Ethics Unit 1

Unit 1 Assignment

There are many reasons that can be given to prove morality need not, and indeed should not, be based solely on religion. Some reasons are that it is difficult to prove decisively the existence of a supernatural being. Religious people can be immoral; Nonreligious people can be moral, too; it is difficult to provide a lucid foundation for religion, which makes it difficult to provide such a foundation for morality. If religion were to be the foundation of formality, which religion would provide this foundation and who would decide? There is a difficulty in resolving the conflicts arising from numerous religiously based ethical systems without going outside of them. There is, it seems, a need for a humanitarian ethics that is neither strictly religious nor strictly humanistic (atheistic) but that includes these two extremes and the middle ground as well.

If the individual has good moral standards, the temptation to engage in wrongdoing shouldn't be too great. Yes the temptation would be there, but the individual should know to use the power for good, make the world a better place. It is possible for a good person to quickly turn into a scoundrel, especially if the person had been wronged by someone and want to get revenge. There are probably more people to be immoral than moral. People have a chance to do things they can't do without being caught for doing it. If I were given a Gyges ring, I really don't know what I will do. I'll probably scare my friends and family for fun, but I will also try to find out how to help people in any way I can. Moral for me feels right because no matter how hard I try to be mean, do bad things, I usually always do the right thing.

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