Moral Theory

A detailed Summary of Moral Theory

The moral theory, Respect for Persons, or Ethics of Respect for Persons, core theme is that all human beings should be paid equal respect. Like the bible says in Matthew 7:12, ". Do to others as you would have them do to you."[1]. This theory has been connected to the German philosopher, Immanuel Kant. Kant divided this theory in two parts, (1) universalization principle and (2) the means-ends principle. In the universalization principle, as moral standards we will use the self-defeating test to formulate the correct outcome of the moral choice involved with a moral issue. In the means-ends principle we will consider two tests the negative test and the positive test.

Let me begin with the universalizaiton principle. This principle takes the idea that all humans beings should receive equal respect and therefore give equal respect to their fellow colleagues. In simple words this principle says to do only those things involving moral choices that can be evaluated by moral rules. For example:

Let us assume that John Smith wants to sleep with his wife's sister. This assumption poses the following rule: Everyone should sleep with their wife's sister.

Once the universalized rule has been

The second part of this theory is known as the means-ends principle. It emphasizes in the thought of treating every human being as an end and not simply as a mean. In other words to include someone in the end of any decision, and not simply to include him just to get to that decision.

Now that we have an understanding on the ethics of respect for persons we will continue with our original case and try to determine if the decision of the manager was ethically correct or not.

If adultery were not a criminal action then smith would had pass the first part of the mean-end principle; therefor we would have to continue with the process of determining if this is in fact a moral action. We come now to the second test in this principle the positive test; which asks żDoes the action assist oneself (or others', in certain circumstances) in achieving one's own (or others') freedom or well being? [4]. Applying this to the case of John Smith we formulate the following: żIs sleeping with a sister in law assisting me only or is she being assisted as well, or am I only using her to fulfill (using her as mere means) my want to sleep with my wife's sister? By this test the rule is violated in the way that the female is pleasing the male with little cost to her. She is not obtaining anything out of it and therefor she is being used as a mere mean. John's point of view might be very different. He might think that she is achieving sati

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Approximate Word count = 967
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Politics