Rhonda Should Claim To Be The Driver Analysis

Superior Essays
Rhonda should claim to be the driver. When she agreed to drive after the party, she took on Larry’s trust, and the responsibility of their, and many others’, lives. Kant’s categorical imperative states that a person should “act only on that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become universal law.” A maxim determines whether the actions that a person take are right, wrong, or permissible. Driving under the influence is wrong in any case and circumstances, as it endangers the life of the drivers, and others on the street. Driving sober, being honest with Larry, and taking the responsibility for her actions, are the moral maxims that Rhonda didn’t attain to. Because of her selfish act, millions of people who would be saved by her research, might suffer needlessly.
Kant’s categorical imperative, implies that a person is not allowed to act in a way that they would
…show more content…
Larry made use of practical reason, and showed to have a good will. His example, which also becomes universal law, is good. However if Larry doesn’t agree to take the driving seat he would be responsible for letting millions who could have a cure suffer, making it not a good universal law. This is why there is not a simple solution to this moral dilemma, and we must take in consideration the philosophy of Reasonable Moral Pluralism.
Reasonable moral pluralism (RMP) is presented when conflicting and plural values are not the result of selfishness, prejudice, ignorance, bad reasoning, and bias. It is presented when a number of good and important ethical values are inherently incompatible. There are values and principles that require a wide understanding of world facts

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    Immanuel Kant On Duty

    • 1621 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Philosophy is a discipline that studies how one ought to live, as well as study reality, nature, existence, etc. However, there are a number of philosophers who propose differing sets of morals and have different ideas of living life to its fullest (Singer v. Mill). Kant proposes that moral actions are defined by the motivation of an action, and later on explains that moral actions are duties through reason, rather than inclination. This essay will explain the validity of Kant’s argument by first explaining Kant’s view on duty, then analyse his view of duty as an object of good will, which pertains to motivations without the slightest selfishness, then argue for moral duties motivated by duty instead of inclination based on reason. It is difficult…

    • 1621 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Some people may think determining the morality of an action as an easy task, and fail to realize that it is no easy task. Every action is driven by other actions, and depending on the circumstances, an act may be moral in some cases and not in others. This is why Kant favors the Categorical Imperative when compared to other methods of determining morality. The Categorical Imperative does not deal with circumstances, instead it denotes an all-encompassing rule that, if obeyed, means actions would be moral no matter what the situation may be. He first describes the Categorical Imperative when he states, “I should never act except in such a way that I can also will that my maxim should become a universal law” (Kant 14).…

    • 267 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the second chapter of his work Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, author Kant discusses the idea of an imperative as it relates to moral decision making, specifically how a person will decide the right course of action in any given situation. Kant defines imperative as a demand or command of reason action. When we have a goal in mind, the imperative is the reasonable course of action that we feel we must take. Kant then distinguishes between two types of imperatives. First, he discusses hypothetical imperatives.…

    • 301 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mrs. Brant’s presentation was very informative that when you put yourself on the road, you’re putting your protection in other people’s hands. People on the road make choices that affect everyone around them, and for Mrs. Brant’s son, it had affected him greatly. The choices that we all make can’t just affect us; we have thoroughly think through how it will affect others. If a person is intoxicated and decides to drive on the road, they are not only risking their own life, but also other lives on the road. The video Mrs. Brant had showed us of her son had shown me that all your hopes and dreams can be diminished due to actions of others or yourself.…

    • 368 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Since ethics are influenced by our upbringing and role models, they vary from person to person. Dilemmas were extensively discussed in the weekly team meetings in SPE 567. This was my first opportunity in the course to observe how individual perceptions influenced the interpretation of each ethical scenario, and subsequently, the solution to addressing the issue. It should also be noted that the “identified” issue also differed among team members.…

    • 1299 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Kant holds that the fundamental principle of our moral duties is a categorical imperative” (Johnson & Cureton, 2018). Simply, categorical imperatives are actions that people choose to do or not do based solely on their morals. Whereas, “Hypothetical imperatives tell you what to do in order to achieve a particular goal” (Holt, 2009). For example, when people use an if/then scenario to arrive at a specific conclusion in order to accomplish a desired effect. In addition, Jeremy Schwartz published that “Recently, the idea that every hypothetical imperative must somehow be ‘backed up’ by a prior categorical imperative has gained a certain influence among Kant interpreters and ethicists influenced by Kant” (2010).…

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Final Exam 1. In “A Critique of Utilitarianism”, Bernard Williams argues against the fundamental characteristics of utilitarianism and believes that the notion of ends justifying the means are a way of representing the doctrine of negative responsibility which can lead to consequences from the choices we make/do not make (663). As a result, we are all responsible for the consequences that we fail to prevent as well as the ones we brought upon ourselves. That is, in each case the choice on whether an action is right is determined by its consequences (661). Williams gives the example of killing one villager to save 19 others (664) in which he critiques the different principles of utilitarianism and integrity - the moral righteousness that is…

    • 1213 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In this paper about ethical theories and cases I chose to discuss the positions of John Mill and Immanuel Kant, due to their dissimilar views on morality and ethical theories. From the four cases, I chose to apply the two philosopher’s theories to case number two. This case states the dilemma “My full-time (but not live-in) babysitter hinted that she would like to use my address to enroll her daughter in my excellent local public elementary school; her neighborhood school is awful. The alternative is for her to send her daughter to private school, a financial burden but not an impossibility. Should I offer my address?”…

    • 1295 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kant’s Categorical Imperative Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher remembered for his influence on ethics. Ethics is the philosophical study of moral actions. There are two particular ways of thinking regarding ethics: consequentialism and deontology. Consequentialism divides right and wrong entirely based on the consequences of an action - the end justifies the means. Deontology is the position arguing that consequences do not matter because moral judgement is based on the act alone, not the consequences.…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Gone Baby Gone” “Gone Baby Gone” is a mystery film masterfully directed by Ben Affleck, an actor and a screenwriter. The kidnapping story set in the criminal districts of Boston depicts the characters and their neighborhoods as backward and appalling. At the very beginning of the film, we find out that Amanda McCready, a little girl, has gone. Thus, her aunt and uncle decide to involve two private detectives, Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro, into the police investigation of the girl missing. Meanwhile, Amanda’s drug-addicted mother does not skip any episode of Jerry Springer Show, even though her child has disappeared.…

    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For example, giving money to a homeless person just to get him/her to leave you alone would be judged not moral by Kant because it was done for the wrong reason. With Kants belief in mind; if the consequence of immoral behavior were dealt with in a legal structure, people would be prosecuted for "EVERYTHING" since there are no extenuating circumstances. Kant's categorical imperative is a tri-dynamic statement of philosophical thought:(1) " So act that the maxim of you could always hold at the same time as a principle establishing universal law. "(2) "Act so as to treat humanity, whether in your own person in that of another, always as an end and never as a means only.…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kant's Moral Theory Essay

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Kant’s moral theory is based on the fact that one’s action should be governed by a maxim that follows the purity of the will; the idea that one’s actions should be based on a will that aligns with duty and not on the consequences of one’s actions. In the contrary, rule utilitarianism is based on the consequences of one’s actions and how it impacts the overall happiness of the individuals involved. The following paper focuses on the ideas of duty ethics and utilitarian ethics; and how these ideas can be implemented in the case of James Liang. Kant believes that an act is morally acceptable when such an act perfectly aligns with one’s duty. Furthermore, he believed that all rational beings are obligated by the demands of duty.…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In recent events, James Liang, an employee of 30 years for Volkswagen, came forward admitting to using software to deceive emissions tests in the United States for Volkswagen’s diesel engines. The engines, on average, produce 40 times the legal limits on emissions. After undergoing investigation, it was found that Volkswagen had been involved in this scandal since 2006. In response to public outcry the company has recalled all models using this engine and set aside 16 billion dollars to fix their mistake. However, for Liang after admitting his guilt, he intends to help bring others responsible for the scandal to light.…

    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    My Moral Philosophy

    • 1383 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Moral philosophy is the study of moral judgments or value placed on decision about what is right or wrong, good or bad, just or on just. Business philosophy is the standard, principle or policy placed on who may behave outside the norms of organizational culture, emphasis upon ethical behavior enables employees to know how they should react when faced with ethical dilemmas and the consequences of their actions. MY PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY. As an individual, I believe that keeping a low profile life is very vital to me in a sense that people around me irrespective of their cultural, ethnical and political background.…

    • 1383 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    ”(Pg. 76). Many issues come up in our day-to-day life and we need to follow steps to achieve the solution. The first 2 steps are sometimes the most important gathering the facts, and define the ethical issues. Before this class I did not notice the amount of individuals that jump to conclusions quickly without doing the most important thing by gather all the…

    • 1101 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays