The moral argument only 'works' in the framework of practical reason. Critically discuss the meaning and implications of this claim. Immanuel Kant was instrumental in demolishing the traditional philosophical arguments for God's existence. In Critique of Pure Reason (1781) ,his ...

Rene Descartes asserts that our most fundamental beliefs are uncertain, and consequently, all beliefs resting on these basics are also uncertain. In his First Mediation, he sets out to determine which beliefs are certain and which are doubtful. Descartes applied illusion argument, dreaming argument,...

In dealing with the question "should we always seek to maximize utility", it is important first to define the term "utility" and in so doing begin to identify some of the prominent arguments both for and against utilitarianism. Morally right actions produce the most good and goo...

The debate on whether abortion is right has remained a longstanding source of contention among members of the various fronts of our society. On one hand, proponents claim of the view that making abortion illegal is a contradiction to the ability by women to enjoy their right to life and freedom of c...

Sophocles' play "Antigone" illustrates the conflict between obeying human and divine law. The play opens after Oedipus' two sons Eteocles and Polyneices have killed each other in a civil war for the throne of Thebes. Oedipus' brother in law Creon then assumes the throne. He ...

Part I: The ethical valuation of euthanasia has been hotly contested within both the judicial and ethical arena for the past two decades. Philosophers and politicians alike stand on either side of the debate without a clear view of the future ahead. Euthanasia itself is a term that needs furth...

Critical Analysis of Two Essays: Are Business and Medicine Ethically Incompatible In the book Taking Sides authors Lisa Newton and Maureen Ford present in issue five the question "Are business and medicine ethically incompatible." Professor of medicine, Arnold S. Relman's essay Ana...

In contemporary American society, a general topic for moral discussion is euthanasia, the act of painlessly ending the life of a person for reasons of mercy. This is usually done in cases in which the person is hopelessly sick or injured. Although by this definition euthanasia may clearly seem to ...

Ethics of Abortion The debate over abortion has been constantly raging since the day it was legalized. It is a debate that sees large amounts of supporters that are both for and against it. In our society moral applications of certain ethics vary throughout. This is the case for philosophers Joh...

After a 1997 experiment in which a sheep was cloned, the argument of cloning humans came up. The argument surrounding cloning pits the views of two different groups against each other. Similar to the pro-life activists in the abortion argument there is the conservative wing who claim the utilization...

In the preface of Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant declares that all moral philosophy rests entirely on its pure parts. With this premise, an acknowledgment that he is unconcerned with a teleological approach to morality, Kant tethers the moral philosophy he is about to erect....

Moral Relativism At first glance, moral relativism appears to be an appealing, well though out philosophical view; the truth of moral judgments is relative to the judging subject or community. The basic definition of moral relativism is that all moral points of view are equally valid; no single ...

Animal Rights Throughout recent history, although mostly in contemporary American society, a general topic for moral discussion is the ethical treatment of animals. Much debate has resulted from this topic, with the major question being, "should animal life be given the same respect as hum...

The issue of abortion and its' morality is no doubt one of great controversy. Is there any morally defensible point in a pregnancy where abortion is wrong afterwards but permissible before? In this paper I will argue that, yes, abortion is permissible but only to a certain extent. First we sh...

Death with Dignity Should Be Legal In the article, "Euthanasia Can Never Be Justified," author J. Budziszewski defends why euthanasia should stay illegal. The basis of his argument comes from his idea that all bad things come from good things that have been "spoiled". To relat...

Loyalty has always been a virtue of ethics, but ethics of our western civilization it seems, is changing. Loyalty has its domestic, religious, commercial, and its professional forms which in these forms, the concept of loyalty encompasses elements of freedom of belief, expression, and association. ...

Euthanasia Discuss the potential implications of legalizing euthanasia in New Zealand and examine its possible advantages and disadvantages. Do humans have any rights when it comes to their own deaths? Euthanasia is a very controversial issue being discussed in today's public forums. Most...

In today society, it is a must that there is some kind of computerized technology within the typical workplace. It is obvious that the need for computers in our daily lives is increasing at a very rapid pace. There is no way to avoid the use of computers if you plan to survive in the 20th century...

The concept of "good" is evident within The Republic of Plato (Bloom,). Socrates demonstrates the concept of innate good through a variety of descriptions and actions while also providing guidance to others during his trail. This idea of "the good" provides an "end in itself" and becomes...

The idea of cloning humans has always stirred debate, raising moral and ethical issues. As research and experiments continue delve into the frontiers of technology and science, we inch closer to the possibility of cloning becoming a reality. In fact, it is unrealistic to assume it will nev...

A Critique of Mill's Proof of the Principle of Utility Introduction In his work, Utilitarianism, J S Mill asserts that, "happiness is desirable, and the only thing desirable, as an end; all other things being only desirable as means to that end." He goes on to offer a "proo...

When reading Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince, one can't help but grasp his argument that ordinary morality and politics cannot exist in the same forum. However, when examining Machiavelli's notions in depth, one can conclude that perhaps a moral end fuels his suggested use of force ...

Abortion I'm writing about abortion, the rights, the innocent babies, and the society we live in. There are a few more important things issues in this country today than abortion. Combine a society that is partially governed by religion with scientifically uneducated community and the fev...

The moral dilemma's presented in The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible are predicaments distinctly connected to early American society. The Puritan church, America's first community forum and system of social organization, provided a strict rule of individual lifestyle that encompassed dai...

I, a senior medical officer in Ottawa, have been approached by a group of people who have survived a devastating biological weapons attack. I thought that I was the sole survivor of this attack but am relieved to find out there are seven other survivors. The group of seven survivors do not know h...