Utilitarian Vs Deontological Analysis
Ethical judgments limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in both the arts and natural sciences. Discuss.
Ethical judgments are generally based on the moral principles that influence a person 's conduct. The statement states that different methods of gaining knowledge are affected by ethical judgments in both the arts and the natural sciences. It is my belief that ethical judgments should be based on reason rather than a belief or feeling in the pursuit of knowledge. Ethical judgments stem from two basic systems: utilitarian and deontological ethics. Utilitarian ethics implies that no moral act is right or wrong. Rather, the consequences that are associated with the act are the basis on which it could be considered good …show more content…
or bad. In utilitarianism, decisions are directed to the "the greatest happiness for the greatest number" (Waller, "Utilitarian Ethics"). However, the limitation of utilitarian ethics is that when deciding to pursue an act or not, the consequences are always generated through hypothetical outcomes. This suggests that there is no certainty that those consequences would actually happen, making their judgments somewhat potentially inaccurate. In deontological ethics, the judgment of whether an act is right or wrong is through the basis of a set of universal laws that are acceptable to most.
Deontological ethics is principle based, which means it is expected that there is an absolute sense of what is right or wrong in the world. In this ethical system, the judgment is based on the action itself, rather than the consequences that are associated with it (BBC, "Duty-based ethics"). For example, "It is never right to murder." In deontological ethics, if a person kills someone, for whatever reason, he has done something wrong. The limitation in deontological ethics is that an act could be judged appropriately only if everybody has the same viewpoint on that certain principle. An example with which these two systems could be differentiated is the ticking bomb scenario where a bomb terrorist refuses to release information to the police about the bombs he has implanted in certain locations where thousands of people are currently in. The problem now is whether it is justifiable for the police to torture him in order for him to give out information. In utilitarian ethics, it would be justifiable to torture the person as the police could save thousands of lives if they are …show more content…
able to find the location of the bombs before it 's too late. However, this is assuming that torture will make the person confess. In deontological ethics, on the other hand, it would not be justifiable to torture the terrorist as it is universally unacceptable to harm other people. This type of ethics does not look upon the consequences the act would result to but focuses only on the action itself, which is the torturing. So how do these two systems of ethical judgments affect the methods of producing knowledge?
People in the field of natural sciences use logical thinking and step-by-step processes in solving problems and inventing new things, as these methods are designed to lead to more objective results.
Emotion and intuition are not commonly used in this area of knowledge as these ways of knowing can lead to subjective results. Ethical judgments are based on a set of beliefs that most people follow, and thus, because we are talking about beliefs, these judgments can be subjective. One example wherein ethical judgments can limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in the natural sciences is in embryonic stem cell research. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into different types of cells necessary for an organism to function. Scientists have deduced that being able to have a method of controlling the use of stem cells can help in creating more effective treatments for many deadly diseases such as cancer and Parkinson 's disease. Human embryonic stem cells have the potential of differentiating into various cell types that could be a source of cells for transplantation of tissue engineering (EuroStemCell, "Embryonic stem cell research: An Ethical Dilemma"). Scientists have discovered two ways of obtaining stem cells from embryos and adults. It is the embryonic stem cells that have caused controversy. Removing the stem cells requires the destruction of the embryo, which to some people is unethical as they liken it to the destruction of a human being.
Scientists have tried experimenting on the possibility of reprogramming adult stem cells to resemble embryonic stem cells (although this has not been done yet) but are still hoping to be able to use embryonic stem cells in the future. Embryonic stem cell research has become a very controversial issue in our society because of the different ethical standpoints and beliefs of people. Culture and religion play a big role in ethical judgments and because there is no one culture or religion, further research and experimentation on stem cells does not get pushed through in most parts of the world such as Germany, Italy and Sweden (Ralston, "Stem Cell Research Around the World"). Because of this, better medical treatments for different diseases become limited. Thus, in this example ethical judgments limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in the natural sciences.
One of the questions that arises with the arts when it comes to this TOK title is first and foremost, "Do artists even produce knowledge?" If artists do not produce knowledge, then ethical judgments would not matter in this area of knowledge as it won 't be limiting anything. Personally, I think that artists do produce knowledge; however, it is not the same knowledge that is produced in other areas of knowledge such as the natural sciences. Both artists and scientists observe the world and from these observations, they produce knowledge; in this case, artists produce art. However, artists have their own views of the world and see the world less formally than scientists do. Also, since artists usually produce qualitative work, it is not considered a reliable source of universal knowledge, unlike in natural sciences where most experiments result in quantitative data. Through their observations of the world, artists are able to produce art, which usually has a purpose of evoking a certain feeling to the one viewing the certain piece of art. This then makes art very subjective and individualistic. This is also why not all people appreciate a certain type of artwork. Because of this, should artists think of ethical considerations before creating art?
The display of nudity in art has become socially, religiously or politically inappropriate for most people in the world. One example, the L 'Origine du monde (The Origin of the World), an oil-on-canvas painting by French artist Gustave Courbet (Jones, "Gustave Courbet 's The Origin of the World"), may still be considered unethical even in our modern society today. L 'Orgine du monde is a close-up view of the genitals and abdomen of a naked woman lying on a bed with her legs spread. It is because of the realistic features of the woman which gained much controversy over this painting. Many countries such as Portugal and France confiscated books with the painting as the cover because they were deemed unethical and offensive. However, can art be considered unethical when, in the artist 's mind, it only shows his own view of the world? This painting was Courbet 's way of rejecting smooth and unrealistic nudes during his time (Jones). This shows how one 's subjectivity can be regarded unethical because of a majority opinion. If Courbet had not used the same method of painting (which may make the painting less realistic), he would not have been able to produce the knowledge he wanted. Thus, this shows that ethical judgments can limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in the arts.
Because ethical judgments are determined by culture and moral principles, and there are a variety of cultures around the world, ethical judgments can be subjective. There are different ethical codes imposed on people, depending on culture, which is why there are no strict universal ethical codes-they may be only assumed by a majority of people. I think that generally, ethical judgments affect the methods available in the production of knowledge in the arts and the natural sciences. The differences in how it may limit or expand methods in producing knowledge depends on certain cultural, religious and social boundaries.
Works Cited BIBLIOGRAPHY BBC. Duty-based Ethics. n.d. 19 February 2014. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/introduction/duty_1.shtml>.
Euro Stem Cell. 3 March 2011. 19 February 2014. <http://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/embyronic-stem-cell-research-ethical-dilemma>.
Jones, Jonathan. Gustave Courbet 's The Origin of the World still over-excites art critics. 8 February 2013. 5 March 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2013/feb/08/gustave-courbet-origin-world-art>.
Richards, Lisa. Libertarians Consider TSA Scans A Greater Violation than Burqa Subjugation. 16 November 2010. 5 March 2014. <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/11/16/libertarians-consider-tsa-scans-a-greater-violation-than-burqa-subjugation/>.
Stem Cell Research Around the World. 17 July 2008. 5 March 2014. <http://www.pewforum.org/2008/07/17/stem-cell-research-around-the-world/>.
The Harmful Effects of Marijuana. n.d. 18 February 2014. <http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/marijuana/the-harmful-effects.html>.
True Activist. Still Believe Nature Got It Wrong? Top 10 Health Benefits of Marijuana. 1 May 2013. 18 February 2014. <http://www.trueactivist.com/still-believe-nature-got-it-wrong-top-10-health-benefits-of-marijuana/>.
VOA. Controversial X-Ray Scanners at American Airport to be Replaced. 19 January 2013. 6 March 2014. <http://www.voanews.com/content/controversial-xray-scanners-at-american-airports-to-be-replaced/1587009.html>.
Waller, Bruce. Consider Ethics: Theory, Readings and Contemporary Issues. June: Pearson, 2004.
Ethical judgments are generally based on the moral principles that influence a person 's conduct. The statement states that different methods of gaining knowledge are affected by ethical judgments in both the arts and the natural sciences. It is my belief that ethical judgments should be based on reason rather than a belief or feeling in the pursuit of knowledge. Ethical judgments stem from two basic systems: utilitarian and deontological ethics. Utilitarian ethics implies that no moral act is right or wrong. Rather, the consequences that are associated with the act are the basis on which it could be considered good …show more content…
or bad. In utilitarianism, decisions are directed to the "the greatest happiness for the greatest number" (Waller, "Utilitarian Ethics"). However, the limitation of utilitarian ethics is that when deciding to pursue an act or not, the consequences are always generated through hypothetical outcomes. This suggests that there is no certainty that those consequences would actually happen, making their judgments somewhat potentially inaccurate. In deontological ethics, the judgment of whether an act is right or wrong is through the basis of a set of universal laws that are acceptable to most.
Deontological ethics is principle based, which means it is expected that there is an absolute sense of what is right or wrong in the world. In this ethical system, the judgment is based on the action itself, rather than the consequences that are associated with it (BBC, "Duty-based ethics"). For example, "It is never right to murder." In deontological ethics, if a person kills someone, for whatever reason, he has done something wrong. The limitation in deontological ethics is that an act could be judged appropriately only if everybody has the same viewpoint on that certain principle. An example with which these two systems could be differentiated is the ticking bomb scenario where a bomb terrorist refuses to release information to the police about the bombs he has implanted in certain locations where thousands of people are currently in. The problem now is whether it is justifiable for the police to torture him in order for him to give out information. In utilitarian ethics, it would be justifiable to torture the person as the police could save thousands of lives if they are …show more content…
able to find the location of the bombs before it 's too late. However, this is assuming that torture will make the person confess. In deontological ethics, on the other hand, it would not be justifiable to torture the terrorist as it is universally unacceptable to harm other people. This type of ethics does not look upon the consequences the act would result to but focuses only on the action itself, which is the torturing. So how do these two systems of ethical judgments affect the methods of producing knowledge?
People in the field of natural sciences use logical thinking and step-by-step processes in solving problems and inventing new things, as these methods are designed to lead to more objective results.
Emotion and intuition are not commonly used in this area of knowledge as these ways of knowing can lead to subjective results. Ethical judgments are based on a set of beliefs that most people follow, and thus, because we are talking about beliefs, these judgments can be subjective. One example wherein ethical judgments can limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in the natural sciences is in embryonic stem cell research. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into different types of cells necessary for an organism to function. Scientists have deduced that being able to have a method of controlling the use of stem cells can help in creating more effective treatments for many deadly diseases such as cancer and Parkinson 's disease. Human embryonic stem cells have the potential of differentiating into various cell types that could be a source of cells for transplantation of tissue engineering (EuroStemCell, "Embryonic stem cell research: An Ethical Dilemma"). Scientists have discovered two ways of obtaining stem cells from embryos and adults. It is the embryonic stem cells that have caused controversy. Removing the stem cells requires the destruction of the embryo, which to some people is unethical as they liken it to the destruction of a human being.
Scientists have tried experimenting on the possibility of reprogramming adult stem cells to resemble embryonic stem cells (although this has not been done yet) but are still hoping to be able to use embryonic stem cells in the future. Embryonic stem cell research has become a very controversial issue in our society because of the different ethical standpoints and beliefs of people. Culture and religion play a big role in ethical judgments and because there is no one culture or religion, further research and experimentation on stem cells does not get pushed through in most parts of the world such as Germany, Italy and Sweden (Ralston, "Stem Cell Research Around the World"). Because of this, better medical treatments for different diseases become limited. Thus, in this example ethical judgments limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in the natural sciences.
One of the questions that arises with the arts when it comes to this TOK title is first and foremost, "Do artists even produce knowledge?" If artists do not produce knowledge, then ethical judgments would not matter in this area of knowledge as it won 't be limiting anything. Personally, I think that artists do produce knowledge; however, it is not the same knowledge that is produced in other areas of knowledge such as the natural sciences. Both artists and scientists observe the world and from these observations, they produce knowledge; in this case, artists produce art. However, artists have their own views of the world and see the world less formally than scientists do. Also, since artists usually produce qualitative work, it is not considered a reliable source of universal knowledge, unlike in natural sciences where most experiments result in quantitative data. Through their observations of the world, artists are able to produce art, which usually has a purpose of evoking a certain feeling to the one viewing the certain piece of art. This then makes art very subjective and individualistic. This is also why not all people appreciate a certain type of artwork. Because of this, should artists think of ethical considerations before creating art?
The display of nudity in art has become socially, religiously or politically inappropriate for most people in the world. One example, the L 'Origine du monde (The Origin of the World), an oil-on-canvas painting by French artist Gustave Courbet (Jones, "Gustave Courbet 's The Origin of the World"), may still be considered unethical even in our modern society today. L 'Orgine du monde is a close-up view of the genitals and abdomen of a naked woman lying on a bed with her legs spread. It is because of the realistic features of the woman which gained much controversy over this painting. Many countries such as Portugal and France confiscated books with the painting as the cover because they were deemed unethical and offensive. However, can art be considered unethical when, in the artist 's mind, it only shows his own view of the world? This painting was Courbet 's way of rejecting smooth and unrealistic nudes during his time (Jones). This shows how one 's subjectivity can be regarded unethical because of a majority opinion. If Courbet had not used the same method of painting (which may make the painting less realistic), he would not have been able to produce the knowledge he wanted. Thus, this shows that ethical judgments can limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in the arts.
Because ethical judgments are determined by culture and moral principles, and there are a variety of cultures around the world, ethical judgments can be subjective. There are different ethical codes imposed on people, depending on culture, which is why there are no strict universal ethical codes-they may be only assumed by a majority of people. I think that generally, ethical judgments affect the methods available in the production of knowledge in the arts and the natural sciences. The differences in how it may limit or expand methods in producing knowledge depends on certain cultural, religious and social boundaries.
Works Cited BIBLIOGRAPHY BBC. Duty-based Ethics. n.d. 19 February 2014. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/introduction/duty_1.shtml>.
Euro Stem Cell. 3 March 2011. 19 February 2014. <http://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/embyronic-stem-cell-research-ethical-dilemma>.
Jones, Jonathan. Gustave Courbet 's The Origin of the World still over-excites art critics. 8 February 2013. 5 March 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2013/feb/08/gustave-courbet-origin-world-art>.
Richards, Lisa. Libertarians Consider TSA Scans A Greater Violation than Burqa Subjugation. 16 November 2010. 5 March 2014. <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/11/16/libertarians-consider-tsa-scans-a-greater-violation-than-burqa-subjugation/>.
Stem Cell Research Around the World. 17 July 2008. 5 March 2014. <http://www.pewforum.org/2008/07/17/stem-cell-research-around-the-world/>.
The Harmful Effects of Marijuana. n.d. 18 February 2014. <http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/marijuana/the-harmful-effects.html>.
True Activist. Still Believe Nature Got It Wrong? Top 10 Health Benefits of Marijuana. 1 May 2013. 18 February 2014. <http://www.trueactivist.com/still-believe-nature-got-it-wrong-top-10-health-benefits-of-marijuana/>.
VOA. Controversial X-Ray Scanners at American Airport to be Replaced. 19 January 2013. 6 March 2014. <http://www.voanews.com/content/controversial-xray-scanners-at-american-airports-to-be-replaced/1587009.html>.
Waller, Bruce. Consider Ethics: Theory, Readings and Contemporary Issues. June: Pearson, 2004.