Discussion – Kantian and Social Contract Ethics

Discussion – Kantian and Social Contract Ethics

In the case of John Doe, a nurse who uses an application called “Cloak” to download copyrighted textbooks without detection, several moral and ethical considerations arise. John is aware that his actions conflict with his religious beliefs and the legal rights of the authors and publishers, yet he prioritizes his economic situation. To address this, I propose a personal ethical philosophy grounded in Kantian and social contract ethics.

Kantian ethics points out the importance of duty and adherence to moral principles, regardless of the outcomes (Schmidt, 2024). It advocates for actions based on aphorisms that can be universally useful, respecting the intrinsic dignity and worth of individuals. In the case of John Doe, downloading copyrighted materials without authorization fails the categorical imperative test, as it cannot be universally accepted without violating the rights of authors and publishers. From a Kantian viewpoint, John’s deeds are immoral since they breach the principle of treating others as ends in themselves, not merely as means to an end.

Social contract ethics, as described by Lemmens et al. (2022), emphasizes the implicit agreements and mutual obligations that bind a society together. This theory asserts that moral and political responsibilities are based on a contract among individuals to create the society they inhabit. John Doe’s act of illegally downloading textbooks violates this social contract, which is founded on respect for intellectual property and adherence to the rule of law. Mutual respect for rights and contributions is essential for a functioning society, and breaching this contract for personal benefit undermines social order. Therefore, my ethical stance, rooted in both Kantian ethics and social contract ethics, condemns John Doe’s actions as immoral. Upholding duties and mutual respect within society is vital for maintaining order and justice.

References

Lemmens, T., Ghimire, K. M., Perehudoff, K., & Persaud, N. (2022). 1 Introduction: social contract, social goods, and human rights approaches. Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; World Health Organization. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587887/

Schmidt, J. (2024). Kantian Ethics. Corporate Finance Institute. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/esg/kantian-ethics/#:~:text=Kantian%20ethics%20says%20that%20the

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Some people believe that you can tell who a person is by what they do when no one is looking. Let’s look at the following case. John Doe, a nurse, has downloaded an application to his phone that allows him to download copyrighted textbooks for a nursing course (that Doe is going to take) without his Internet Service Provider knowing it. The application is called “Cloak” as in cloak of invisibility (a hooded coat one wears to make it so others cannot see you). The application disguises his phone and makes it so the information on it is inaccessible. John is aware that other people who are working and attending nursing school (like him) also use this software program for the same reason (and to save money). John Doe knows that his religion forbids him from using this application to download in this manner. John Doe is focused on his own economic situation and does not consider the publisher, author, and others involved in the books. Think about a course of social action; what social values should be used to address this moral issue and conflict?

Kantian and Social Contract Ethics

Create a personal ethical philosophy and explain from which philosophy or philosophies (it must include at least one of the following: virtue ethics, Kantian ethics, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, or social contract ethics) you created it and why the contents are important and meaningful for you. List its precepts.

Take your personal ethical philosophy statement and use it to work through John Doe’s case. What is moral and immoral per your theory?
How would the veil of ignorance or a different theory of justice address John Doe’s case?