What Makes An Action Right Essay - 2250 Words

What makes an action right? What constitutes a morally right action? These are seemingly very basic questions, but they are tough to answer. Answers to these questions are the foundations of several ethical theories from philosophers such as John Stewart Mill, Aristotle, and Immanuel Kant. The concept of utilitarianism is founded on Mill’s monistic view of reality—there is one thing that is regarded to be good, i.e. pleasure. Pleasure is defined to be the absence of pain, and Mill equates pleasure with happiness. According to him: The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest-Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness are intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure. (Mill, 1861/2009, p. 158) An action is right if it aims for the good, producing the greatest good for the greatest number. It assumed that the human beings desire happiness; and from that desire comes the conclusion that moral judgments should be made looking at the consequences of the action. Virtue Ethics is the ethical theory developed by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. According to him, happiness is the only end in itself. It is unlike Mill’s view of happiness as mere pleasure. For Aristotle, happiness is a state of mind achieved only through virtuous, and in turn, moral actions. A morally rightShow MoreRelatedEthics1435 Words   |  6 Pagescriteria for determining what is ethically right or wrong, and  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   c) analyze the grounds or reasons we have for holding them to be correct.Those concerned exclusively with telling us what is right or wrong, good or bad, in matters of human conduct may be termed moralists. While philosophers have sometimes been mora lists, as  philosophers  their primary concern is not so much to provide moral prescriptions as it is  to explain why what we consider to be right or good is right or good. To do soRead MoreIn Intro to Ethics, we have discussed each moral theory in the context of how the theories dealt1000 Words   |  4 PagesIn Intro to Ethics, we have discussed each moral theory in the context of how the theories dealt with the theory of right conduct and with the deontic status the action had. When we looked at how each theory we talked about dealt with deontic status, we looked at how the actions were right or wrong. The main theories we looked at this semester that dealt with right conduct were utilitarianism, Kant’s moral theory, and virtue ethics. Although each of these moral theories has its own flaws, I believeRead MoreMorality And The Moral Theories1137 Words   |  5 Pagesthe morality of an action or behavior depends entirely on the result of that action and not the beha vior or action itself. This is phrase that can be viewed different by proponent of different moral theories. A consequentialist theorist will agree with this phrase. For example, if one tells a lie to save the other person from grief, the action of telling the eye is viewed as good. Another example is whereby a person kills the other in order to save the others. The two actions though they may be viewedRead MoreThe Moral Nature Of An Action1482 Words   |  6 Pagesassessing the moral permissibility of an action we must ask ourselves what is it that makes such an action licit and the reasons why we believe that this is the case. A common approach in ethics when determining the moral nature of an act, is to stipulate its ability to bring about goodness. Although there is wide disagreement regarding what exactly are the essential features of goodness, a problematic question that arises from the relationship between the good, actions and their nature is whether performingRead MoreNormative Ethics And Ethical Ethics1586 Words   |  7 PagesNormative ethics is a study that tries to determine which things are good, which actions are right, which motives are worthy and which character traits are virtues. In other words, normative ethics is a philosophy about what we should morally do. Metaethics is a theory about normative ethics which is conce rned about what exactly do normative ethics are claiming. This is a philosophy about the nature of moral claims, moral judgements and moral disagreements made by the normative ethics. Many theologiansRead MoreThe Best Fit890 Words   |  4 PagesThe Best Fit Aristotle one of the best philosopher in the third century BCE explained what a virtuous act was and how we could get it. Immanuel Kant was one of the best philosophers in the 17th century, and created the Categorical Imperative, and John Stuart Mill was one of the best philosopher on the 18th century, and created The Utilitarianism ethical system, but which one made the best moral theory that best fits our culture and community? As we have seen in Chapter 7, ethics differs from cultureRead MoreMoral Relativism : Moral, Relativism, And Moral Appraiser Relativism890 Words   |  4 PagesRelativism is the belief that the way actions are judged is relative to culture. Without something to reference an action to, or a set of standards to determine what is right and what is wrong, we would have no way of evaluating actions. It makes no sense to say that a dog is absolutely and universally large. We can only say that it may be large when compared to a Chihuahua or when compared to a Great Dane. In this same respect, it makes no sense to say that an action is absolutely, universally wrongRead MoreUtilitarian s Vs. Deontologists1593 Words   |  7 Pagesof the conception of right action, deontologists and utilitarian’s had opposing views on what makes an action just. I argue that Bentham’s view of determining right action, that an action is right if it has the tendency to maximize pleasure, is the optimal one because we are not able to determine the motivations of others with absolute certainty. Deontologists believed that good actions are bad without good will, and that motivation only mattered in determining a right action, not the outcome. OppositelyRead MoreWhat Makes A Human Being A Person?937 Words   |  4 Pagesdefinitions of what makes a human being a person. Some say that a human can only be a person when they are able to think, communicate, and solve complex problems. The problem with that, is that it means children are only human beings and not a person. A human is a person when they have a heart, therefore a fetus is a person the third week after contraception. What makes a human being a person plays a role in what is morally right and wrong. In today’s society there are many opinions on what is consideredRead MoreA Standard Of Proper Conduct Essay1620 Words   |  7 Pageswhich humans have written the language for what is deemed â€Å"moral†. Morality is defined as principles that dictate right and wrong behavior or actions and how that relates to human character. However, what is still not answered is what exactly these principles are, and how humans are supposed to carry out said principles. Two philosophers, Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill, outline these guiding principles to determine the difference between what is morally right versus wrong by detailing objective answers

Self-Determination Policies Social Equity

Question: Discuss about the Self-Determination Policies for Social Equity. Answer: Social equity is about ensuring that each Australian - Indigenous and non-Indigenous - has options about how they live and the way to settle on those decisions. Social equity is grounded in the reasonable, everyday substances of life. It"s about awakening in a house with running water and legitimate sanitation; offering our youngsters training that helps them build up their potential and appreciation their way of life. It is the possibility of fulfilling vocation and high wellbeing. Social equity additionally implies perceiving the unmistakable rights that Indigenous Australians hold as the first people groups of this area, including: The privilege of a particular status and society, which keeps up and fortify the personality and profound and social practices of Indigenous people group The privilege to self-determination, which is a procedure where Indigenous people group take control of their future and choose how they will address the issues confronting them The privilege to land, which gives the otherworldly and social premise of the Indigenous people group. As Social Justice Commissioner, my part is to screen the capacity of Indigenous people groups to make the most of their human rights. As this is the touchstone for my work, it is critical to making some broad remark about current level headed discussions about human rights. Tragically that we at present live in a period in which human rights are seen by some as either well-meaning maxims; diversions from the main problems nearby; great on a fundamental level however hard to actualize by and by; or even by some as the reason for issues that we at present face in our general public. Individuals who scrutinize governments on human rights grounds have been rejected for concentrating on "typical" or trivial issues, while the legislature gets about the matter of managing the genuine or "functional" issues being confronted by the group. Also, when it becomes necessary, human rights have even been reprimanded fo r the disappointments of governments over following decades. In Indigenous undertakings, for instance, we have been informed that it is absolutely as a result of responsibilities to human rights, for example, the privilege to self-determination that Indigenous people groups keep on suffering different states of life today. It is an extraordinary disaster that the individuals who experience the ill effects of the absence of comprehension of human rights are the individuals who are most exceedingly terrible off in our general public. Indigenous individuals, for instance, are consistently faulted and subject to group outrage for the absence of change in our social and monetary conditions. For Indigenous people groups, such responsibilities have been made for thirty or more years. Indigenous individuals still endure on account of such positive attitude. Positive attitude alone does not enhance employments. I am emphatically of the perspective that individual obligation is fundamental fo r individuals to be engaged and to accomplish enduring upgrades in their social conditions. In any case, I likewise trust that for a long time we have given governments free for the absence of change in the conditions in which our groups a chance to live. The powerful and economic change will just happen with the strengthening of Indigenous people groups to recognize issues and arrangements and to do this in an organization with governments at all levels. Self-determination policies can be traced back to the nineteenth century. The system involves the manner in which the indigenous groups can economically, socially, politically, manage themselves. It is an opportunity for the organizations to make their decisions and govern themselves: maintaining their cultural and social beliefs and practices. The policies also aim at doing away with the practices that limit a particular groups liberty and autonomy. The self-determination policies came into place when the federal government tried to assimilate the native tribes. The tribes were to attend schools and follow the systems which did not in any manner include their cultural practices. The indigenous groups were known as the Indians. Those who did not follow the rules were not allowed in any court proceeding. There was, therefore, a dire need to consider all the cultures thus the introduction of the self-determination policies. The communities could, therefore, handle issues that affected them appropriately. They could also input suggestions of their interests in the federal government. The federal governments could also contract directly with the native tribes and this, in turn, lead to an increased tribal sovereignty. The native tribes were also able to preserve their lands and resources. Over time, there has been a myriad of challenges in the implementation of the policies (Tsosie, 1996). The government has, therefore, taken drastic measures in dealing with the challenges that the system has brought. The government has optimally deployed strategies like the introduction of the Shared Responsibility Agreement and the Northern Territory National Emergency Response to curb the paternalistic policies practiced by the communities. Since the introduction of the policies, there have been explosive growths in the number of communities that wrongfully use the system. The complexity in the transition has been primary because of the mismanagement of the communities. Ignoranc e is the main reason for poor management of the tribes. The leaders of the tribes are not well educated and therefore abuse some of the critical human rights. Whenever the communities make decisions, there is, most of the times, no consultations from the entire community. Instead, a small group of leaders sits and comes up with decisions and rules for the whole tribe: there is no public participation at all (Boldt, 1993). Most of the communities are incapacitated in the management and require assistance from the government. The making of a decision needs to be free and with the proper consultations from the parties affected by the rules. Moreover, some of the tribes still lack adequate access to the core entities in the society; the law requires that every human being is entitled to proper and clean water, healthcare and education. The indigenous tribes have however failed to provide these entities equally to every member. Another challenge is the manner in which the communities are managed. Most of the dynasties are family run regimes. The management system has diverse effects on the communities. Discrimination within the tribes is evidently vibrant. The ruling family provides some of the best services to their family members while the rest of the people are left to struggle. The children of the ruling families attend the best schools and receive the best services at the expense of the communities (Boldt, 1993). There is also discrimination in the distribution of work as the members of the ruling families always get the top and the best jobs. It is also evident that most of the cultural practices by the tribe's clash with the law: the human rights, specifically (Boldt, 1993. The law requires equal treatment of every member of the society. The law also requires that children are educated, and early marriage is done away with completely. Some of the tribes, however, practice early marriage. The children do not, therefore, have an opportunity to acquire education. Cases of sexual abuse have also become rampant within the communities and impunity has prevailed. The law breakers are most of the times not punished because they are part of the group's government. The abused groups have been neglected, and the rule of law does not apply uniformly to the entire community. The federal government and the international community have to come together in dealing with the minor and the random setbacks facing the Indians. The government has in the past put some measures in the management of the affairs of the aboriginals. The effects of the changes and the actions taken by the government are evidently fruitful. The Shared Responsibility Agreement, for instance, requires the federal government and the tribes to engage in maintaining principles of mutual obligation in the management of the nation (Chambers, 1975). The approach aims at the provision of equal responsibility to every member of the society regardless of their ethnicity. The measure also seeks to ensure that every member of the society is subjected to same reception of the human rights. The northern Territory national emergency response, also known as the intervention seeks to curb the illegal and unfair cultural practices (McRae McNamara, 2003). Soldiers have been deployed in some of the regions affected. The measure also deals with the restrictions on the consumption of alcohol and protects the children: the vulnerable members of the society, from sexual assaults. The soldiers therefore, enforce the law and ensure that there are no impunity, discrimination and illegal cultural practices within the communities. The measures taken by the government are however not sufficient in dealing with the well-documented complications facing the communities. The situation has to be handled in a way that does not threaten the communities. The Shared Responsibility Agreements are still evolving and care has to be taken in the manner that the federal government administers the services. The administration offer services have to be devoid of discrimination. Moreover, in the management of the aboriginal affairs, the federal government has to put in place measures to punish the soldiers who may be found abusing the children and the women that they have the responsibilities to protect. Lastly, the federal government should find a way of selecting between the moral and immoral cultural practices and include the moral practices in the constitution to as a guide. References Boldt, M. (1993). Surviving as Indians: the challenge of self-government. University of Toronto Press. Chambers, R. P. (1975). Judicial enforcement of the federal trust responsibility to Indians. Stanford Law Review, 1213-1248. Fache, E. and Moizo, B. (2015). Do Burning Practices Contribute to Caring for Country? Contemporary Uses of Fire for Conservation Purposes in Indigenous Australia. Journal of Ethnobiology, 35(1), pp.163-182. Golub, A. (2006). Mining and Indigenous Lifeworlds in Australia and Papua New Guinea (review). The Contemporary Pacific, 18(2), pp.449-451. Gorst, J. (2002). INDIGENOUS FRUITS OF AUSTRALIA. Acta Hortic., (575), pp.555-561. Krieken, R. (2009). Reconciliation and Colonial Power: Indigenous Rights in Australia. Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews, 38(2), pp.178-179. Lea, T. (2012). Contemporary Anthropologies of Indigenous Australia. Annu. Rev. Anthropol., 41(1), pp.187-202. Lea, T., Thompson, H., McRaeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Williams, E. and Wegner, A. (2011). Policy fuzz and fuzzy logic: researching contemporary Indigenous education and parentschool engagement in north Australia. Journal of Education Policy, 26(3), pp.321-339. Maddison, S. (2009). Australia: Indigenous autonomy matters. Development, 52(S4), pp.483-489. McRae, H., Nettheim, G., Beacroft, L., McNamara, L. (2003). Indigenous legal issues: commentary and materials. Morphy, H. (2015). Indigenous Australia: Enduring CivilisationA Personal Reflection. Museum Worlds, 3(1). Morris, B. (2012). Borderwork in Indigenous South-Eastern Australia 1. Oceania, 82(1), pp.15-27. Tanner, L., Agius, K. and Darbyshire, P. (2005). Sometime they run away, thats how scared they feel: The paediatric hospitalisation experiences of Indigenous families from remote areas of Australia. Contemporary Nurse, 18(1-2), pp.3-17. Tsosie, R. A. (1996). Tribal environmental policy in an era of self-determination: the role of ethics, economics, and traditional ecological knowledge. Vermont Law Review, 21, 225.