Ethics class

Ethics

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Question 1: The Aristotelian Virtues That Demands Federal Support for Disaster-Relief Efforts in Puerto Rico

The Aristotelian virtue that demands the federal support for disaster-relief efforts in Puerto Rico is the Voluntary Action. Since ethics is practical rather than a theoretical science, Aristotle considered the aspects of human nature involved in performing and accepting moral responsibility. The moral evaluation of an action attributes the attribution of responsibility to a human agency (Schwartz, 2015).  The federal government must take responsible action plan voluntarily to help the victim of the disaster, on Aristotle’s view, human actions are involuntary under two conditions. First, actions that are produced by some external forces are sometimes taken involuntary, and the federal is not responsible for them. Second, the actions that are performed out of ignorance are also involuntary.

The weakness of the will is the Aristotelian virtues that justify not supporting the disaster-relief effort in Puerto Rico. Aristotle suggested that doing the right thing is not very simple, even though various people deliberately choose to develop malicious habits. Aristotle significantly disagreed with Socrates’ belief that knowing the right thing results in doing it right. The enemy of moral conduct is precisely the failure to behave even when the occasions are deliberately right (Schwartz, 2015). 

Question 2: The Formula for Kant’s Categorical Imperative

Kant established the principal formulas of the categorical imperative which include; the formula of universal law, the formula of humanity which is a more motivating expression of Kant’s basic insights in ethic. The U.S. federal can use the humanity formula to test the universalizability to aid the three million people who were affected by the disaster. Rational action must set before itself not only by the attitude but also an end. In this case, most ends are particular, because they need only to be followed if they are in line with hypothetical imperative that any person may need to adopt. The Human Formula seems to be clear than Kant’s Universal-Law Formula, to support the extensively accepted view that individuals have certain firm rights. Individuals may not be raped, may not be prosecuted without having committed a crime, no matter the happiness (Schwartz, 2015). 

A lot of negative consequences arises where various individuals lost their lives, properties, and many things. Consequently, this would be a ridiculous demand, since the government apparently practice this all the time in morally appropriate manner. Certainly, it’s very difficult to imagine any life that is identifiably human without the use of others in quest of their goals.

Question 3: Utilitarian Calculation of the Federal Government’s Reluctance to Aid Puerto Rico.

Utilitarianism is a moral belief which holds that ethically right course of action in any situation produces benefits or consequences over harms for everyone who is affected. The federal government failed to discover the causes of the situation and various action that could be taken. Secondly, the government was not able to determine negative impact which arises during the incident where various individuals were left without electric power which finally affected the healthcare sectors, education, and businesses. The federal government failed to come up the action plan that could help the victims who were affected by the disaster (Bowie, 2017). 

Question 4: Social Contracts of Federal Government to Have a Moral Obligation to Aid Puerto Rico.

The US federal government have a moral obligation to aid Puerto Rico because for many years the island of Puerto Rico has virtually been a closed market for US consumer goods. However, the law restricts the island from practicing rights afforded by the free nations such American States. Its economy and the political status Puerto Rico is subjected to notions of US Congress where people of Puerto Rico are treated as America citizens.

References

Bowie, N. E. (2017). Business ethics: A Kantian perspective. Cambridge University Press.

Schwartz, S. B. (2015). Sea of storms: a history of hurricanes in the Greater Caribbean from Columbus to Katrina. Princeton University Press.