After exploring a few ethical theories and having various conversations with friends
and colleagues I have come to believe that ethics lie at the heart of a person.
It is about who you are not just what you do. It is about ones integrity. Integrity is
defined as 'soundness of moral character'
Someone whose ethical core is stable will not be swayed by changing circumstances
or an opportunity to better themselves.
I have noticed that in this ever changing and developing world people seem to create
their own rules, their own right and wrong...
I mentioned that I think ethos is about who you are, I also think that there is a big
fat 'WHY' behind what we do in challenging ethical situations. Who will benefit from
our decision? Does our ethical foundation change with our surrounding and the people a
around. Does it change based on what we can gain from a situation? Are we 'sound' in
our ethical practice?
I recently watched the film 'Taken' (an incredible movie in my opinion). A mans
17 year old daughter is kidnapped with the intention of being trafficked as a
prostitute. His sole objective is to get her back, he probably kills over 50 people
to find her and bring her back to safety. Was this killing unethical? I'd love to hear
your thoughts...
I think our personal moral compass probably points in slightly different directions,
whether it be based on what our parents have taught us, culture or our belief system.
So when it comes to a clash in your professional and personal life in regards to ethics,
which takes priority? How easy is it to adhere to someone else's ethos when yours may differ?
'Taken' is a really interesting film isn't it? He kills all those people but a no point do you really feel he is unjust for doing so. Or at least I didn't. Well maybe just one moment, where he shoots the wife of that guy who isn't helping him. I thought that was a bit out of line. Perhaps because she was innocent in the situation. She was not part of it so you didn't feel she deserved what she got. It was unnecessary. The other shootings all seem to be deserving and because he is doing it for someone else ( a seemingly selfless act) you allow him more.
ReplyDeleteI've come to the conclusion that my view on ethics is always down to what people's intentions are, or their purpose.
Hi Mark,
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree, it felt like he was almost fighting for justice (i found it shocking how many people were involved in the traficking, from the spotter at the airport to the final guy who bought the girl- awful). I wonder how his decision would be seen in the eyes of the law? Or is it as justified as soldiers killing at war, for the good of their country?
I don't think i've yet managed to come to any firm conclusions about ethics...every time i turn a corner something else seems to pop up and challenge me.
I'd actually quite like to arrange a focus group discussing people's views on ethics.
Hi Guys
ReplyDeleteI haven’t seen the film Taken, but relate to what you’re saying as there are a number of stories lines in movies where the 'good' guy kills a lot of 'bad' guys as part of the story.
Like Mark said i tend not to feel sorry for the people killed, as we are viewing the story from the 'good' guys perspective and so side with his feelings and actions and believe they are just.
But what if we saw it from another perspective, maybe the 'bad' guy has a wife and children, if we were in their shoes we would not feel so sympathetic towards killings!
I guess there is always the bigger picture to look at, but if it something that is directly affecting you and people you care for then perhaps this is not such an easy thing to do.
Joanna, would you like to set up a focus group with Bapp people or was it something you would do with other people?
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI loved this film and I also feel that the killings were justified. Interesting point that when you see another side to a 'bad' guy our perception changes. I do feel the greater good is more important.
When I hear the phrase "greater good" I think about the film Hot Fuzz. The undesired village members die by "Accidental death"; organised murders for the good of the village by a secret society. We have to be careful of the level of importance we put on the "greater good".
What one may feel is for the greater good one may find quite horrific. Going off on a tangent look at Hitler's views, terrible as they were he acted upon his own character for his view of the greater good.
Not everyone has a good character or a clear judgment. How does one gauge this?
Does anyone else always feel bad for the innocent counterparts that get caught up in these situations? For example I always feel really bad for the poor horses in War films.
Ethics going crazy?
Ethics are still boggling my brain if i'm honest, there seems to be so many different kinds of ethics, of course deep down i have an understanding of what it is to be ethical i remember when i was doing AS phychology the word ethical was thrown around a lot for example when learning about the Milgram experiement we spoke a lot about things being unethical which seemed pretty obvious at the time
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment
but as you all say in reguard to the film which i haven't seen but have been told i must watch by friends, when we form opinions about who we feel are "good" and "bad" guys the rules of ethical conduct seem to become bluered, to some extend i think many of us would go against our ethics if a close one was in danger but to some extent i do feel that ethical conduct should remain uneffected by situation, why should one individual take it upon himself to take away the life of 50 people because he feels it is justified, does he have the right to decide on justice? And what or who decided what is or isn't a justified reason for unethical behaviour?
Also Abygail i totally agree i always feel so sorry for horses in war films sometimes more so than the people, there so innocent and vunrable!
Lucy x