Humans have the ability to reason, and that makes us superior to other plants and animals. Our ability to reason gives one a purpose or goal in life, and the purpose is to do good and make the right decision. Making the right decision helps an individual to thrive towards the ultimate goal of happiness. Some of these decisions are self- implicated, whereas some are the obligation that comes with trying to be a successful person. Intentions, Good Acts, and Human Freedom, a chapter by William Mattison, is about how as humans, we have the freedom to act upon something with either good or bad intention.
Mattison writes about how when we act upon morality intentionally, whether it be good or bad, there is an outcome for the action. For instance, as a person who is hoping to succeed in my career, I have the obligation to attend all the …show more content…
According to Mattison, the actions of Stangl is proven to be blameless because such unimaginable acts were “acted under duress and thus are not responsible for the act” (Mattison, 50). However, on the other hand, the story of Stangl is another example of how humans have the freedom to chose their own action. Stangl could have moved back to Brazil or Syria, instead of being part of not just T4 Euthanasia Program, but also being part of the Nazi. This is a portrayal of what humans are capable of and all underlies within one’s own values. The Nun and the Priest that Stangl meets are religious yet, they thought that euthanizing the sixteen-year-old boy was justified. It is now unusual to even comprehend Nuns or Priests, or even any ordinary human to justify euthanasia of a sixteen-year-old boy with physical disabilities. It would probably have been much different if Stangl were to return to Brazil, but because of what he intentionally chose, he bore the consequence of psychological as well as physiological
Mattison writes about how when we act upon morality intentionally, whether it be good or bad, there is an outcome for the action. For instance, as a person who is hoping to succeed in my career, I have the obligation to attend all the …show more content…
According to Mattison, the actions of Stangl is proven to be blameless because such unimaginable acts were “acted under duress and thus are not responsible for the act” (Mattison, 50). However, on the other hand, the story of Stangl is another example of how humans have the freedom to chose their own action. Stangl could have moved back to Brazil or Syria, instead of being part of not just T4 Euthanasia Program, but also being part of the Nazi. This is a portrayal of what humans are capable of and all underlies within one’s own values. The Nun and the Priest that Stangl meets are religious yet, they thought that euthanizing the sixteen-year-old boy was justified. It is now unusual to even comprehend Nuns or Priests, or even any ordinary human to justify euthanasia of a sixteen-year-old boy with physical disabilities. It would probably have been much different if Stangl were to return to Brazil, but because of what he intentionally chose, he bore the consequence of psychological as well as physiological