In This Assignment You Will Consider The Following Dilemma ✓ Solved

In This Assignment You Will Consider The Following Dilemma Write a V

In this assignment, you will consider the following dilemma: A large passenger ship crashes at sea and only one lifeboat is available to rescue the survivors. This lifeboat has a maximum capacity of 15 people, but there are 30 survivors. Attempting to save them all, the captain and his mates load everyone into the boat. Unfortunately, as they are attempting to return to land, a storm approaches. The waves begin to pick up, and the captain is aware that unless he lightens the load on the boat, it will sink. He faces the following dilemma: Do I order some of the passengers on the boat off (these people will surely die) or do I allow the storm to overtake all of the passengers?

This situation presents a clear moral dilemma involving conflicting principles of justice, beneficence, and duty. On the one hand, the captain has a moral obligation to save as many lives as possible (beneficence). On the other hand, there is the principle of justice in fairness, which raises questions about how to determine who should be sacrificed for the greater good.

The dilemma challenges us to consider whether it is morally permissible to sacrifice a few to save many, similar to utilitarian ethics, which prioritize the greatest good for the greatest number. It also raises questions about fairness and equality: Should passengers be chosen at random, based on age, health, social status, or some other criterion? Is there a morally justifiable way to make such a decision, or does any selection process inherently involve unfair biases?

One potential resolution is to implement a fair and impartial method for selecting who will be sacrificed, such as a random drawing or a system based on specific, transparent criteria (age, health, etc.). This approach aligns with fairness and reduces arbitrary decision-making, which could be unjust. Another perspective emphasizes the captain's duty to prioritize saving the most lives possible, suggesting that the decision should be guided by a utilitarian calculus—saving those most likely to survive or most valuable to future society.

Some argue that no one should be forced to make such a decision and that all consequences should be avoided. However, given the circumstances, the captain's responsibility is to minimize loss of life, which might justify some sacrifices. Ethical frameworks like utilitarianism and Kantian deontology offer different perspectives: utilitarianism endorses sacrificing some for the greater good, whereas Kantian ethics emphasize respecting the intrinsic worth of every individual, opposing any form of forced sacrifice.

In conclusion, while there is no perfect solution, the most morally defensible approach involves establishing a transparent, fair system for determining who is saved, coupled with the goal of minimizing loss of life. Such a balanced approach seeks to uphold principles of fairness, beneficence, and respect for persons amidst the tragic circumstances of this moral dilemma.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

This dilemma exemplifies a profound conflict between utilitarian goals and respect for individual rights. The captain faces an urgent choice: who should be sacrificed to save others, or should all perish? This scenario reflects the core challenge of many moral dilemmas—balancing collective good against individual worth.

From an ethical perspective, utilitarianism asserts that the decision should maximize overall happiness or minimize suffering. In this context, sacrificing some passengers to save more might be justified under utilitarian ethics, as the primary goal is to save the greatest number of lives. However, this approach risks reducing individuals to mere means, ignoring their inherent dignity—a violation of Kantian ethics, which emphasize respecting the moral worth of each person.

The principles conflicting here include beneficence—the obligation to promote the well-being of others—and justice—fairness in how sacrifices are made. Deciding who should be sacrificed raises questions of fairness and equality; selecting individuals based on certain characteristics might be seen as discriminatory, whereas random selection could be viewed as impartial but arbitrary.

Possible resolutions involve employing ethical frameworks that balance fairness and outcomes. For example, implementing a lottery system could be justified as a fair method that respects the equal moral worth of all passengers. Alternatively, prioritizing based on medical prognosis or social value could be discussed, though such approaches may introduce bias and ethical concerns about valuing certain lives over others.

Another consideration involves establishing clear, transparent criteria in advance, thus reducing arbitrary decisions in a crisis. Moreover, the captain should consider the psychological and moral implications of decisions made, including the guilt associated with sacrificing some passengers.

Overall, while no decision is free from moral complication, an ethically justifiable approach emphasizes fairness, transparency, and the minimization of harm. This requires balancing utilitarian considerations with respect for individual rights, recognizing that unavoidable trade-offs often exist in extreme circumstances like the life-and-death scenario on the stormy sea.

References

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• Freeman, M. (2007). Ethical Decision Making in Disaster Situations. Journal of Emergency Management, 5(3), 11-20.
• Johnson, D. (2013). The Ethics of Rescue Operations. Ethics & International Affairs, 27(4), 451–464.
• Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.
• Rachels, J., & Rachels, S. (2019). The Elements of Moral Philosophy. McGraw-Hill Education.
• Singer, P. (2011). Practical Ethics. Cambridge University Press.
• Tankard, M. E., & Paluck, E. L. (2016). The Effectiveness of Moral Argument in Public Discourse. Journal of Social Policy, 45(2), 271-291.
• Williams, B. (1973). Utilitarianism: For and Against. Cambridge University Press.
• Wrenn, C. (2014). Ethical Issues in Maritime Rescue. Marine Policy, 44, 24-30.
• Yong, S. (2018). Moral Dilemmas in Emergency and Disaster Response. Journal of Ethics, 22, 45-59.