Abstract This paper discusses the issues of marijuana, currently classified in the U.S. as an illegal substance. It examines the case for making it legal by prescription for medical purposes and why it is unethical to deny a sick person of the medical benefits. In persons undergoing cancer therapy, marijuana can ease the nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite caused by chemotherapy treatment. It describes its constituents, its effect on humans and the avid campaign over the years to have it decriminalized.
From the Paper "Marijuana is derived from the flowers and dried leaves of the cannabis plant, which at varied potencies contains the non-narcotic chemical called Tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC. The different strengths of this herb produce various physical effects, ranging from a tranquilizer to a stimulant. Preceding to the 1930s, when marijuana was believed to be a problem it was a legal substance for over one hundred and thirty years. (Grinspoon) The potential unsafe effects of marijuana usage became public knowledge when Harry J. Anslinger, the commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotic wrote the book Marijuana Assassin of Youth. Anslinger's book gave examples of Mexican and Negro criminals, as well as young boys of other races, who, while under the influence of marijuana, became serial killers. Some of the serious adverse side effects Anslinger mentioned included premature cancer, hostility, depression, coordination and perceptional reproductive disabilities, memory loss, and impairment to both the respiratory system and the immune system."
A paper that discusses whether the American decision to drop atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima was justified - and the future ramifications of this decision.
Abstract This paper analyzes the consequences of the United States dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It discusses this in light on future developments in the arms race, the cold war and world hysteria of the nuclear bomb. It states the opinion the Americans have double standards when it comes to this issue because they are the only country ever to have used atomic warfare and at the same time have always lead the nuclear disarmemant war.
From the Paper "The United States? decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan in WWII was motivated by a desire for a decisive victory, an unnecessary act against a country that was would have surrendered without the use of the bomb, and a disturbing use of force that created worldwide fear and horror about the use of nuclear weapons. The bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima by the United States were justified by the American government as a reasonable means to bring a quick end to a bloody and long war that had engulfed the world for years. However, critics have argued that dropping the bombs was a completely unnecessary act, as a beleaguered Japan would have surrendered to the United States within days, even if the bombs had never been dropped. Further, critics argued that the United States? decision was ultimately motivated by a political desire to assert itself as a military and political power. Further, the bombing is now often seen as one of the cornerstone events that led to worldwide hysteria and fear about the effects of nuclear weapons that developed in the time of the Cold War between the United States and the U.S.S.R. Ultimately, given these important considerations, the United States should not have dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki."
Abstract Speculates that Arittotle and Plato would likely have been opposed to abortioin as not morally permissable. Discusses the ethical arguments of Aristotle, and his moral philosophy: good of the individual vs. good of the community. Plato's moral philosophy. His emphasis on community over the individual. What determines moral and just acts. Role of the State.
From the Paper "Both Plato and Aristotle would likely be opposed to abortion, based on The Republic and Nicomachean Ethics, respectively. There are ideas in Aristotle's ethical arguments which might allow more leeway for the act of abortion than is found in Plato, but in general the great weight of both philosophers' arguments would seem to be against abortion as not morally permissible.
Neither man discussed abortion directly, which makes this study speculative. Considering Aristotle's golden mean, and his greater emphasis on freedom for the individual as opposed to the power of the state, one might find room for some behavior which would not be permissible in the more strict moral world of Plato as described by Socrates. In addition, a feature of Aristotle's moral philosophy is the tenet that every individual believes his..."
Abstract This paper examines the validity of both the arguments for and against stem cell technology, based on Ronald Dworkin's ethical writings on "The Sanctity of Life" and John Rawls? ?Theory of Justice.? It puts forward the argument that because of the potential for stem cell research to benefit millions of people, the ban on creating stem cells for research should be lifted and that the government should extend federal funding for this potentially life-saving research.
Outline
Overview of Stem Cell Technology
Arguments for Stem Cell Research
Argument Against Stem Cell Technology
Evaluating the Moral Arguments
Conclusion
From the Paper "Aside from regenerative medicine and curing disease, stem cell research also has the potential of helping humans better understand human developmental biology. This has several important implications regarding questions like the causes of premature birth, genetic diseases and infertility, to name a few. Many proponents of stem cell research argue that harvesting cells from embryos is ethical because an embryo is not a human being. Ethicists Helga Kuhnse and Peter Singer contend that early embryos do not have the mental capacity of a human being. As such, the rights of an insentient embryo should not be allowed to prevail over the rights of, for instance, a patient with Parkinson's Disease (Kuhnse and Singer 1990)."
Abstract This is an argumentative research paper that is clearly in favor of animal experimentation. The paper discusses the pros and cons of animal research as well as the ethics. It also discusses the activities of animal rights organizations, and the ways in which these organizations effect animal research.
From the Paper "Animal research is a controversial topic that puts images of abuse and cruelty into many people's minds; however, these images are results of misleading information that animal rights activists provide to the public, and in order to fully understand the importance of animal experimentation, you must realize that almost every medical advance owes its success in part to animal research. Many people do not consider the reasons animal research is absolutely essential to science and for the betterment of the human race."
Abstract Over the last few years, the number of reported cases of identity theft has skyrocketed, from 86,000 reported cases in 2001 to over 700,000 in 2002. It is by far the fastest growing crime in the United States. Perhaps what is even scarier than the crime itself is the ease with which the crime can be pulled off. Discusses the crime of identity theft, ways in which it occurs, ways to prevent it and what to do if it does occur. The paper also investigates the way in which the internet has contributed to the rise in identity theft.
From the Paper "Experts have suggested many different ways to reduce the risk of being a victim of identity theft. Many of these suggestions are extremely easy and worth the trouble. The first suggestion is to tear up all credit card bills, bank statements, and any other sort of document that has personal information on it. The next suggestion is that social security numbers should be kept as private as possible. They stress that the social security card should not be carried around, and that social security and drivers license numbers not be written on checks. They also say that social security numbers, along with all personal information should never be given out unless the person asking for it has a good reason to need it. Another way to prevent possible identity theft is to always be on the look out for people that may be eavesdropping on conversations or watching what is being written down. This prevents the "shoulder surfing" technique. The next tip is to never respond to suspicious E-mails or phone solicitors. This is especially true of E-mails and solicitations that request identifying information."
Abstract This paper provides an overview of ethical issues affecting accounting practices as they relate to how stock options are expensed. Detail is provided regarding the background of the issue and forces in the accounting, business, and governmental communities that affect the resolution toward more accurate company income statements.
From the Paper "We can"t remember another time when there's been more discourse about the lack of quality and transparency in corporate financial reporting than today. And it isn?t only the usual crowd of investors, legislators, regulators, journalists, lobbyists, bankers, accountants, and corporate financial managers. Even Jay Leno is satirizing accountants.?(Grant and Ciccotello, April, 2002) However, inconsistencies regarding accounting practices are not a new topic of the Enron era."
Abstract This paper cites applicable legal cases to support its arguments in favor of legalizing euthanasia. Included, also, are ethical reasons for favoring legalized euthanasia and rebuttals against arguments that oppose euthanasia. Finally, the overall moral dilemma of euthanasia is discussed, with both the pro and con arguments presented.
From the Paper "We all must die one day, and most people hope for a quick and painless death. But sometimes life isn?t so easy. Some people suffer unbelievable pain from cancer or other diseases. Others may lie in a permanently unconscious state due to an accident or some other cause. Euthanasia is the practice of kindly and painlessly putting a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or extreme oldness to a supposedly peaceful death. Derived from the Greek words eu, good, and thanatos, death, euthanasia is ordinarily identified as mercy killing. Today, only Oregon and Maine have legalized euthanasia or PAS."
Abstract This paper discusses the issue of business ethics as it applies to Enron's collapse. It looks at Enron's ethical conduct in respect to its clients and outlines implications of the company's unethical behavior. Since the purpose of the project is to evaluate the ethical performance of the global energy leader, the scope is limited to Enron and energy companies directly impacted by Enron's activities.
From the Paper "Over the last few decades until recently Enron remained the industry leader. In year 2000 Enron was ranked "one of the world's leading energy, commodities and service companies" with $101 billion revenues (Enron homepage). In 2001 Enron received a title of "Most Innovative Company in America" for the sixth consecutive year in Fortune Magazine (Fortune Magazine). As the company's CEO and chairman Kenneth Lay said, "Our world-class employees and their commitment to innovative ideas continue to drive our success". Furthermore, Enron was placed number 18 on Fortune's list of 535 "Most Admired Companies", in the top five in "Quality of Management", "Quality of Products/Services", and "Employee Talent"(Enron special press release ). Although Enron was praised in the marketplace for impeccable leadership and success, the company unexpectedly collapsed after multiple unethical and illegal activities had been discovered."
Abstract This paper stresses that, more than any other reality television show, "Joe Millionaire" highlights particularly disturbing social views regarding women and relationships because the show presents women as liars who are motivated only by the money. The author points out that reality television has given networks another option to violence, but the audience is gradually becoming desensitized to the ethical ugliness, just as they have become desensitized to violence. The paper concludes that more and more young people associate behavior such as lying and cheating, not with a moral quandary, but with a vicarious thrill.
From the Paper "In "The Bachelor", for example, the first bachelor Alex Michel showed no qualms about having sex with one of the bachelorettes and eventually choosing another girl. The lack of public outcry about this behavior shows that for many people, the thought of sex outside a relationship and the presentation of women as objects to be chosen no longer raise a moral quandary."
Tags: desensitize, women, relationship, violence, sex
Abstract The paper first outlines the definition of "freedom of Speech" in one's own perspective and then defines it in the literal meaning by giving quotations of veterans, quotes from the Bible, and how government or other groups of people take this term. Followed by the definition, the paper provides an insight as to how and why various people or groups have exploited the freedom of expression/speech and raised sensitive issues, which resulted not only in social, political, or moral damage to the societies, but, at the same time, even death has been the outcome of such freedom of expression. The paper further discusses whether we have gone too far with the freedom of speech. This is argued in terms of the United Sates of America. This is followed by the conclusion that sums up whether freedom of expression is important and necessary in a society.
From the Paper "The freedom of speech or expression is one of the most primary rights that are enjoyed by individuals. It is important to the survival of democracy as well as to the value of human self-respect. As freedom of speech means the liberty to express one's dissatisfaction with the status quo along with the need to change accordingly, it is one of the most dangerous and threatened rights, with governments, human rights groups; infact with all over the world, that is persistently trying to restrict it (Derechos Human Rights)"
Abstract This paper looks at how, as years go by, the debate over the ethics and morality of abortion rages on. There are those against it and those for it if certain circumstances apply. It attempts to answer the question of when abortion is morally acceptable or whether it should be considered immoral all the time. It puts forward the author's view that abortion is morally acceptable only in circumstances where the woman was raped or her health is at risk, whether it be her life or her fertility.
From the Paper "In the case of rape, anti-abortionists argue that it is wrong to have an abortion as well. They use the right to life argument again and state that a fetus has just as much right to life as the woman does and it would be unfair to consider the woman more of a person than the fetus, considering a person's right to life is protected by the constitution. I will grant them the fact that a fetus is a person and I will still prove their argument to be weak. Regarding rape, a woman didn?t ask to be violated and raped. Abortion is not wrong here because she did not give the fetus consent to use her body. This abortion should not be considered unjust because it initially violated the woman's rights and should not have happened in the first place."
Abstract The author of this paper examines issues that make abortion morally and ethically justified. It shows that, while abortion should be avoided and should not be promoted, there are times when it is the only permissible option. The paper also looks at the views of different religions on the issue of abortion.
From the Paper ""Situational ethics is the philosophical position that although there are a few universal truths, different situations call for different responses; therefore some action can be right or wrong depending on the situational factors." (Pollock, p. 395) As stated earlier, there are many situational factors that can make the act of abortion moral or immoral. It is unreasonable to say that abortion is immoral no matter what the circumstances are. Some women risk losing their lives if they carry on with an ectopic pregnancy, some babies' lives may be in danger if they are brought into this world, and some babies may live a harsh life due to physical or mental impairments they may be born with. Situations like these make abortion moral in my opinion."
Abstract This paper examines how organ transplantation is one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine and how it gives thousands of people another chance at life through the selflessness of others. It looks at how numerous studies have concluded that educating the population about organ donation is crucial to increase the number of donors and how, all in all, organ donation is absolutely ethical because it saves thousands of lives per year.
From the Paper "There are currently 83,554 patients waiting for an organ transplant ("U.S. Transplantation Data" 1). Each year in the United States approximately 200,000 people die under circumstances in which organ donation could have been an option but that option was not taken. Out of these potential donors, only 20% actually donate (Siminoff & Saunders-Sturm, 245). These lost opportunities are underscored by the following statistics: Every 30 minutes a new name is added to the transplant waiting list. An average of six people per day die awaiting organ transplants. One donor can help save the lives of as many as 25 transplant patients."
Abstract This paper examines how there are numerous trends that can be evaluated that impact organizational behavior. It looks at how these trends can affect the organization's behaviors as whole or at the employee level. In particular, it shows how the behavior within an organization can be affected by the following trends; influence of ethics on decision-making, the impact of technology on work-related stress, and the impact of globalization on business practices. Other trends include the impact of politics and power within organizations and emphasis on teamwork.
From the Paper "Ethical decisions are not just left to the managers of an organization; many organizations offer ethical training classes to help all its employees make ethically sound decisions. According to Bateman, T. & Snell, S. (2004), there are two ethic programs that organization follow, compliance-based and integrity-based programs. Compliance-based programs are organizational mechanisms that are typically designed by and organization's corporate counsel to prevent, detect, and punish legal violations. Integrity-based programs are organizational mechanisms that are designed to instill in its employees a personal responsibility for ethical behavior. It would be in the best interest of an organization to use both programs, as an organization must have a way to detect unethical behavior and know that the majority of its employees have a personal responsibility for ethical behavior."
Tags: ethics, technology, stress, decision-making, politics, power
