Abstract A discussion of personal ethics and how experiences with other individuals, in addition to our basic personal values, shape the groundwork for ethical personal decision making. Major ethical approaches are looked at in detail, and ground rules for ethical decision making are discussed.
From the Paper "An ethically defensible decision includes a number of important elements. Most crucial are the ground rules that underlie such a decision. These can include informal ground rules like religious faith, family values, personal experiences, and the personality of the individual. However, more formalized ground rules that are usually steeped in the philosophy of ethics may prove to be much more useful for making ethically defensible decisions. For example, a decision to allow a request for doctor- assisted suicide is ethically defensible using Kant's Categorical Imperative.
In recent years, the impact of ethical debacles like Enron and WorldCom in the business world have resulted in renewed discussions of ethical decision making in both the personal and business spheres. Clearly, Enron and WorldCom represented some of the most extreme examples of "ethically challenged" decisions, yet they clearly represent a need for a better understanding of ethics in decision making."
From the Paper " Introduction
This paper compares and contrasts qualitative and quantitative research methods in three basic areas. These are: epistemological foundations, data collection methods, and data analysis methods. The paper ends with a brief summary of the primary points made.
Comparison
Gall, Borg and Gall (1996) discuss several similarities and differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods. With respect to similarities, both kinds of research formulate epistemological positions regarding the nature of causation and reality and both comprise a set of methods for designing research, collecting data, analyzing data, and..."
Abstract The following paper discusses and gives examples of how new ideas and knowledge are offered to public consciousness and that they are in turn either accepted or disregarded and whichever judgement is chosen, makes a statement about where society places its trust, how ready we are to accept change and how radical we will allow any changes to be. This paper distinguishes between different kinds of knowledge: Medical (scientific knowledge), Religious knowledge, Political ideologies and Social Science theories.
From the Paper "Medical knowledge is an area which appears to be constantly advancing and changing, new ideas are regularly offered to the public consciousness to be either accepted or disregarded and whichever judgement is chosen makes a statement about where society places its trust, how ready we are to accept change, how radical we will allow any changes to be and whose theories and evidence mass society is willing to accept. An example of this is Alternative Medicine, although it is more accepted now than in previous years like, aromatherapy massage which is now actively promoted by mainstream health professionals as a complimentary therapy during pregnancy and treatment of bad backs, we even have a small number of practitioners qualified in alternative therapies, like homeopathy, scientists have even remarked in the age old profession of palmistry being very accurate in the diagnosis of certain illnesses, the setting up of The Royal Society in 1662 emphasised the 'expert knowledge' camaraderie between so-called experts over common sense knowledge. 'Expert knowledge' was historically endorsed and distributed by middle and upper class male establishments like the Royal Society which was founded by Charles II and allowed male members only and women were only allowed to qualify in Medicine in 1876. This male superiority increased authority to this group in society; their medical knowledge trusted and officially endorsed which in turn dismissed female 'common sense' knowledge."
This paper compares and contrasts three freedom essays on civil disobedience: "The Crito", by Plato; "Civil Disobedience", by Henry David Thoreau; and "Letter from Birmingham Jail", by Martin Luther King Jr..
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 3 sources, 1984, $ 39.95
From the Paper "The following research compares and contrasts three essays: "The Crito", by Plato; "Civil Disobedience", by Henry David Thoreau; and "Letter from Birmingham Jail", by Martin Luther King Jr. Socrates, Thoreau and King each addressed issues of freedom, human rights, and individual rights vs. state rights. Each philosopher was accused of having transgressed certain established codes set up by the state.
Socrates was imprisoned "on charges of corrupting youth and believing in gods other than the state's divinities". In his dialogues with Crito, he explores the nature of the ideal state and the individual in opposition to the goals established by the higher authorities. Plato has come to him in prison to urge him to escape, but Socrates' final resolve is not to challenge an authority which he has submitted to by virtue of ... "
Abstract A critical analysis of the philosophies of Socrates. The author discusses Socrates' ideas and concepts about true happiness and pursuing God's will. It includes criticism and application to today's society.
From the Paper "Socrates? philosophy has existed since before the birth of Jesus Christ. He recorded his thoughts concerning personal and political issues, giving his detailed and amazingly well thought out positions on each. He questioned everything around him, and discussed them with his friends and students, an exercise known as philosophizing. Socrates deemed that a truly happy man does not require material goods. He argued that it would be in one's best interest to consult a wise person before making an important decision, and that we should each comply with God's intentions above all others?. These arguments have been debated for centuries by many, and should be considered still, since they are important and relevant today, more than 2,000 years later."
Abstract This is a narrative paper describing the author's ethics and comparing them to well-known philosophers such as Aristotle, Mortimer Adler, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart Mill. The author discusses the sources of ethics, morals and virtues of humans and critically analyzes the way these determine the way humans lead their lives.
From the Paper "Ethics. Morals. Virtue. These three words all essentially retain the same meaning. They refer to the goodness or evil of man. No two people's ethics are the same, and everyone has some inner moral code to which he or she adheres. We can choose to criticize or accept the morals of others, but we must first analyze our own to such an extent that we are justified in doing so. The ethics that I have acquired throughout my life have come from a variety of sources. Much of what I feel passionately about I have assimilated from my parents. I am sure that my moral code is not ideal for all (no one's ethics can be), yet I think most people would feel fulfilled, as I am, with the life I desire to lead."
Abstract This essay defines the moral issue of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide and engages in a spirited discussion of why euthanasia is a huge mistake for our society, focusing on the threat to women, minorities, and the disabled in America that physician-assisted suicide presents.
From the Paper "They include an incompatibility with the moral and professional commitment of physicians, a weakening of society's desire to provide optimal care for the terminally ill, increased societal pressure on sick patients to request assisted suicide, and most importantly, possible abuses and extensions of euthanasia which may lead down the "slippery slope" to Nazism and selective genocide."
Abstract This paper attempts to establish the character Othello in Shakespeare's Othello as a classic tragic hero as defined by Aristotle. The paper gives the various theories of Aristotle as found in his 'Poetics' related to tragedy and tragic hero.
Abstract This paper begins by stating the argument Descartes gives for a version of mind/body dualism. It then considers two objections to Descartes? argument and finally assesses the validity of Descartes? argument in light of those objections.
From the Paper "Much of the intellectual history of psychology as well as philosophy has involved the attempt to come to grips with a dilemma of mind and body. This dilemma was eventually broken into main two opposing views: one view (dualism) proposes that our universe contains two very different and equally fundamental types of entity: mental/spiritual and physical/material items. Most followers of this view hold that human mind (or soul) is to survive the annihilation of the body. The contrasting view, materialism, on the other hand, affirms that everything in our universe is composed of mass-energy, minds and bodies included."
Abstract This paper addresses how Plato and Aristotle, although from similar traditions, differed in their perceptions of happiness. The comparison is done by addressing Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics" and Plato's "The Republic".
Abstract A paper discussing the existence of God. The author uses the philosophical views of Descartes and Aquinas to prove that God exists. The author discusses the works of the two philosophers.
From the Paper "God's existence can be proved both by reason or philosophy, and by faith or sacred doctrine. Both Aquinas and Descartes agree on the fact that God's existence can be proved, despite the fact that Aquinas believed that it is more of a question of faith, and Descartes believed that it is more important to use reasoning. Nevertheless, both agree with Aquinas? five ways that one can prove the existence of God. After all of this evidence, it is up to the individual to determine whether or not it is concrete evidence that should be followed. There should be enough evidence for each individual to determine for himself or herself about the existence of God and whether it is relevant in their lives."
Abstract This paper is an examination of Descartes book, "Meditations on First Philosophy." The author examines the steps that Descartes took in order to prove his hypothesis that God is a deceiver. He examines three different proofs and shows how Descartes comes to these realizations only after a careful and logical thought process in which he tears down and rebuilds everything that he believes in.
From the Paper "Now he bases the rest of his proof off of these three observations. Because he has been convinced that something comes from something, the idea he has of God had to have been created by something, either himself or something else. He then states that he is finite and imperfect, and thus he cannot have an idea of the infinite and perfect on his own. He, being finite and imperfect, is not as powerful as the thought he has of an infinite and perfect God. Therefore, because he is not powerful enough to create this idea, it must have come from some other source."
This paper compares the differing theories of Durkheim, Marx, and Weber on religion, which demonstrates that religion is an esoteric concept enhanced or modified by personal experiences.
Abstract The paper explains that Durkheim believed religion, originating from the society or the needs of the society rather than from the human mind, is essentially a moral force that determines and codifies what is good and bad for a society. The author points out Karl Marx's statement that "religion is the opium of the common people" and his opinion that it is not a necessary factor in the development of the society. The paper states that Max Weber's views on religion are more sociological than an analysis of religion itself; however, he acknowledged that religion has a strong social effect that helps in the development of the society.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Analysis
Comparison
From the Paper "Marx on the other hand did not believe that religion was a necessary force. While he did not negate the view the religion had a unifying quality, he believed that religion was a force that unified people only to exploit them. In his views, religion deepened the social division between the rich and the poor by enforcing deviant interpretation of morality on the public. He believed that the economic forces in a society are far more powerful than the religious forces of a society because religion is in turn dependent on the economic status of the society. Marx believed that religion is just an illusion that ensured that the society operated in a manner that was beneficial to the society."
Abstract This paper contends that there is a close interconnection and relationship between the areas of personal, cultural, and organizational values and decision-making. The paper explains that decision-making is based on personal values, which are influenced and impacted by cultural values, ethical systems, and other cardinal aspects. Organizational values, which are often influenced by cultural values in a society, are very important, especially with regard to the decision-making process in the lives of professionals.
From the Paper "Both the military and law enforcement share a strict hierarchical and very rational process of decision making. They have an essentially logical and shared decision making process, which takes into account the greater good of all and not merely personal needs or desires. The important aspect of all organizations is that they usually have a set of rules and ethics intended to control and direct personal values. This is particularly the case in an institution like the military, where the good of the organization supersedes the needs and wishes of the individual."
A discussion of the virtue of humility as explored in Benjamin Franklin's memoirs "The Autobiography", concluding that the only thing that Franklin managed to accomplish was the appearance, rather than the reality, of humility.
1,085 words (approx. 4.3 pages), 1 source, 2001, $ 37.95
From the Paper "Attempting to obtain humility is one of the hardest things an individual can endeavor to accomplish. For many, the simple task alone seems daunting and unapproachable. However, for Benjamin Franklin, he attempts to engage this obstacle during the course of his life outlining what was originally twelve virtues, only to add humility as the thirteenth, in his memoirs, The Autobiography. When all was said and done, the only thing that Franklin managed to accomplish was the appearance, rather than the reality, of humility. "
