Ethics Assignment: Exploring Ethical Dilemmas and Principles

This essay explores several key ethical concepts and dilemmas. It begins by examining the doctrine of double effect and its implications for actions that cause harm as a side effect of achieving a good outcome, with specific attention to abortion and euthanasia. The assignment then analyzes moral arguments related to fetal development, including the role of brain waves and the viability of a fetus outside the mother. The benefits and problems of animal cloning are also discussed, along with the ethical issues involved. Furthermore, the assignment delves into the concepts of harm, offense, and legal paternalism, and examines the principle of equality, including its application in law and its role in addressing discrimination. It also covers the deterrence model and theories of egalitarianism, and contrasts anthropocentrism and ecocentrism in relation to environmental ethics. Finally, the essay touches upon Jus ad Bellum and factors contributing to wealth disparities.

Running head: ETHICS 1
Ethics
Name
Institution

ETHICS 2
ETHICS
ANSWERS
1) The doctrine of double effect illustrates the permissibility of any action that causes
severe harm, for example, the death of humans, as a side effect of encouraging some good end.
This doctrine helps in explaining the permissibility of any action that causes severe harm, for
example, the death of people, as a side effect of encouraging some good end (Cushman, 2016).
The validity of this doctrine is examined in abortion and euthanasia. In these situations, the
doctrine promotes killing as a method of treatment. It is illogical to use doctrine of double effect
to prevent either abortion or euthanasia.
2) Detectable brain waves provide moral arguments on fetal development. It argues
that the beginning of human being happens at the start of brain wave activity. The flaw to this
argument is that it is dangerous to distinguish the function of the early brain from the
development of later cortex. On the other hand, validity argues that if a fetus can live outside of
the mother, then it possesses the right to life. The main flaw in this argument is that fetus cannot
exist independently from its mother. This argument is also very subjective.
3) Animal cloning refers to the process creating a genetically modified organism either
artificially or naturally. The benefits of animal cloning include: a) it provides benefits for
medical research and clinical trials; b) it can be used in increasing the supply of milk and meat
for consumption, c) it can also help in the production of drugs and proteins in the area of
medicine.
The main problems of animal cloning include a) It is costly, b) The process causes
organisms to suffer; c) Animal cloning is against ordinary course of nature (Ibtisham, Yanfeng &
Wang, 2016). There is also lacks genetic diversity in the use of animal cloning.

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4) Harm: liberty of an individual might be limited if the actions of the individual cause
harm to other people
Offence: liberty of an individual might be limited if the actions of the individual offend
other people.
Legal paternalism: It refers to the process of causing harm to those people involved in the
act. It is being applied to laws regarding cannabis use when those involved in the use of cannabis
are subjected to State coercion. To protect them from harm.
5) Equality refers to a condition of being the same in measure, quality, value or esteem.
Therefore, Principle of equality is a philosophical, legal, and moral doctrine proclaiming that all
people are equal and that they should be treated similarly under the law. Equal rights are a
situation whereby the legislation of a country allows for persecution/discrimination, enables
persecution/discrimination, or attempts to remedy any departments. This principle not only
directed to the treatment being given to people, but it also deals with satisfaction. The principle
of equality is mainly directed to the satisfaction of human desires. This law requires that
individuals be treated equally without discrimination. This principle also requires that the
government take affirmative action to eliminate conditions or circumstances that help or cause to
perpetuate discrimination.
Examples:
A professional Caucasian who applies for a learning position of African studies is
rejected position because of his race.
A qualified male who applies for a learning position in the section of women’s studies is
rejected because of his sex.

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6) Deterrence model is a situation why individuals are not being subjected to punishment
on account of their actions.
The theories of egalitarian will attempt to make those who are accountable for harm or
crime pay for it.
The equivalency will try to treat the root cause of crime.
7) Anthropocentrism refers to a belief that stipulates that the desires and needs of
human beings should be at the Centre of how the world is organized, and how society is
constructed. According to Anthropocentrism, humans are superior as compared to other different
aspects of the world. Anthropocentrism originated in monotheistic religion like Buddhism and
Christianity, which uphold that God made the world for the benefits of the man giving him full
control over other living creature. The shallow ecologists view the issues of the environment as
human-centered reforms.
Conversely, Ecocentrists, disregard this position viewing it as false consciousness.
Ecocentrists believe that human being is part of nature and that humankind has no unique and
special status above that of other living things. Ecocentrism is embraced by different ecologists
who believe that the environment should be respected and protected because of the fundamental
value it offers to human beings.
According to Ecocentrists, the main reasons for the current environmental problems
include Christianity, patriarchal view and evolution of science.
8) Jus ad Bellum is international humanitarian law that controls how humanitarian
warfare should be conducted. They are just rules that regulate warfare. Jus ad Bellum mainly

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deals with humanitarian. The different aspects include last resort, just cause, and reasonable
viewpoint of success.
9) The factors that account for the differences in wealth include Colonialism, developing
countries, Education, overflowing population, Government corruption and cultural differences.

ETHICS 6
References
Cushman, F. (2016). The psychological origins of the doctrine of double effect. Criminal Law
and Philosophy, 10(4), 763-776.
Ibtisham, F., Yanfeng, N., & Wang, Z. (2016). Animal cloning drawbacks an-overview. J. Dairy
Vet. Anim. Res, 3(4), 3-7.