Moral Dilemma In Into The Wild

This ethical paper will be discussing the moral dilemma featured in the film Into The Wild (2007). Based on a true story about a college graduate named Christopher McCandless, who leaves society completely, and travel across America’s wide open spaces alone. McCandless seeks a communion with nature, to live free, and eventually visit the Alaskan wilderness. His idea is very controversial as he firmly rejects the standard conventional way of life. He completes his separation from society by giving away his life savings, destroys his identification documents, and credit cards. He plans to live off the land. The primary ethical dilemma concerns the notion of should we willfully leave society’s responsibility and benefits that come with it at some point in our life (whether temporary or permanent) in order to really live and be free? To help analyze the moral conduct of McCandless, I will be present views from three different philosophers, Aristotle (Virtue Ethics), Kant …show more content…
This philosophical view justifies any act by McCandless that achieves that goal; however, Mill would note that McCandless is focusing only on his own actions, not on the wishes or rights of others regarding how he should live his life. The strength of Mill’s ethical view is the desire for freedom, living in nature’s harmony, and seeking the good with pleasure that translates the ideals of McCandless’ personal bliss. Nevertheless, the weakness of Mill’s Utilitarianism in this case is does it maximizes the good for all? Does not everyone’s happiness count as the same? McCandless has relinquished the mutual happiness, company, and safety he received from civilization. A realization of this fact revealed itself to McCandless in his last days of life, when he fathomed that the greatest happiness lies with others