Approaces in normative ethics Essay Example for Free

Approaces in normative ethics Essay There are three major approaces in normative ethics including virtue ethics, deontological ethics, and utilitarianism. This paper is going to compare the similarities and differences between virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. It will include a description of the differences in how each theory addresses ethics and morality and it will also discuss an experience to explain the relationship between virtue, values, and moral concepts as they relate to one of the three theories. Differences In How These Theories Address Ethics and Morality Virtue ethics, deontological ethics, and utilitarianism are the three major approaches in normative ethics. Virtue ethics emphasizes the virtues, or moral character, while deontology emphasizes duties or rules, and utilitarianism emphasizes the consequences of actions. Virtue ethics is also called agent-based or character ethics. According to Boylan (2009), when using the virtue ethics approach, one should take the viewpoint that in living their life they should try to cultivate excellence in all that they do. It encourages people to develop their character as the basis for the good life. Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism, meaning that the moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome. Utilitarianism suggests that an action is morally right when that action produces more total utility for the group than any other alternative (Boylan, 2009). Deontological ethics judges the morality of an action based on the actions adherence to a rule or rules. This form of ethics uses rules and duties to determine what is â€Å"right†. Deontological ethics is opposed to consequentialism. Deontology maintains the wrongness of actions resides in the kind of action that it is, rather than the consequences it brings about. A deontologist, for example, would find the act of killing an innocent man wrong simply because it is the killing of an innocent man. A consequentialist might find this action wrong because it deprives someone of future happiness and causes grief to a family. Virtues, Values, and Moral Concepts For individuals who follow the deontology theory, they must apply obligations and rules to their personal conduct. An individuals obligation is to make sure they pay their bills. This helps them to support their family, which is an obligation to people who accept this kind of lifestyle. Some individuals accept not to follow this path in life. A person could easily look at an electric bill and throw it off to the side, and instead, take the money and gamble it away. This would not be the case for a deontologist. A deontologist follows their obligations. A person who follows the theory of a deontology also has to think about virtue, value, and moral concepts. There really is no way to separate the three, as they all play into the same hand. When confronted with a moral or ethical dilemma, virtue, value, and moral concepts all play a part in an individuals thinking process. Conclusion There are three major approaches in normative ethics: virtue ethics, utilitarianism, and deontology. All of these theories are used by mankind to determine what is â€Å"right† and what is â€Å"wrong†. Whatever theory an individual accepts to use as their guide, it is important to accept one of these theories in an effort to help ourselves and mankind. References Boylan, M. (2009). Basic ethics (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Hursthouse, R. (2010). Virtue Ethics. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2010 Edition). Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/encyclopedia/archinfo.cgi?entry=ethics-virtue

Illusion Verses Reality in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Essay

Illusion Verses Reality in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "Death of A Salesman," by Arthur Miller, is a play that tells the story of a traveling salesman, Willy Loman, who encounters frustration and failure as he reflects on and experiences his own life. Willy's quest for the American Dream leads to his failure because throughout his life, he pursues the illusion of the American Dream and not the reality of it. His mindset on perfection, his obsession with success, and his constant reminiscence of the past and foretelling of the future, all contribute to his defeat in the end. The reality of the American Dream is that people are capable of succeeding. Success, though, requires one to work hard and be dedicated to both his/her professional life and family life. Yet, the illusion of the Dream is that attaining material prosperity defines success. Failing to acknowledge the importance of hard work in achieving the American Dream is another aspect of the illusion. By ignoring the present, Willy fails to deal with reality. He has a tendency of living in the past and thinking of the future. He always thinks that if he had done something differently then this could have happened, or things will get better as time passes. His habit of distorting the past, never allows Willy to realize what is going on right then and there in the present. At one time, when Willy goes off down memory lane, he "says" to Biff and Happy, "America is full of beautiful towns and fine, upstanding people. And they know me, boys?the finest people?there?ll be open sesame for all of us, ?cause one thing boys: I have friends. I can park my car in any street?and the cops protect it like their own" (31). Willy makes this distortion of the pa... ...ind. Willy Loman portrays a "common man", who lives a life that is purely an illusion. Although Willy has good intentions, his tragic flaw is that he focuses only on the appearance of the American Dream and never on the reality, the work ethic, or how to achieve it. Willy brings about his own downfall, his defeat, because he tries to pursue this "superficial" idea. Miller includes this theme of the American Dream in his social criticism in an attempt to portray the deviation in the values of society. For instance, materialism and technological advances, causes the American Dream to change as times changes. The salesman is a position that has declining importance at the time. He shows that an individual?s values are based on what society has established. Yet, as society changes, the values one has may not, causing conflict between the society and the individual.

My Neighborhood Cultural Experience

Running Heading: NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURE My Neighborhood Cultural Experience Carol Salinas Kaplan University HU300-09 Abstract I have had a great opportunity to look at some of my town’s most incredible architecture, paintings, murals, and sculptures. Our family has lived here for over six years now and I have had the pleasure to visiting our three local Native American Museums. I have always enjoyed going to them on occasion when I feel like just getting out by myself and having some quite time. My experiences in this class have opened my eyes to a new way of viewing the structures and art around me. I have chosen to discuss a building that I drive by on a daily basis, never really putting much stock into how it came to be or its significance to our town. I will discuss in detail the structure and the design of the facade. I have also chosen a piece of art that has been in my family since the early 1970’s. It is a sentimental painting that I am sure holds more heartfelt value than monetary worth. I see it every day as I walk in my home. It is truly a work of art. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder and most definitely in the eye of the visionary who created such beauty. My Neighborhood Cultural Experience Architecture During my field trip around my little town, I was amazed at all of the wonderful architecture that I had never taken notice of in the past. It was quite pleasing to see the amount of historical structures that are here in Anadarko, Oklahoma. Our town was established back in 1901 and holds quite a bit of Native American Indian Influence. This is relevant by the structures around town. I have chosen to discuss a building that was constructed in 1906 and is referred to as the Whitley Miller Building in the Anadarko downtown historical district (United States, 1990) (Exhibit A). The buildings address as listed in the historical registry is 125-129 W. Broadway, Anadarko, Oklahoma. This particular building is quite ornate in its structuring and was built in the Romanesque Revival style (Waymarking, 2011). It is divided up into three separate and distinct units or bays as they used to be called. The spaces between each unit are pilaster with round arch lintels of buff colored and red colored brick and a stone sill. It is a two-story building that has a stairwell up to the second floor. The stairwell is decorated with spandrels and pilasters. Two of the units display the names of their original occupants back in the day. The names read Max Goldman & Co. and Whitley Miller, which are inset in stone panels. The second floor has four double hung windows above each unit. These windows are accented by a fanlight transom. There is a wall-like barrier at the edge of the stone coping and a corbelled brick cornice on the roofline along with recessed panels. Each unit has its own personality and charm. They are accented with individual awnings, one is red cloth, another is metal, and then made of wood. Although the architects are unknown to me they seemed to have approached the design of this building as a painter or a sculptor would (Janaro & Altshuler, 2009). It is just amazing that something so old can still be in such magnificent condition. My Neighborhood Cultural Experience Art The art piece that I have chosen to discuss today is a painting that was painted in Manila, Philippines in 1962. The signature on this particular painting is not very clear and I cannot distinguish the artists’ name. I have included a picture of the painting (Exhibit B) as well as a close up of the signature (Exhibit C) in case you recognize it. This painting was a gift from my grandparents. They had become friends with many of the locals and befriended the artist. My grandfather saw the painting one day and asked if he could purchase it for his stepson. The artist graciously agreed. My grandfather and grandmother retired from the Air Force in 1972 and returned to the states bringing the painting home to my parents. After the passing of my parents, I have inherited the painting. It has become quite a conversation piece in our living room. The medium for this piece is oil on canvas. This is a representational painting of the Manila Bay at dusk. The use of chiaroscuro throughout this painting adds a sultry, almost lonely feeling to it (Janaro & Altshuler, 2009). You can see a shanty or shack sitting by the water and the boats are in from the days catch. There appears to be no one in sight. Everyone has gone home from a long and grueling day at sea. The water is calm and beautifully lit by the falling sun. The sky is an intense yellow and orange as the rays of the sun are hidden by the clouds. The perspective of this artist as it relates to his painting is amazing. When I look into the painting, I seem to be pulled into the landscape, as if I am sitting on a hill looking across at the beautiful sunset. A sense of calm comes over me. I can put myself right there just as a fisherman or his wife might be sitting outside after a good home cooked meal and relaxing after a tiering day on the water. References: R. P. Janaro & T. C. Altshuler (2009). The Art of Being Human: The  Humanities as a Technique for Living, ninth Edition. (pp. 105-130). New York: Longman. United States Department of the Interior – National Register of Historic places (1990). Retrieved December 17, 2011 from, http://pdfhost. focus. nps. gov/docs/NRHP/Text/82005385. pdf Waymarking. com (2011). Retrieved December 17, 2011, from http://www. waymarking. com/waymarks/WMCY7W_1906_Whitley_Miller_Building_Anadarko_OK

Faith Statement

Faith Statement My faith has grown immensely over the years. Throughout my faith journey everyone at the church and in my family has influenced my life in faith. To me when you are baptized it means your parents are making you a child of God but when you get confirmed you are accepting your baptism and becoming a member of the church. Jesus is a big part of mine and everyone’s life because he died on the cross to save our sins.We pretty much all take advantage of Jesus’s love. Everyone makes mistakes, some foolish, but still Jesus will always forgive us and love us. Also, even though I know I will be forgiven, church has taught me that we should all try to do our best at doing what God wants us to do and the right thing. Since I’m a Christian, whenever I am about to do something that I think God wouldn’t want me to I think it over and try to make the best choice.I think that Holy Communion affects my life by making me feel clean and saved. Prayer is very v ital to me. Going to church has taught me that if I pray to God for help in something most of the time he delivers but when he doesn’t it’s not because he isn’t listening but simply because it’s not meant to be. Throughout the years, I have learned to help God and serve around the community. After I get confirmed I will still attend church and do service projects to help others.

Metamorphoses in Enders Game and Riddley Walker essays

Metamorphoses in Ender's Game and Riddley Walker essays Metamorphoses and transformation is a common theme in science fiction, particularly since its speculative nature may make it that much easier to consider novel scenarios and changes unlikely in more traditional fiction. This theme is dealt with in a relatively practical fashion in the two science fiction classics Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. In their process of developing from childhood into adulthood, the protagonists of both these stories stand at a cusp of vital change, and essentially live the death of an entire way of life and being. Each reacts to this loss by recreating themselves anew from a synthesis of old and new, paradoxically coming into their own and overcoming their enemies by melding with them to form new, stronger selves. Perhaps the most important thing to realize when approaching these two books is that in both cases the main characters are children. The entire point of Ender's Game, of course, is to deal with the subtle way that brilliant young children can be unknowingly forced into superseding the evil of adults. The youth of the protagonist is such a major plot element that it is not at any risk of being forgotten, however it is so prominent that it may be at risk of being ignored when it comes to understanding the more subtle points of the work. In Riddley Walker, the protagonist is portrayed as being a man from the very beginning, and one recalls that the very first page describes "my naming day" on which he becomes a man. Yet he is a very young little man, just twelve years old, and even by the end of the book he's hardly a month past that. Though he is treated both as a sexual and a philosophically equipped adult, there is no doubt that to our modern eyes he must still be a child in many ways, and this book is the story of his slow transformation into an adult. In both cases, the transformation int...

Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana in the U.S

Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana in the U.S According to a  2017 poll,  52% percent of American adults have tried marijuana at some point in their lives. The dried blossom of cannabis sativa and cannabis indica  plants, marijuana has been used for centuries as an herb, a medicine, as hemp for rope-making, and  as a recreational drug. Did You Know? Before the 20th century, cannabis plants in the U.S. were relatively unregulated, and marijuana was a common ingredient in medicines. As of 2018, the U.S. government claims the right to, and does, criminalize the growing, selling,  and possession of marijuana in all states. This right is not given to them by the  Constitution, but by the  U.S. Supreme Court, most notably in their 2005 ruling in  Gonzales v. Raich, which again upheld the right of the federal government to ban marijuana use in all states, in spite of the dissenting voice of Justice Clarence Thomas, who stated: By holding that Congress may regulate activity that is neither interstate nor commerce under the Interstate Commerce Clause, the Court abandons any attempt to enforce the Constitutions limits on federal power. Brief History Recreational use of marijuana was thought to have been introduced in the U.S. early in the 20th century by immigrants from Mexico. In the 1930s, marijuana was linked publicly in several research studies, and via a famed 1936 film named Reefer Madness to crime, violence, and anti-social behavior. Many believe that objections to marijuana first rose sharply as part of the U.S. temperance movement against alcohol.  Others claim  that marijuana was initially demonized partly due to fears of the Mexican immigrants associated with the drug. In the 21st century, marijuana is illegal in the U.S. ostensibly due to moral and public health reasons, and because of continuing concern over violence and crime associated with production and distribution of the drug. In spite of federal regulations, nine states have voted to legalize the growth, use, and distribution of marijuana within their borders. And many others are debating whether or not to do the same. Pros and Cons of Legalization Primary reasons in support of legalizing marijuana include: Social Reasons Prohibition of marijuana  is unwarranted government intrusion into individual freedom of choice.Marijuana is no more harmful to a persons health than alcohol or tobacco, which are both legal and widely used, and regulated by the U.S. Food Drug Administration.Marijuana has proven medical benefits for patients suffering from a  host of ailments and diseases, including cancer, AIDS, and glaucoma.Crime and violence, both within the U.S. and at the U.S.-Mexico border, are greatly increased due to illegal selling and buying of marijuana. Legalization would logically end the need for such criminal behavior. Law Enforcement Reasons According to the  FBI Unified Crime Statistics,  587,700 people were arrested in 2016 for marijuana-related crimes, more than for all violent crimes like murder and rape combined. As a result, marijuana arrests  place an undue burden on our judicial system.Drug busts of youth for marijuana offenses often carry harsh penalties that can cause undue  social harm with lifelong consequences. Fiscal Reasons Marijuana is one of Americas top-selling agricultural products. According to the  Colorado Department of Revenue, combined four-year sales of marijuana for that state since it legalized cannabis in 2014 has now topped $4.5  billion.... mainstream pundits like Fox News  Glenn Beck  and CNNs  Jack Cafferty  have publicly questioned the billions spent each year fighting the endless war against drugs,  per the San Francisco Chronicle  in 2009. If marijuana was legalized and regulated, an estimated $8 billion would be saved annually in government spending on enforcement, including for the FBI and U.S.-Mexico border security. Primary reasons against legalizing marijuana include: Social Reasons Much in the same way that pro-life advocates seek to make abortion illegal for all based on moral grounds, so too do some Americans wish to make marijuana illegal because they believe its use is immoral.Long-term or abusive use of marijuana can be harmful to a persons health and well-being.Second-hand smoke from marijuana can be harmful to others.Many allege that regular marijuana use can lead to the  use of harder, more harmful drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Law Enforcement Reasons Some opponents of legalizing marijuana believe that individuals involved in illegal buying and selling of the drug are more likely than average to be involved in other crimes  and that society is safer with marijuana offenders incarcerated.Law enforcement agencies dont want to be construed as supporting drug use. There are no significant fiscal reasons against U.S. legalization of marijuana. Legal Background The following are milestones of federal marijuana enforcement in U.S. history: Prohibition, 1919 to 1933:  As the  use of marijuana became popular in response to alcohol prohibition, conservative anti-drug campaigners railed against the Marijuana Menace, linking the drug to crime, violence,  and other bad behaviors.1930, Federal Bureau of Narcotics  established:  By 1931, 29 states had criminalized marijuana.Uniform State Narcotic Act of 1932: This act pushed the states, rather than federal authorities, to regulate narcotics.Marijuana Tax Act of 1937:  People who sought certain medical benefits of marijuana could now do so freely, provided they paid an excise tax.1944, New York Academy of Medicine:  The esteemed institution bucked current thinking by putting out a report finding that marijuana does not induce violence, insanity or sex crimes.Narcotics Control Act of 1956:  This piece of legislation set  mandatory prison sentences  and fines for drug offenses, including for marijuana.1960s Counter-Culture Movement:  U.S. marijuana use grew rapidly during this time. Studies commissioned by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson concluded that marijuana use did not induce violence. 1970: Congress repealed mandatory penalties for drug offenses. Marijuana was differentiated from other drugs. Per PBS,  It was widely acknowledged that the  mandatory minimum sentences  of the 1950s had done nothing to eliminate the drug culture that embraced marijuana use throughout the 60s... 1973, Drug Enforcement Agency:  President Nixon created the DEA to enforce the controlled substances regulations and laws of the United States.Oregon Decriminalization Bill of 1973: In spite of federal regulations,  Oregon becomes the  first state to decriminalize marijuana.1976, Conservative Christian Groups:  Led by Rev. Jerry Falwells Moral Majority, rising conservative groups lobbied for stricter marijuana laws. The coalition grew powerful, leading to the 1980s War on Drugs.The Controlled Substances Therapeutic Research Act of 1978: By passing this act in its legislature, New Mexico became the first state in the Union to legally recognize the medical value of marijuana.Anti-D rug Abuse Act of 1986:  Pushed for and signed by  President Reagan, the act raised penalties for marijuana offenses  and established harsh mandatory three strikes  sentencing laws. 1989, New War on Drugs:  In his Presidential Address of September 5, George H.W. Bush outlined a new strategy to combat the evils of drug use and trafficking, led by Bill Benett, the nations first-ever drug policy director.1996 in California:  Voters legalized marijuana use for cancer, AIDS, glaucoma,  and other patients, via a doctors prescription.1996 to 2018, nationwide: The war on drugs continues, yet marijuana is either legalized for consumption, legalized for medical use, or decriminalized in 42 states.February 25, 2009:  Attorney General Eric Holder  announced that federal agents will now target marijuana distributors only when they violate both federal and state laws, which effectively meant that if a state had legalized marijuana, the Obama administration would not override state law.  Cole Memorandum of 2013:  US Attorney General James M. Cole conveys to  federal prosecutors that they should not expend resources prosecuting state-legal marijuana businesses, except in the case of one of eight law enforcement priorities, such as distributing pot to minors or  across state lines.   2018:  Vermont becomes  the first state to legalize recreational cannabis by way of the state legislature.January 4, 2018:  Attorney Jeff Sessions rescinds a trio of Obama-era rules, including the Holder and Cole memorandums,  which had adopted a policy of non-intervention in marijuana-friendly states. Moves to Legalize On June 23, 2011, a federal bill to fully legalize marijuana was introduced in the House by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA.)  Ã‚  Said Congressman Frank  to the Christian Science Monitor of the bill:   Criminally prosecuting adults for making the choice to smoke marijuana is a waste of law enforcement resources and an intrusion on personal freedom. I do not advocate urging people to smoke marijuana, neither do I urge them to drink alcoholic beverages or smoke tobacco, but in none of these cases do I think prohibition enforced by criminal sanctions is good public policy. Another bill to decriminalize marijuana across the country was introduced on February 5, 2013,  by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). Neither of the two bills made it out of the House. The states,  on the other hand, have taken matters into their own hands. By 2018, nine states and Washington, D.C. had legalized recreational use of marijuana by adults. Thirteen additional states have decriminalized marijuana, and a full 30 allow its use in medical treatment. By January 1, 2018,  legalization was on the docket for another 12 states. Federal Push Back To date, no U.S. president has supported the  decriminalization of marijuana, not even President Barack Obama, who, when asked at a  March 2009 online town hall  about marijuana legalization, laughingly demurred,   I dont know what this says about the online audience.† He then continued, But, no, I dont think that is a good strategy to grow our economy.† This in spite of the  fact that Obama told the crowd at his 2004 appearance at Northwestern University,  I think the war on drugs has been a failure, and I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws. Almost one year into Donald Trump’s presidency, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in a January 4, 2018  memo  to United States Attorneys, rescinded the Obama-era policies discouraging federal prosecution of marijuana cases in those states where the drug was legal. This move outraged many pro-legalization advocates on both sides of the aisle, including conservative political activists Charles and David Koch, whose general counsel, Mark Holden,  blasted  both Trump and Sessions for the move.  Roger Stone,  President Trump’s former campaign adviser, called the move by Sessions a â€Å"cataclysmic mistake. If any president were to publicly support the nationwide decriminalization of marijuana, he or she would likely do so by granting states the  jurisdiction to decide this issue, just as states decide marriage laws for their residents.

Enrolment and Placement in Special Education Essay

Enrolment and Placement in Special Education - Essay Example In countries such as the United States, there are national policies such as the Individual with Disabilities Education Act and The Rehabilitation Act. For instance Page 118 STAT. 2649 of the Rehabilitation Act states that the Act is a â€Å"policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities† (U.S Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, 2007). In a similar relation, Australia also has Acts that promote the improvement of special education as seen in the mission statement of the Australian Association of Special Education. This not withstanding, there have been some few hitches with the implementation of the Special Education Acts in Australia. A provider of services to people who are blind or have low vision, Vision Australia indicates in a Review of Special Education Services in ACT Public Schools discussion paper states that some parents of the disabled are not pl eased with the public schools system and therefore switch to join individualized programs (Renee and Sue, 2009). Trend of enrolment and placement in special education In Australia, special education is regarded as the education that â€Å"covers the education of children with particular needs† (AUSSIE Educator, 2011). Enrolment and placement into special education targets â€Å"students who exhibit special requirements in the areas of behaviour disorders and learning, physical, hearing or vision impairment† (AUSSIE Educator, 2011) whiles treating gifted students with special abilities separately. This means that gifted students are not included in the enrolment and placement when talking... From this essay it is clear that  special education in Australia is treated with a lot of attention and concern. To this effect, there are governmental policies and laws that back it. There are also a number of associations that ensure the smooth running of the special education program. One of such recognized associations is the Australian Association of Special Education (AASE). The AASE aims to enhance access for students with special education, improve the quality of educational programs, promote professional standards of a high order and to support research that informs the delivery of special education in the Australian context.This discussion stresses that  in Australia, special education is regarded as the education that â€Å"covers the education of children with particular needs†. Enrolment and placement into special education targets â€Å"students who exhibit special requirements in the areas of behaviour disorders and learning, physical, hearing or vision imp airment† whiles treating gifted students with special abilities separately. This means that gifted students are not included in the enrolment and placement when talking about special education. Enrolment and placement takes two major forms, which are integration into regular schools and separation into special schools. In cases where special needs students are enrolled in regular schools, the school system is forced to cut down on admission to make classes have smaller numbers of students.