Utilitarian Vs Deontological Analysis
Ethical judgments limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in both the arts and natural sciences. Discuss.
Ethical judgments are generally based on the moral principles that influence a person 's conduct. The statement states that different methods of gaining knowledge are affected by ethical judgments in both the arts and the natural sciences. It is my belief that ethical judgments should be based on reason rather than a belief or feeling in the pursuit of knowledge. Ethical judgments stem from two basic systems: utilitarian and deontological ethics. Utilitarian ethics implies that no moral act is right or wrong. Rather, the consequences that are associated with the act are the basis on which it could be considered good …show more content…
Deontological ethics is principle based, which means it is expected that there is an absolute sense of what is right or wrong in the world. In this ethical system, the judgment is based on the action itself, rather than the consequences that are associated with it (BBC, "Duty-based ethics"). For example, "It is never right to murder." In deontological ethics, if a person kills someone, for whatever reason, he has done something wrong. The limitation in deontological ethics is that an act could be judged appropriately only if everybody has the same viewpoint on that certain principle. An example with which these two systems could be differentiated is the ticking bomb scenario where a bomb terrorist refuses to release information to the police about the bombs he has implanted in certain locations where thousands of people are currently in. The problem now is whether it is justifiable for the police to torture him in order for him to give out information. In utilitarian ethics, it would be justifiable to torture the person as the police could save thousands of lives if they are …show more content…
Emotion and intuition are not commonly used in this area of knowledge as these ways of knowing can lead to subjective results. Ethical judgments are based on a set of beliefs that most people follow, and thus, because we are talking about beliefs, these judgments can be subjective. One example wherein ethical judgments can limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in the natural sciences is in embryonic stem cell research. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into different types of cells necessary for an organism to function. Scientists have deduced that being able to have a method of controlling the use of stem cells can help in creating more effective treatments for many deadly diseases such as cancer and Parkinson 's disease. Human embryonic stem cells have the potential of differentiating into various cell types that could be a source of cells for transplantation of tissue engineering (EuroStemCell, "Embryonic stem cell research: An Ethical Dilemma"). Scientists have discovered two ways of obtaining stem cells from embryos and adults. It is the embryonic stem cells that have caused controversy. Removing the stem cells requires the destruction of the embryo, which to some people is unethical as they liken it to the destruction of a human being.
Ethical judgments are generally based on the moral principles that influence a person 's conduct. The statement states that different methods of gaining knowledge are affected by ethical judgments in both the arts and the natural sciences. It is my belief that ethical judgments should be based on reason rather than a belief or feeling in the pursuit of knowledge. Ethical judgments stem from two basic systems: utilitarian and deontological ethics. Utilitarian ethics implies that no moral act is right or wrong. Rather, the consequences that are associated with the act are the basis on which it could be considered good …show more content…
Deontological ethics is principle based, which means it is expected that there is an absolute sense of what is right or wrong in the world. In this ethical system, the judgment is based on the action itself, rather than the consequences that are associated with it (BBC, "Duty-based ethics"). For example, "It is never right to murder." In deontological ethics, if a person kills someone, for whatever reason, he has done something wrong. The limitation in deontological ethics is that an act could be judged appropriately only if everybody has the same viewpoint on that certain principle. An example with which these two systems could be differentiated is the ticking bomb scenario where a bomb terrorist refuses to release information to the police about the bombs he has implanted in certain locations where thousands of people are currently in. The problem now is whether it is justifiable for the police to torture him in order for him to give out information. In utilitarian ethics, it would be justifiable to torture the person as the police could save thousands of lives if they are …show more content…
Emotion and intuition are not commonly used in this area of knowledge as these ways of knowing can lead to subjective results. Ethical judgments are based on a set of beliefs that most people follow, and thus, because we are talking about beliefs, these judgments can be subjective. One example wherein ethical judgments can limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in the natural sciences is in embryonic stem cell research. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into different types of cells necessary for an organism to function. Scientists have deduced that being able to have a method of controlling the use of stem cells can help in creating more effective treatments for many deadly diseases such as cancer and Parkinson 's disease. Human embryonic stem cells have the potential of differentiating into various cell types that could be a source of cells for transplantation of tissue engineering (EuroStemCell, "Embryonic stem cell research: An Ethical Dilemma"). Scientists have discovered two ways of obtaining stem cells from embryos and adults. It is the embryonic stem cells that have caused controversy. Removing the stem cells requires the destruction of the embryo, which to some people is unethical as they liken it to the destruction of a human being.