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Wyatt Rahn
Professor Glorianne Schott
PHI 145
10 November 2015
Michael P. Murphy
Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a United States Navy SEAL officer, was a man who showed undeniable moral courage throughout his years of service. Michael, son of Dan and Maureen Murphy, was born on May 7, 1976 in Smithtown, New York (Moore). Michael went to college at Penn State University, majoring in political science and psychology (Moore). In 1998 he graduated from Penn State with honors (Moore). Despite being accepted to several law schools, Michael felt that he had a larger purpose in life. He joined the Navy in 2000 with the goal to become a SEAL. He received his SEAL Trident in July 2002 (Pocock). Lt. Michael Murphy was deployed to Afghanistan …show more content…
Egoism is all about self-interest, which was not a part of Murphy’s character. He knew that if he went out into the open to make the call, there was a high chance of being killed. However, that was not his main concern. He was concerned with doing what was necessary to save his teammates. Risking his own life to save others is as far from egoism as any person could ever be. However, he did display utilitarianism, which focuses on the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. When he made the call, there were three other men still alive that he was trying to save. Michael’s act supports care ethics even more so than utilitarianism. Care ethics focuses on caring for others, even if the act is not necessarily good for yourself. There is no greater act to show others you care for them than to give your life to save …show more content…
Care ethics focuses on caring for others, even when it may not be beneficial for yourself. There was absolutely no benefit for Michael to go out into the open where the enemy would have a clear shot at him, other than knowing it was the only way for his teammates lives to be saved. Knowing this, he still went into open country to make the call. I do not believe there is any better way to show how much you care about others than to do what Michael did. There are several lessons that can be learned from Michael’s acts. He is a true symbol of courage, loyalty, selflessness, and heroism. This man gave his own life so that other’s may live. Not only for his three teammates on that specific mission, but for everyone else in the armed forces, and for all of us back home in the United States. Any person who is willing to fight for our freedom is a hero in my eyes, but someone who acts as courageously as Michael Murphy did on that day in Afghanistan is a true legend and role model that everyone should follow. Michael is a true symbol of what a virtuous man should be, and I would love to live in a world where everyone lived by his
Wyatt Rahn
Professor Glorianne Schott
PHI 145
10 November 2015
Michael P. Murphy
Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a United States Navy SEAL officer, was a man who showed undeniable moral courage throughout his years of service. Michael, son of Dan and Maureen Murphy, was born on May 7, 1976 in Smithtown, New York (Moore). Michael went to college at Penn State University, majoring in political science and psychology (Moore). In 1998 he graduated from Penn State with honors (Moore). Despite being accepted to several law schools, Michael felt that he had a larger purpose in life. He joined the Navy in 2000 with the goal to become a SEAL. He received his SEAL Trident in July 2002 (Pocock). Lt. Michael Murphy was deployed to Afghanistan …show more content…
Egoism is all about self-interest, which was not a part of Murphy’s character. He knew that if he went out into the open to make the call, there was a high chance of being killed. However, that was not his main concern. He was concerned with doing what was necessary to save his teammates. Risking his own life to save others is as far from egoism as any person could ever be. However, he did display utilitarianism, which focuses on the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. When he made the call, there were three other men still alive that he was trying to save. Michael’s act supports care ethics even more so than utilitarianism. Care ethics focuses on caring for others, even if the act is not necessarily good for yourself. There is no greater act to show others you care for them than to give your life to save …show more content…
Care ethics focuses on caring for others, even when it may not be beneficial for yourself. There was absolutely no benefit for Michael to go out into the open where the enemy would have a clear shot at him, other than knowing it was the only way for his teammates lives to be saved. Knowing this, he still went into open country to make the call. I do not believe there is any better way to show how much you care about others than to do what Michael did. There are several lessons that can be learned from Michael’s acts. He is a true symbol of courage, loyalty, selflessness, and heroism. This man gave his own life so that other’s may live. Not only for his three teammates on that specific mission, but for everyone else in the armed forces, and for all of us back home in the United States. Any person who is willing to fight for our freedom is a hero in my eyes, but someone who acts as courageously as Michael Murphy did on that day in Afghanistan is a true legend and role model that everyone should follow. Michael is a true symbol of what a virtuous man should be, and I would love to live in a world where everyone lived by his