Ethics and Society: Analyzing Speed Limit and Ethical Theories Report

This report delves into the intersection of ethics and society, using a case study focused on speed limits. The introduction establishes the importance of ethical principles in societal conduct, followed by a discussion of the impact of automobile usage and the consequences of increasing speed limits, particularly in the context of the US oil crisis. The main body applies two key ethical theories – Utilitarianism and Deontology – to evaluate the ethical implications of raising speed limits. Utilitarianism is assessed based on its focus on outcomes, showing how increased speed limits lead to negative consequences such as more accidents and fatalities. Deontology, which emphasizes adherence to principles regardless of outcome, is also applied, highlighting the moral duty to conserve resources. The conclusion synthesizes the findings, advocating for a moderate speed limit to balance resource conservation with safety, and emphasizing the role of ethical theories in supporting these conclusions. The report references academic sources to support its arguments.

Introduction to Ethics
and Society

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION
Ethics and society are two terms that works together in order to establish some moral
principles that each individual in the society needs to follow to work in legal and ethical manner.
In this report a case study is involved which implies the concept of ethics in the society (Aicardi,
Reinsborough and Rose, 2018). As usage of auto-mobiles has become a inseparable part of
human life despite of thousands of deaths that occurs in a year. In US when oil crises raised
speed limit is increased which caused some more accidents and deaths. Maintaining high speed
minimises usage of resources and this leads to promotion for setting higher speed limit. In this
project how ethical to rise speed limit is discussed by considering the threat of enhancing the
speed limit of auto-mobiles.
MAIN BODY
Setting higher speed limit is right and wrong needs to be evaluated on the basis of ethics
that are followed in the society. In order to understand right and wrong involved in the case study
of speed limit application of certain ethical theories will be made. One of the theory is known as
Utilitarianism theory. It is a normative theory which is focused on defining right and wrong
only on the outcomes of the action chooses to be performed (Armstrong and Botzler, 2016).This
theory is applied beyond the interest of an individual and accounts interest of others. This ethical
theory is based on three principles such as pleasure or happiness is evaluated in terms of some
value. Actions that provides happiness are right and when unhappiness is created then they are
wrong. Everyone's happiness is counted equally. Greatest strength available to utilitarianism
theory is that it focuses on consequences of an action. Weakness of this theory is that prediction
of some actions are made in such manner that it become impossible to achieve them.
When evaluation of the speed limit case is performed on the basis of Utilitarianism theory
then it is recorded that no happiness is created among people. Number of deaths and accidents
graphs moves at higher side. This enhances concern for accidental deaths and higher speed limit
is not considered as an ethical step taken by government and decision making authority in the
country.
Another theory applied on the case to access increasing speed limit is ethical or not is
Deontology theory. As per this theory a individual is obliged to perform in accordance with
some pre defined set of principles and regulations regardless of the outcomes. The moral worth
1

of the act is defined in this theory based on will that an individual possess. A will which is good
as per ethics and morality is achieved by performing in well defined manner. Deontology theory
is based on the principal that each act must be performed on the basis of laws and ethics defined
in this relation. Judgement of an act to consider it right and wrong is based on moral code of
conduct (Bennett-Woods, 2018). As per this theory an act which is not right morally is wrong but
this act can be termed right when performed in different circumstances. For example- Killing is
termed as wrong in ethical and moral terms but when killing is performed to save someone then
it is justified as an right act. So, evaluating the whole concept of Deontology theory by applying
this on the case study of speed limit. Setting higher speed to save resources and energy is one of
the moral duty that government of a nation need to perform. But this can be justified on the
results of this action. As Deontology theory do not consider final results will leads to provide a
clear and fair justification to set maximise speed limit as right.
CONCLUSION
From the above project report on ethics and society it is determined that in order to
maintain right and law full activities in society effective implication of ethical system needs to be
made. A higher speed or a slow speed both possess their different consequences as slow speed
results and over consumption of resources and traffic. Higher speed results in more accidents and
deaths. On the basis of morality and ethical practice in the society speed of auto-mobiles must be
set at moderate speed to control the condition and minimise number of accidents. Application of
ethical theories helps in supporting the provided results.
2

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aicardi, C., Reinsborough, M. and Rose, N., 2018. The integrated ethics and society programme
of the Human Brain Project: reflecting on an ongoing experience. Journal of
Responsible Innovation. 5(1). pp.13-37.
Armstrong, S. J. and Botzler, R. G., 2016. General Introduction: Animal Ethics: A Sketch of
How It Developed and Where It Is Now. In The animal ethics reader (pp. 31-42).
Routledge.
Bennett-Woods, D., 2018. Nanotechnology: Ethics and society. CRC press.
3