hart. Dir. Francis Ford Coppola. Perf. Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves. Columbia Tristar, 1992.
Europe will not run the 21st century because of a combination of economic, institutional, and cultural factors. However, for the purpose of this paper, I will focus on the economic aspects of European society that will impede EU ascendency. I do not believe that the EU will cease to exist in the coming century, but I do believe it will become obsolete because it will be unable to make the necessary changes to their demographic problems, defense policies, and economic culture in response to the increasing American ascendency. Europe has long been known as the continent home to the great powers of the world. From Caesar to Napoleon to the British Empire, the European empires have continuously been at the helm of the ship of progress. The wars of the 20th century however, left Europe in a wake of destruction and chaos period before. The continent was devastated and had little hope to recover. In this new era of European descent, the great American Era came into existence. The US, one of the remaining superpowers, became the helping hand that Europe needed. With the aid allocated by the Marshall Plan and the creation of programs and institutions, Europe had a future. The creation of the European Union (EU) united the European countries over the common goal of preventing war another war. The United States intended for these programs to be a stepping-stone to build the economic and institutional powers of Europe, because a stronger Europe was good for the US. However, instead of using these as a springboard to create self-reliant union, the EU remains reliant on US military and hard power to support them their social efforts.
Bram Stoker's Dracula. Screenplay by James V. Hart. Dir. Francis Ford Coppola. Perf. Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkin, Keanu Reeves. Columbia Tristar, 1992.
Friedman, Milton. An Economist's Protest: Columns in Political Economy. Glen Ridge] N.J.: T. Horton, 1972. 6-7. Print.
Is this an example of right versus right moral dilemma or right versus wrong? Explain your answer either by identifying the two stakeholders and the rights in conflict or by explaining what makes this a right versus wrong situation and the rule or law governing the situation.
In the race to be the best, China is clearly outperforming the United States. China has strong economic fundamentals¬ such as “a high savings rate, huge labor pool, and powerful work ethic” (Rachman, Gideon. "Think Again: American Decline). Their economy has grown an astonishing 9-10% over the past thirty years; almost double of what it used to be decades ago. China is also the “world’s greatest manufacturer and its greatest market” (Rachman). The continuing growth of China's economy is a source of concern for not only the U.S. but surrounding nations as well. One could argue that the U.S. need not worry about China’s growth because of the spread of globalization and that western ideologies would influence China to turn to democracy. Yet China has still managed to “incorporate censorship and one party rule with continuing economic success” (Rachman) and remains a communist country. Hypothetically, even if China does resort to a democratic state, this does not gua...
As human beings, our natural instinct causes us to impulsively respond to emotional situations and triggers behavior that becomes learned, a reaction chemically part of us that is deeply rooted in our brains and bodies. The learned behavior and resulting outcome have the ability motivate future behavior. However, the decision and fulfillment of such action relies heavily on self-determination, a product of our nurturing that gives us moral accountability when making tough or emotional choices. As we grow and mature, moral precedents are set when our natural instincts, emotional reactions, and conscious decisions intersect, however, a constant internal battle exists, as we fight back and forth between our instincts, free-will, and moral responsibilities. What we make of this is what arises as our distinct morality.