Morals

Anthony Woods Week2 essay~ Contemporary Ethics 1. Why should a person be moral' In addressing this question, analyze either Plato’s story of the ring of Gyges. In my opinion we (all) should be moral because without morality society would breakdown and do whatever it is they want to do without a care in the world and how it (immorality) would affect others. It is often in a person’s self interest to behave in a moral fashion, and to uphold a person’s moral values often demands to some degree that we sacrifice the pursuit of our own self-interest/benefit. Think about stealing, it is regarded as wrong all over the world to steal something from someone for your own benefit. From a moral standpoint stealing is not permissible. It can also be against a person’s self-interest. A burglar might decide not to rob his or her next door neighbor’s house because it has a security system. Because his or her chances of getting caught and going to jail would be a great risk. This would not be in the burglars best (rational) self-interest. In this case the burglar chose to uphold his or her moral values versus pursuing their own self-interest. From a social aspect, I don’t believe that a society can survive without a moral foundation, because being moral socially is an essential tool in maintaining peace and a reasonable standard of living for all, within our boundaries. Killing, stealing and lying are some of many behaviors that are not allowed in a stable society. Imagine living in a society where there were no laws against murdering someone and the murder was not punished for killing someone. There wouldn’t be any sense of security for anyone because nothing would be in place to prevent them from being killed by others. What about theft' Without a way to own and protect your property, people could just take your possessions. We wouldn’t have any sense of stability or security because our property could be taken at any time. It is very important that moral rules be followed for the sake of society to exist and benefit from convenience, security and some type of stability to us as citizens. I think an individual should be moral because the act of morality has a very distinctive value. To be morally as an individual is a command by God and leads to rewards in the afterlife and the decision to be an immoral person is subjected to punishment. God is a moral lawgiver and to act morally is the act of obeying Gods command. To be moral benefits everyone because the overall advantage of it is trust, security and fair treatment which outweighs any minor disadvantage that may result. It is really in a person’s best interest to be moral because it leads to greater happiness and fulfillment than an immoral person who may have different values and goals. Look at Plat’s story about “The Rings of Gyges.” Gyges was a shepherd who worked for a king. There was a great storm and an earthquake that led to an opening in the earth; it was there that he found a dead body with nothing on but a gold ring. Gyges took the ring form the dead body, only to find out later, while playing around with it during a meeting, that it was magic and could make him invisible. With the powers to become invisible, he seduced the queen, killed the king and took over the kingdom. This story is the perfect example of if man is giving the opportunity to perform any injustice he would use that power and wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off what wasn’t his. He could deceitfully take whatever he wanted, and he would attempt to go into someone’s house and lie with anyone he pleases. He would kill or release someone from jail or prison. He or she would pretty much be act as God among some men. If a person was to have possession of such a ring and be guaranteed that he or she wouldn’t get caught or be punished, he or she would live an immoral life. I couldn’t imagine living around someone with such an immoral nature. This story only proves that the only reason that people act in such a moral fashion is because they don’t have the power to behave any other way. If you take away the fear of being caught and being punished, the lawful and unlawful person would behave the same way: moral, immoral. Jacqueline Bonner Week2 essay~ Contemporary Ethics 1. Why should a person be moral' In addressing this question, analyze either Plato’s story of the ring of Gyges. In my opinion we (all) should be moral because without morality society would breakdown and do whatever it is they want to do without a care in the world and how it (immorality) would affect others. It is often in a person’s self interest to behave in a moral fashion, and to uphold a person’s moral values often demands to some degree that we sacrifice the pursuit of our own self-interest/benefit. Think about stealing, it is regarded as wrong all over the world to steal something from someone for your own benefit. From a moral standpoint stealing is not permissible. It can also be against a person’s self-interest. A burglar might decide not to rob his or her next door neighbor’s house because it has a security system. Because his or her chances of getting caught and going to jail would be a great risk. This would not be in the burglars best (rational) self-interest. In this case the burglar chose to uphold his or her moral values versus pursuing their own self-interest. From a social aspect, I don’t believe that a society can survive without a moral foundation, because being moral socially is an essential tool in maintaining peace and a reasonable standard of living for all, within our boundaries. Killing, stealing and lying are some of many behaviors that are not allowed in a stable society. Imagine living in a society where there were no laws against murdering someone and the murder was not punished for killing someone. There wouldn’t be any sense of security for anyone because nothing would be in place to prevent them from being killed by others. What about theft' Without a way to own and protect your property, people could just take your possessions. We wouldn’t have any sense of stability or security because our property could be taken at any time. It is very important that moral rules be followed for the sake of society to exist and benefit from convenience, security and some type of stability to us as citizens. I think an individual should be moral because the act of morality has a very distinctive value. To be morally as an individual is a command by God and leads to rewards in the afterlife and the decision to be an immoral person is subjected to punishment. God is a moral lawgiver and to act morally is the act of obeying Gods command. To be moral benefits everyone because the overall advantage of it is trust, security and fair treatment which outweighs any minor disadvantage that may result. It is really in a person’s best interest to be moral because it leads to greater happiness and fulfillment than an immoral person who may have different values and goals. Look at Plat’s story about “The Rings of Gyges.” Gyges was a shepherd who worked for a king. There was a great storm and an earthquake that led to an opening in the earth, it was there that he found a dead body with nothing on but a gold ring. Gyges took the ring form the dead body, only to find out later, while playing around with it during a meeting, that it was magic and could make him invisible. With the powers to become invisible, he seduced the queen, killed the king and took over the kingdom. This story is the perfect example of if man is giving the opportunity to perform any injustice he would use that power and wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off what wasn’t his. He could deceitfully take whatever he wanted, and he would attempt to go into someone’s house and lie with anyone he pleases. He would kill or release someone from jail or prison. He or she would pretty much be act as God among some men. If a person was to have possession of such a ring and be guaranteed that he or she wouldn’t get caught or be punished, he or she would live an immoral life. I couldn’t imagine living around someone with such an immoral nature. This story only proves that the only reason that people act in such a moral fashion is because they don’t have the power to behave any other way. If you take away the fear of being caught and being punished, the lawful and unlawful person would behave the same way: moral, immoral.