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11. Be able to consider ethical issues thoughtfully.
In starting to explain this item, references need to be discussed. In writing this blog, I have no idea what you know, what you do not know. I will write this portion as if you know about the concept of ethics. I will help somewhat, but the following reference can help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics I realize wikipedia is not the greatest source, however, in this case it covers the subject in 19 pages, enough for a better understanding. Wikipedia also gives a pretty complete Notes and References area for further research.
Ethics is not a course in most high school curriculums. It is however a subject touched on to receive a college degree. Ethics can not only be read about, it must be discussed in a classroom- like setting with a moderator that can help direct the discussion.
"Ethics (also known as moral philosophy) is a branch of philosophy which seeks to address questions about morality; that is, about concepts such as good and bad, the noble and the ignoble, right and wrong, justice and virtue."(Wikipedia)
Examples:
What do you do about the "prisoners" in Guantanamo?
What about abortion?
What about the death penalty?
Do we close the border?
Do the ends justify the means?
If you have been watching TV news lately, you have seen groups that have gathered together to support pieces of legislation, or not support that legislation. People in these support groups have made an ethical decision based on their "frame of reference" about that particular decision and are willing to get in a crowd to voice their opinion, or mail/call their Congressman about the way they feel about "pending " legislation. This is what an educated citizen does. He follows current events, watches TV news, reads periodicals, listens to radio talk shows, WHATEVER HE HAS TIME FOR AND THE DESIRE TO STRENGTHEN HIS FEELING FOR A PARTICULAR SUBJECT.
People who have had religious upbringing usually have been involved with moral discussions. They attempt to follow what their church leadership has already sorted out for them. As you grow older and start thinking for yourself, you will be stronger for having the church up-bringing, however, you must be able to keep an open enough mind to alter some of these learnings if new data is presented. How you value the data in your specific instance will determine your actions.
Perhaps the most polarizing issue in America today is abortion. How do you feel about that issue?
There are two main items to this discussion: Do you feel the woman should have control over her own body? OR, Do you feel the "fetus" has rights and should be protected by the state? If you have not made up your mind, you need to; the reason, in the new book, The Nine, Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court by Jeffrey Toobin, he brings out that there are two kinds of appeals that are being brought to the Court today, in a 50/50 ratio, Abortion Issues and All others. As you can see, abortion is a very important ethical issue.
Please, anytime you discuss ethical issues, start with your frame of reference and an open mind. Starting with your frame of reference and a closed mind does nothing to help the greater good.
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My frame of reference on this type of subject is my feelings on the matter, reading different debates and watching debates and also experiencing it within my own family.
ReplyDeleteI personally feel that we as humans have the right to do what we want to our own bodies. There shouldn't be an overriding government entity telling me what I can and cannot do to myself. I'm a firm believer that if someone wants to put drugs in their body then let them do it, because it's their own body.
I feel this way about a woman and abortion. I personally feel, as a man, that I should have some suggestions in the matter but ultimately, it's the woman's body and her decision.
I'm a firm believer in this because, let's say, a woman gets raped and is pregnant because of it. We are forcing that woman to bring a child into this world that was not made out of love, it was made out of hate, and it will forever be a bad mark in the woman's life, at least in her mind. Another thing that you have to consider is that his new child is now, more than likely, going to have mental problems, and could possibly become a burden for American's, ie adoption, prison, etc.
I also don't believe that a fetus has the same rights as a person who is a part of society already. A Fetus cannot live on it's own. Neither can an infant but we're not talking apples to apples with that discussion. You are talking about an already formed baby that is outside of the body, not in a body and growing day by day.
I know that there are several more things that I could write but that's how I feel at this point with my knowledge.
I do want to say that I'm not for abortion as a form of birth control, though. That to me is just careless.
I will chat about the other topics later when I have more time.
JP
JP--great thought process. Well thought out!! Thanks for the comment. TFP
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