Ruth Benedict's 'Cultural Relativism'
enedict (Cultural Relativism)
a. The concept of Cultural Relativism states, “it is not each person, but each person’s culture that is the standard by which actions are to be measured”(Wilkens, 29). I believe Ruth Benedict would base how she acts in this situation off of what an individual might justify morally. People have multiple views, which vary concerning what someone should do in this type of situation. Some people may consider not turning in the ticket as wrong, while others may think it is okay to keep the ticket for further use. Each person must base his or her decision off of what he or she thinks is morally right, not what somebody else thinks. In the end, a cultural relativist may support the decision made by the person, depending …show more content…
upon the culture’s view.
2. John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism)
a.
Utilitarianism sees that the consequences of ones actions are on the basis of determining what is right and wrong morally. In addition, it says that, “acts are morally right when they succeed in bringing about a desired result” (Wilkens, 98). In this situation, according to Utilitarianism, Gil B would likely want to keep the ticket and have Metro-North lose the fair, according to this ethical view. Gil is getting the benefit of free train rides, and is going to take advantage of the situation. . He is not receiving a consequence, which may lead him to believe that his actions are morally acceptable. Gil is happy about not having to pay extra and is getting his free rides until the ticket gets collected. This ethical view seems to support Gil in that he should keep using the ticket as long as it brings him …show more content…
happiness.
3. Immanuel Kant (Rule Ethics)
a.
Rule Ethics points towards what a person’s motive is for a situation. The concept of motivation states it is what drives an individual that reveals if the person is ethically right or wrong. Saving a person from being hit by a car is morally wrong if one tries to push the person in front of the speeding car but misses and pushes them out of the way instead. If Gil is going to use the money he was saving to give to a sick family member, then it would likely mean he is doing the right thing. However, if selfish greed motivates him, then he is ethically wrong for not turning in the train ticket. Kant bases his ethical decision around what one’s motivation is, not the outcome of his or her actions.
4. Aristotle (Virtue ethics)
a. Virtue Ethics asserts, “acting out of duty, even duty motivated out of good will, is inadequate. It is essential that the moral actor act out his or her character” (week 10 wrap up). In this ethical view, Gil should do whatever is ethically right in his mind. It does not matter what anyone else thinks about what he should do in the situation; he is the authority on what is wrong or right. Since Aristotle states that there needs to be a balance between ultimate good and ultimate evil, he would tell Gil to make the choice on what he feels is the ultimate right choice.
5. Joseph Fletcher (Situation
ethics)
a. Situation ethics applies the tool of “love” to different ethical situations. Fletcher based his ethical view on consequences, and how to determine an action as the most “loving” one. In this situation, I see the most loving course of action as Gel considering the fact that he could be jeopardizing the job of the ticket collector. A loving action means doing what will help out others before oneself. If this is the case, then Gel should consider giving up the ticket so the worker doesn’t get in trouble for accidently not collecting said ticket. Fletcher would tell Gil that the most loving thing he could do is helping out the worker by turning in the ticket.
6. My Response
a. In this type of situation, I would turn in the uncollected ticket. I do not think it is right to keep using an item that is made for one use only, especially when money is involved. One would essentially be stealing a a free ride; that ticket was meant for a one time use, not a frequent user. If a person feels that he or she deserves this, then everyone else riding should as well. How is someone else who is behind that person going to feel when they see he or she did not give up a ticket, but they must? This is likely to cause a problem. Nothing in this world is a free ride. I understand that this is not something that would sit on a person’s mind for days, but, at the same time, doing what is right is better than sitting back and not doing anything. I would have to ask him what do you feel is right? Does it bother you to keep using the ticket, or do you just carry on and get away with it until you get caught?
a. The concept of Cultural Relativism states, “it is not each person, but each person’s culture that is the standard by which actions are to be measured”(Wilkens, 29). I believe Ruth Benedict would base how she acts in this situation off of what an individual might justify morally. People have multiple views, which vary concerning what someone should do in this type of situation. Some people may consider not turning in the ticket as wrong, while others may think it is okay to keep the ticket for further use. Each person must base his or her decision off of what he or she thinks is morally right, not what somebody else thinks. In the end, a cultural relativist may support the decision made by the person, depending …show more content…
upon the culture’s view.
2. John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism)
a.
Utilitarianism sees that the consequences of ones actions are on the basis of determining what is right and wrong morally. In addition, it says that, “acts are morally right when they succeed in bringing about a desired result” (Wilkens, 98). In this situation, according to Utilitarianism, Gil B would likely want to keep the ticket and have Metro-North lose the fair, according to this ethical view. Gil is getting the benefit of free train rides, and is going to take advantage of the situation. . He is not receiving a consequence, which may lead him to believe that his actions are morally acceptable. Gil is happy about not having to pay extra and is getting his free rides until the ticket gets collected. This ethical view seems to support Gil in that he should keep using the ticket as long as it brings him …show more content…
happiness.
3. Immanuel Kant (Rule Ethics)
a.
Rule Ethics points towards what a person’s motive is for a situation. The concept of motivation states it is what drives an individual that reveals if the person is ethically right or wrong. Saving a person from being hit by a car is morally wrong if one tries to push the person in front of the speeding car but misses and pushes them out of the way instead. If Gil is going to use the money he was saving to give to a sick family member, then it would likely mean he is doing the right thing. However, if selfish greed motivates him, then he is ethically wrong for not turning in the train ticket. Kant bases his ethical decision around what one’s motivation is, not the outcome of his or her actions.
4. Aristotle (Virtue ethics)
a. Virtue Ethics asserts, “acting out of duty, even duty motivated out of good will, is inadequate. It is essential that the moral actor act out his or her character” (week 10 wrap up). In this ethical view, Gil should do whatever is ethically right in his mind. It does not matter what anyone else thinks about what he should do in the situation; he is the authority on what is wrong or right. Since Aristotle states that there needs to be a balance between ultimate good and ultimate evil, he would tell Gil to make the choice on what he feels is the ultimate right choice.
5. Joseph Fletcher (Situation
ethics)
a. Situation ethics applies the tool of “love” to different ethical situations. Fletcher based his ethical view on consequences, and how to determine an action as the most “loving” one. In this situation, I see the most loving course of action as Gel considering the fact that he could be jeopardizing the job of the ticket collector. A loving action means doing what will help out others before oneself. If this is the case, then Gel should consider giving up the ticket so the worker doesn’t get in trouble for accidently not collecting said ticket. Fletcher would tell Gil that the most loving thing he could do is helping out the worker by turning in the ticket.
6. My Response
a. In this type of situation, I would turn in the uncollected ticket. I do not think it is right to keep using an item that is made for one use only, especially when money is involved. One would essentially be stealing a a free ride; that ticket was meant for a one time use, not a frequent user. If a person feels that he or she deserves this, then everyone else riding should as well. How is someone else who is behind that person going to feel when they see he or she did not give up a ticket, but they must? This is likely to cause a problem. Nothing in this world is a free ride. I understand that this is not something that would sit on a person’s mind for days, but, at the same time, doing what is right is better than sitting back and not doing anything. I would have to ask him what do you feel is right? Does it bother you to keep using the ticket, or do you just carry on and get away with it until you get caught?