National security vs personal privacy has been a hot topic post-9/11. President Obama gave a speech on January 17, 2014 where he stated “in our rush to respond …., the risk of government overreach – the possibility that we lose some of our core liberties in pursuit of security – also became more pronounced.” (Office of the Press Secretary) Due to the tragic event on September 11th, 2001, our government was placed under extraordinary pressures to find the terrorists and bring them to justice using whatever means possible. This brings around questions regarding ethical dilemmas as they relate to security and our right to privacy.
We are faced with ethical dilemmas everyday of our lives and in the forefront is the ethical dilemma of national security vs our personal privacy. Post 9/11, ethics aside, people’s greatest concern was national security and protecting the nation. They were willing to give up some civil liberties and privacy in order to have that protection. Ten years later the reverse is true. More people are questioning the government’s intrusion of their …show more content…
The ethical dilemma of national security vs personal privacy falls under the utilitarian approach which deals with consequences. Utilitarianism is an upfront approach to a morally correct action that in any given situation one would produce the greatest balance of good over the harm it could cause for everyone affected. Utilitarianism does not care how the benefits are achieved so long as the actions taken produce the maximum benefits for all of society. (Markkula Center for Applied Ethics) As long as there is an emanate threat to our way of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, then there will continue to be ethical issues that will arise when it comes to national security and our right to
We are faced with ethical dilemmas everyday of our lives and in the forefront is the ethical dilemma of national security vs our personal privacy. Post 9/11, ethics aside, people’s greatest concern was national security and protecting the nation. They were willing to give up some civil liberties and privacy in order to have that protection. Ten years later the reverse is true. More people are questioning the government’s intrusion of their …show more content…
The ethical dilemma of national security vs personal privacy falls under the utilitarian approach which deals with consequences. Utilitarianism is an upfront approach to a morally correct action that in any given situation one would produce the greatest balance of good over the harm it could cause for everyone affected. Utilitarianism does not care how the benefits are achieved so long as the actions taken produce the maximum benefits for all of society. (Markkula Center for Applied Ethics) As long as there is an emanate threat to our way of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, then there will continue to be ethical issues that will arise when it comes to national security and our right to