Philadelphia is a 1993 American movie directed by Jonathan Demme. The film revolves around a man who is HIV positive and hides his sexual orientation. When the partners at his law firm find the truth about his condition and sexual preference, he is fired and removed from the case he was working on. The film highlights moral and ethical issues in relation to the issues of AIDS and homosexuality. When Beckett, the central character, realizes the unjust behavior, he decides to fight for his rights against his former employer. The Ethical issues highlight the discrimination in the workplace and in the public spaces. For example, as a lawyer, Beckett is efficient but due to his sexuality, he …show more content…
Is it morally right for Beckett to conceal his sexual preference and his illness from his company? In addressing this question, the first thing to be considered is the extent to which Beckett is obligated to disclose certain intimate details of his private life to the firm. An employee according the contract is only required to uphold the standards of the work and further the interests of the employer, by performing well in the assigned position, in return for a salary and the benefits.
Hence, in my eyes I do not see this as a lie. Beckett 's sexual orientation is highly unlikely to interfere with his performance. In regards to his illness, that becomes a different story. The unpredictability of Beckett 's health certainly becomes evident when he collapses at his residence. It can be dangerous if this happens on work. It is true that his deterioration of Beckett’s health can affect his performance. Hence, it can be said that not disclosing the truth about his health can be seen as a lie making it ethically wrong. Philadelphia is a great movie, which highlights and provides with the important insights into the life of person with AIDS. The ethical dilemmas presented in the movie are great examples of real life incidents. The movie hits hard at any person who views it. The issues of discrimination discussed in the movie are still very relevant today. The movie is a great example for the study of ethics and