Normative Ethics: Case 1

Normative Ethics: Case 1

Normative ethics offers an explanation on how to make a moral decision. Moral decisions are made after assessing of either the consequences or the inherent rights and duties of an action. A decision can be made by considering and applying utilitarian ethics. This type of ethics is concerned with the consequences of the act to guide us in making a decision on whether the act is right or wrong. Basically, utility means a good stuff while disutility refers to a bad stuff (Timmons, 2013). Therefore, when making a moral decision based on the utilitarian ethics, you should maximize the good stuff and minimize the bad stuff. In this case, the decision-making processes for Brian and Lily will be assessed using the normative ethics and the utilitarian and deontological approaches. Recommendation to Brian will then be given depending on the results of analyzing these ethical approaches.

Ideally, the utilitarian ethical approach to moral decision making is based on the consequences of the action. This implies that a moral decision is concluded to be right or wrong based on the consequences of the action. To be more objective, we should refrain from focusing on our self-interests, but instead focus on the consequences that an action has to the larger community. Considering Aristotle’s input about happiness, John Stuart Mill suggest that an action is right if it impacts happiness to the maximum number of people (Mizzoni, 2009).  Looking at the case study Brian’s action of increasing the rent can be considered to be morally wrong because it was causing more harm or unhappiness than happiness to the Hurricane Katrina victims. The reason why Lily was ready to leave work if Brian increased the rent from $55 to $120 was because she was remorseful to the victims. She was not ready to be part of the process of making the victim unhappy. According to the utilitarian ethical approach, Lily’s had good intention and meant to cause happiness to the Hurricane Katrina victims. However, she was not in a position to convince Brian to not to increase and instead opted to leave her job. Brian had a duty to provide fair services to his clients without any form of exploitation. As it is, he decided to take advantage of their desperation to increase the rent to more than double. Although unknown to them, the clients’ rights of affordable housing or accommodation were being violated by Brian.

Closely analyzing the case using the utilitarian ethical approach, Brian’s act of increasing the rates for his motel was ill-driven since he wanted to exploit the Katrina victims. He was taking advantage of the fact that prices of other commodities had also gone up after the Hurricane (Timmons, 2013). Indeed, when persuaded by Lily not to increase the accommodation rates because those people needed help, he categorically responded that it was his chance to make money from bad situations. This implies that he meant to cause harm or unhappiness to the victims by charging them exorbitant rates.

Using the deontological approach, Lily had a right to be treated fairly by her employer, Brian. Conversely, Brian had an obligation to give Lily a fair working environment where she can exercise the right of expressing her opinions. Moreover, Lily’s decision to leave work was morally right because she had good intentions of being involved in a process where the Hurricane Katrina victims were being exploited (Tännsjö, 2013).  Since Brian action of increasing accommodation rates was morally wrong, he should also see things from Lily’s perspective in relation to why she left work. All these points taken into consideration, Brian should give Lily her job back since she is willing to work again.

 

References

Mizzoni, J. (2009). Ethics: The Basics. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Tännsjö, T. (2013). Understanding Ethics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Timmons, M. (2013). Oxford Studies in Normative Ethics, Volume 3. London: Oxford University Press.

Last Completed Projects

Are you looking for a similar paper or any other quality academic essay? Then look no further. Our research paper writing service is what you require. Our team of experienced writers is on standby to deliver to you an original paper as per your specified instructions with zero plagiarism guaranteed. This is the perfect way you can prepare your own unique academic paper and score the grades you deserve.

Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.

[order_calculator]