Applying Common-Sense Morality to Life I believe that I could and do “live with” W. D. Ross’s theory of common-sense morality as my own moral code. I agree with some of the principles that Kant and Utilitarianism follow, but I believe they are too strict. I agree with the system of moral dilemmas and priorities that common-sense morality uses. It allows a person to prioritize moral obligations and choose which obligation is more important based on a particular situation.
I believe common-sense morality can easily be applied to situations at home, at work, and at school. First, I will give an example of how common-sense morality can be applied to a situation at home. Let’s say that my father and I have plans to meet for dinner on Thursday night. According to Ross, I have made a promise to meet him for dinner and this situation would fall under the obligation of fidelity. In class on Thursday, I find out that I have an exam in my business ethics class on Friday and I know that I should stay home and study for it instead of going out to dinner. After thinking about the situation, even though my father and I had previous plans to go to dinner, I would decide to change our plans to a later date and study for the exam.
By doing this, I broke my promise to go to dinner, but the exam is more important. According to Ross, I have prioritized the exam over the dinner in order to fulfill by obligation of self-improvement. Second, I will give an example of how common-sense morality can be applied to a situation at work. Let’s say that I work at Wendy’s fast food restaurant.
The Term Paper on The Internal Morality of Chinese Legalism
Abstract It is widely held that there are no indigenous roots in China for the rule of law; it is an import from the West. The Chinese legal tradition, rather, is rule by law, as elaborated in ancient Legalist texts such as the Han Feizi. According to the conventional reading of these texts, law is amoral and an instrument in the hands of a central ruler who uses law to consolidate and maintain ...
James, the manager of the store, and I are the only staff members in the store. All of the sudden, James accidentally spills hot grease all over his hand and is screaming for help. I immediately run over to help, but then a woman in the dining area screams to call 911 because her husband is having a heart attack. Now I have a moral dilemma.
According to Ross, I have an obligation of beneficence to both people, but I need to evaluate which person’s health is more at risk. In this situation, the person having the heart attack is in much more danger than James. I would call 911 and then tend to James. Third, I will give an example of how common-sense morality can be applied to an everyday situation at school. Let’s say that my business ethics group has a presentation due in a few weeks. I am feeling lazy and I decide not to attend any of our group meetings, but I claim to be working on the assignment.
When the presentation is due, I tell the group that I do not have my part of the assignment finished and we are unable to do our presentation. The professor decides to give an “F” to our group. According to Ross, I have an obligation of reparation to my group members for causing them to fail the presentation. I decide to tell the professor that it was my fault that the project was incomplete and I am fully responsible. Fortunately, the professor allows my group members to pass the class.
In conclusion, I believe that I could and do live with common-sense morality as my own moral code. I agree with the concept of moral dilemmas and prioritizing moral obligations based on different situations. I plan to continue to use this moral theory in my life.
