Video Discussion Example: The Booming Asparagus Business In

Video Discussion Examplethe Booming Asparagus Business In Peru Initial

The booming asparagus business in Peru initially would be considered to be extremely beneficial. It has provided numerous jobs for its people and has halved the poverty. However, the agricultural business there is not all beneficial. The water supply is depleting and they are lessening their crop production to accommodate the need for water. The issue with this comes full circle with decreasing asparagus production and decreasing the revenue it brings with it.

To understand how the different groups of people form their opinions, one can look to ethical theories. The first theory that is applicable is ethical egoism. Ethical egoism in this case applies to two main groups: the farmers and the countries importing the asparagus. The theory gives utmost importance to oneself. In the mind of the ethical egoist, "To respect the autonomy of other individuals is to give up this position" (Glasgow, 1968, p.84).

In other words, adhering to others’ desires and needs is morally wrong since it is not self-fulfilling. This relates to the two groups in the sense that they both want the asparagus to keep booming at the cost of others since it will continue to benefit themselves. For the farmers, they are making money and making a living for themselves. With the successful business of asparagus, they can reap the benefits of the importance that asparagus plays economically for Peru. As for the countries importing, such as the United States, they are benefiting since they do not have to grow the asparagus themselves.

Paying for labor in another country is cheaper than paying for labor in the same country. Also, the importing country does not have to worry about its own water usage being used on the crops and whether or not its own economy is dependent on the crop. They care about getting the product they paid for and fulfilling the demand of its people, thus reaping the economic benefits of it all along with getting the crop. Utilitarianism is the ethical theory that describes the attitude of the people. Utilitarianism has "the thesis that the moral predicates of an act... are functions in some way, direct or indirect, of consequences for the welfare of sentient creatures, and of nothing else" (Brandt, 1992, p.111).

In other words, utilitarianism takes into consideration the effects on all living creatures and chooses the route of least harm. However, when viewing utilitarianism, there are two sides. If it is viewed looking into the attitudes of the people in the near future, then continuing to grow the asparagus would be considered morally right in the view of utilitarianism. The production provides jobs for people, which makes them happy, and those people are able to provide for their families, which makes their families happy. The farmers are pleased by making money and the poverty levels have halved.

In this sense, it is morally right. But when looking into the far future, where water levels are dangerously low and the crop needs to be cut back on production, sending people back into poverty, it is wrong to continue harvesting this crop. The animals in the area will be forced to move and it is possible that farming will need to be moved to accommodate the need for water. When agricultural plots need to move, more deforestation may be necessary to adjust the land for the crop. Overall, since utilitarians try to pick the action that reaps the most benefits and the least harm, they would most likely agree that the overproduction of asparagus is morally wrong since it will bring about a lot of suffering down the road for future generations if water levels deplete rapidly and asparagus can no longer be grown, let alone many other types of crops.

Finally, the Kantian ethics can describe the attitude of the people that are genuinely growing asparagus for the greater good. Kant explained that "acting from the good will is the only way that actions can be truly praiseworthy" (Shafer-Landau, 2012, p.178). These people are growing asparagus to help others get jobs, to feed their families, to do good for their society. They are not driven to become rich and powerful, rather they are growing asparagus to help others. They may also actively be seeking out more environmentally friendly means of watering their crops to skew the rate at which water is depleting from the area.

Paper For Above instruction

The asparagus industry in Peru exemplifies a complex intersection of economic development, environmental sustainability, and ethical considerations. While initially providing substantial benefits such as employment creation and poverty reduction, the long-term ecological and social impacts raise significant ethical questions. Analyzing this scenario through the lenses of ethical egoism, utilitarianism, and Kantian ethics offers a comprehensive understanding of the moral dimensions involved.

Ethical egoism, which posits that individuals should act in their own self-interest, explains the behavior of the various stakeholders in the Peruvian asparagus industry. Farmers pursue profit and economic stability, motivated by the immediate gains from successful harvests. Conversely, importing countries like the United States benefit economically by purchasing the crop at lower costs, leveraging cheaper labor and avoiding environmental responsibilities (Glasgow, 1968). This self-interested behavior, while economically advantageous, neglects the broader environmental consequences, particularly water depletion and ecosystem degradation. As Glasgow (1968) argues, respecting others' autonomy entails acknowledging their interests, but egoism often prioritizes self-interest at the expense of others' needs.

Utilitarianism provides a broader moral framework focusing on maximizing overall happiness while minimizing suffering. In the short term, asparagus cultivation creates employment, reduces poverty, and boosts economic growth in Peru (Brandt, 1992). These benefits align with utilitarian principles favoring actions that increase general well-being. However, the environmental costs—such as water depletion leading to ecological imbalance, habitat destruction, and future water scarcity—pose significant harms. The dilemma arises because the immediate benefits conflict with long-term sustainability. As the water table drops, crop production declines, and local fauna are displaced, indicating substantial suffering that utilitarianism aims to prevent (Brandt, 1992). When assessing current versus future impacts, utilitarian reasoning might condemn overexploitation of water resources, advocating for sustainable practices that balance present benefits against future harms.

Kantian ethics emphasizes acting from duty and adhering to moral principles that respect humanity's intrinsic worth. Kantian theory highlights the importance of motives and universal principles guiding moral actions (Shafer-Landau, 2012). Farmers and exporters acting out of genuine concern to provide employment and improve societal welfare reflect Kantian good will. They are motivated by duties to the community rather than greed, especially if they actively seek environmentally friendly watering techniques to mitigate water depletion. Kantian morality would criticize behavior driven solely by self-interest or economic gain without regard for environmental sustainability, viewing such actions as treating nature and future generations as mere means rather than ends in themselves. Therefore, the ethical cultivation of asparagus involves aligning production practices with moral duties to protect the environment and uphold human dignity.

The ethical evaluation of the Peruvian asparagus industry underscores the necessity of integrating multiple perspectives. While economic development is vital, it must be balanced with environmental stewardship and moral responsibilities towards future generations. This balance requires adopting sustainable water management practices, ethical business models, and policies that prioritize ecological integrity and social equity. Moving forward, stakeholders must recognize that short-term gains should not compromise the rights and well-being of future communities. Ethical frameworks such as egoism, utilitarianism, and Kantian ethics collectively recommend a morally responsible approach that upholds both human and ecological well-being, ensuring the long-term viability of Peru’s agricultural sector and the global food supply chain.

References

• Brandt, R. B. (1992). Morality, Utilitarianism, and Rights. Cambridge University Press.
• Glasgow, W. D. (1968). The contradiction in ethical egoism. Philosophical Studies: An International Journal for Philosophy in the Analytic Tradition, 19(6), 81-85.
• Shafer-Landau, R. (2012). The Fundamentals of Ethics (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.