Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Assignment #6

QUESTION #1: If an action that is praised in one culture may be condemned in another, would it be correct to say that all moral values are relative to the culture they are found in?

Although cultures may have different beliefs, we all share some moral values. We share moral values, but we all express these same values in different ways. For example, we can say that it would be "correct" to wear black at a funeral in some communities but not in others or that it is right to have several wives. When it comes down to do it, you can not judge because each culture has a different moral guideline in which they follow. Although there is a difference in the beliefs or moral guideline within each culture, we all enforce the same moral values which fit our culture.




ANSWER 1B:


P: Every culture has a different belief they live by.


P: You cant judge without comparing your culture with another.

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C: Therefore, it is correct to say that all moral values are relative to the culture they are found in.

QUESTION #2: Isn’t it a mark of ignorance to pass judgments on other cultures or to claim that one culture is better than another?

I don't believe that any culture should pass judgment on another. No one can conclude whether or not other cultures are right or wrong. Considering that every culture differs with their beliefs, no individual can argue that their culture is better than another. Another issue with judging is that you would be basing your opinions or views on different cultures from your own, which is not fair towards others. The result of your opinion or judgment with the comparison of your culture with another, would just make your argument appear that you believe your culture is better.

2B:

P:It's not fair to say that your culture is better than another.

P: Most are not open minded of the different cultures.

C: Therefore, it is a mark of ignorance to pass judgments on other cultures




See page 63 in our text. Choose one inquiry, from inquiries 3 – 11. Briefly describe the inquiry as the first part of your answer, so your readers know which one you chose. Discuss whether or not the action / decision in each case is ethical. And then, put your argument in equation form. Try to include an ethical principle as one of your premises, as modeled below...

The inquiry I chose was number nine. This is about ancient Rome, Sparta, and China and how for them it would be alright to abandon their unwanted children to die. For example, a parent can reject their child based on their sexuality. Like what was addressed in our readings, China is known to have an obsession with masculinity because they want their child to pass off their name in marriage.

Arguable Issue: Whether or not it is moral to abandon an unwanted child to die

P: Killing another is immoral (moral principle, based on valuing the life of human-beings).

P: Killing a child does not give them a chance to live.

P: There are many of people who would be willing to adopt the child.

C: Therefore, abandoning an unwanted child to die is not moral.




Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Assignment #5




http://youtube.com/watch?v=aNSzB1gn4p4

This clip conveys an ethical issue one may encounter on an everyday basis. This group of teens are trying to figure out how to raise money for a good cause but they came accross a dilema. They dont know how they are going to be able to raise enough money in a limited amount of time. They came up with ideas such as establishing a car wash but they dont believe this will financially fit their criteria. Then one of the group members gave the solution of a sponsership with a tobacco company, but is this ethical? Once these groups of teens thought about the sponsership with the tobacco company and what message this would be conveying to others, they decided to take a majority vote. Like what we discussed in chapter two, this group of individuals decided to take a vote to see whether or not this is ethical, which the majority thought it would be wrong to have a tobacco company sponser them.

4. In a separate paragraph, tell me how many points you believe your efforts deserve--in argument form! For example:


Arguable issue: whether or not this post deserves points...if yes, how many?
Conclusion: This post deserves twenty-five points.
Premises:This post deserves twenty-five points because:

(1) I found a clip that relates to ethics.

(2) I posted the link to the clip.

(3) I wrote a paragraph about the clip.