Assignment 3: Applying Ethical Theory

SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND MATHS, Charles Sturt University
Amin Sthapit murder trial: accused Roy Tabalbag 'provoked' into killing girlfriend Geecy Rebucas's
lover
Assignment 3: Applying Ethical Theory
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Title of news/case study
Introduction
This case study focuses on the incident of killing which took place because accused person
kills his girlfriend Geecy Rebucas. The main reason of killing her was related to the fact he
found her with Chef her lover Amin Sthapit. In this report, several theories such as
Utilitarianism, Deontology, Virtue and Contract theories have been discussed. There are
different terms and judgment facts are analysed which will be used to evaluate the behaviour,
outcomes of the judgements and situation in the different situation. These three theories have
been used to analysis the case and prepare the proper judgement for the act done by the
accused.
Utilitarianism theory
This theory is used to maximize the utility in the best appropriate manner. Utilitarianism is
the ethical theory which divulges the best action to increase the existing outcomes and utility
in effective manner. The word Utility could be defined as Well-being of sentient entities. It
was given by “Jeremy Bentham” (Arthur, 2018).
He denotes utility as combination of the pleasure comes from the form of results. He
describes as new version of the consequentialism which reflects the standards and facts sets
for the right and wrong things. In the given case, accused found her girlfriend, Geecy
Rebucas with her lover Amin Sthapit. He got disappointed and overwhelmed with his
aggression he killed her love. He in the aggression killed her girlfriend. However, the feeling
came out from the pleasure from being so disappointed and resulted to instant action. The
instant action resulted to the negative action and killed her girlfriend. However, it is
observed that killing someone is defined as crime but when it is attempted as defences
prospective then it could be considered as act of feeling pleasure (Baron, 2017).
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It is analysed that Roy Abanales Tabalbag was in indulged in guilty of manslaughter and had
to face case by the court but in term of defence coming out from the feeling of defence and
love (Baron, 2017). Mr. Tabalbag lost his control due to sudden reaction and feeling of love
at the spot. The utilitarianism is used by the Tabalbag which was morally permissible in
practice for the acts covered under the utilitarianism. This Utilitarianism is the ethical theory
which focuses on the identifying the utility and outcomes of the actions done by the accused.
The action was neither moral nor ethical based on the available factors. However, He acted in
the aggression which reflects his state of mind was not normal. He should have given proper
attention to control his action. The act was not legal nor even can be restored to make it good.
This theory reflects the work program effectively and showcase that all the actions and
reaction based on the particular situation and should be done for the betterment of the society
(Bell, Dyck, & Neubert, 2017). This Utilitarianism theory assists in bifurcating the situation
in terms of feeling, agressions and outcomes based on the situation. It also divulges the power
of control and mental situation of the accused when he murdered her.
Deontology Theory
The deontology theory focuses on the theory which is being used to judge or justify the
morality on the action for the specified actions. The deontology is defined as obligation or
duty of the ethics which needs to be followed while judging the action and moral obligation
(Arthur, 2018).
The moral obligation must be dependent upon the type of system and may arise from the
internal and external factors. It is observed that the morality of the action is based on the
particular circumstance. There are several factors such as religious laws, set of rules for the
universe personal and professional values. It is observed that in the given case, accused killed
his girlfriend after being found her making intimation with other guy. The theory of
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deontology divulges the feeling or anything else which could be undertaken for the ethics
crime and work action (Dubos, 2017). He committed crime of murder which was unethical
and as per the given deontology theory he should have not committed that. The defence of
Tabalabag stated that client committed that action by losing his control and action came out
of the form of feeling. However, the act was not moral but he should be kept guilty for his
acts. This theory suggested that the morality of the acts should be based on the interest
delivered to the society on the basis of particular acts. It is observed that if a person’s sets the
goals and objectives and committed the wrong acts for his own interest then the act would be
considered neither ethical nor moral (Alexander, 2014).
Virtue theory
This theory reflects all the key contents and benefits which focus on the good characteristics
and benefits of the person. It is evaluated that Virtue stands for inherent characteristics;
intents of the person’s mind, inner strengthen and core aspects. This theory reflects that if a
person is doing wrong and right thing for others then it is highly based on this own virtue.
The theory of virtue emphasises upon the character of mine which makes people different
from others in positive way. This theory divulges that person’s mind, inner strengthen and
core aspects, characteristics and other good quality which he uses to do his personal and
professional work. The virtue of the particular person keeps him different from those of
others and he is known in the world for his virtues (Drake, 2016).
The theory primary considers the person acting in the scenario of the incident. Each and
every person acts on the basis of their separate virtue and intents for the betterment of the
society. In the given case, the action of the accused should be judged on the basis of virtue
theory. The case is judged on the basis of the intensions for the scenario which the accused
saw when he murdered his girlfriend. The given case divulges that the person got
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disappointed by the actions of his girlfriend and in the aggression he murdered her. He felt
pain, sorrow, disappointment and sadness after seeing her girlfriend getting intimated with
her lover (Winkler, and Duminy, 2016). He lost his control and murdered her. However, the
act he done was not ethical but the outcomes of the situation was completely based on his
own virtue. He lost his control and his act was the spontaneous result of his own feeling
(Treviqo, and Tilly, 2015).
Conclusion
In this report, several theories have been implemented on the particular case in which accused
person kills his girlfriend Geecy Rebucas. The main reason of killing her was related to the
fact he found her with Chef her lover Amin Sthapit. However, the outcomes of his acts have
been judged by using the different theories and details of the case. It is considered he felt
pain, sorrow, disappointment and sadness after seeing her girlfriend getting intimated with
her lover and then in the aggression he murdered her. This reason of his acts and outcomes
could be well described by using the utilitarianism theory. However, virtue theory focuses on
describing his own pain, sorrow, disappointment and sadness which he had to face at the time
when he saw her with her lover making intimation scene. Now in the end, it could be inferred
that the accused acted on on the basis of certain factors which resulted to spontaneous act due
to his aggression. These all theories justify these acts in different manner.
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References
Alexander, J.C., 2014. The Antinomies of Classical Thought: Marx and Durkheim
(Theoretical Logic in Sociology) (Vol. 2). Routledge.
Arthur, J. (2018). Words that bind: judicial review and the grounds of modern constitutional
theory. Routledge.
Baron, J. (2017). Uncertainty and Probability within Utilitarian Theory. Diametros, (53), 6-
25.
Bell, G. G., Dyck, B., & Neubert, M. J. (2017). ETHICAL LEADERSHIP, VIRTUE
THEORY, AND GENERIC STRATEGIES. Radical Thoughts on Ethical Leadership,
113.
Drake, N., (2016). A Humean Constructivist Reading of JS Mill's Utilitarian
Theory. Utilitas, 28(2), pp.189-214.
Dubos, R., (2017). Social capital: Theory and research. Routledge.
Treviqo, A.J. & Tilly, C., (2015). George C. Homans: History, theory, and method.
Routledge.
Winkler, T. & Duminy, J., (2016). Planning to change the world? Questioning the normative
ethics of planning theories. Planning Theory, 15(2), pp.111-129.
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