1041

69

NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY PHI 104

SPRING 2021 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT REPORT TOPICS i<‘

REPO
RIFAT HASAN SHAKIL
 SPRING 2021

PHI 104: Introduction to Ethics

Department of History and Philosophy

Project Report
Course Initial & Section: PHI104.06
Date: 24.04.2021

Submitted to Md. Munir Hossain Talukdar

Professor
Department of History and Philosophy
North-South University

Submitted by: Rifat hasan Shakil.

ID: 1921801042 Section :06
Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
North-South University
 PROJECT REPORT INDEX
Page No
1.Introduction: Ethics: 03-04
1.1- Ethics
1.2- Importance of Ethics
1.3- Ethical Problems

2. Coyote Hunting Contest

2.1- Theory Analysis: Utilitarianism

2.2- Problem Analysis: Coyote Hunting Contest 05-07
2.3- Solution of the Problem

3. Donation for Planting Trees?

3.1- Theory Analysis: Kantianism
3.2- Problem Analysis: Donation for Planting 08-09
3.3- Solution of the Problem

4. Plastic Water Bottle Ban?

3.1- Theory Analysis: Aristotelian Virtue Ethics
3.2- Problem Analysis: Water Bottle Ban 10-11
3.3- Solution of the Problem

5. Conclusion 12

6. Bibliography 13

Page 02
 North South University PHI 104 Spring 2021 Individual Project Report Topics

What is Ethics?

Ethics is called moral philosophy, the discipline concerned with morally good and bad and
ethically correct/right and wrong.
In one sentence,
Ethics is the discipline concerned with what is morally good and bad.
There are Four types of Ethics:
1) Descriptive Ethics. 2) Normative Ethics .3) Meta-Ethics .4) Applied Ethics

Important of Ethics?

Most of us would agree that ethics in practice makes sense; just having it carefully drafted and
redrafted in books may not serve the purpose. Ethics is a process of reflecting on and criticizing
our most deeply held conceptions and beliefs. Ethics is also relevant for the reasons mentioned
below:

Make Society better and happier: When we contribute to the betterment of humanity, we are
credited with bettering our own life as well as the lives of our family and friends. Society would
be a wretched environment if good behaviour did not exist.

Treat all the same way: Equality is a staple in most Western economies, in which everybody
has the same privileges. This would not be practicable until the plurality of people acts morally.

Satisfying Basic Human Needs: One of the basic human needs is to be equal, truthful, and
ethical. Every employee aspires to be so and to work for a company that operates in a reasonable
and ethical manner.

Page 03
Finally,

Knowing ethics, knowing what is correct and wrong, what is good and bad, allows an individual
to live his life in the right and good direction. To behave in a socially and environmentally
responsible manner is to make us happy. An ethical individual is usually satisfied, although
some contest this. Ultimately, ethics is important not so that “we can understand”
philosophically, but rather so we can “improve how we live” By being moral, we enrich our
lives and the lives of those around us.

Ethical problems!

An ethical problem or dilemma is a problem in the decision-making process between two

possible options, neither acceptable nor moral.

Although we face many ethical and moral problems in our lives, most of them come with
relatively straightforward solutions.

On the other hand, ethical dilemmas are extremely complicated challenges that cannot be easily
solved.

Therefore, the ability to find the optimal solution in such situations is critical to everyone.
Every person may encounter an ethical dilemma in almost every aspect of their life, including
personal, social, and professional.

Through ethics, we can solve the problems of our daily life.

Page :04
 Chapter 1: Coyote Hunting Contest
Theory Analysis: Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism:

Utilitarianism is a theory of morality, which advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure
and opposes actions that cause unhappiness or harm. Utilitarian approach to making relational,
moral, or political choices aims for the sake of community. The general ethical rule of
utilitarianism is "that an intervention is good if it serves the largest number of citizens."

Utilitarians believe that the purpose of morality is to make life better by increasing the number
of good things in the world and decreasing the number of bad things.

Utilitarianism

For the utilitarian, the only thing that has value are states of affairs.

Utilitarian’s deny the deontologist’s claim that some actions have inherent moral value – as
required, forbidden, etc.

For the utilitarian, if an act has value as right or wrong, then it can only be derivatively,
because of the good or bad states of affairs that it produces.

The morally right action is the one that produces the best overall consequences with regard
to the utility or welfare of all the affected parties. Cause of the good or bad states of affairs that
it produces.

Page :05
 Problem Analysis: Coyote Hunting Contest:

Everyone you know is an Associate of the Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (ASPCA). Your friend suggested to, wants you to go to the Farmers' Market with her
on a Saturday morning this week to help her fill out an AWPS form demanding that the
provincial government outlaw all hunting competitions. The AWPS notes that although the

Society is not opposed to hunting for food, which includes food-related recreational shooting,
educational, and scientific activities. Causes trouble with objecting to be searching with
animals that have been hunted down Rewarding killing the winner's that harm is worse than
offering money rewards for game to any participant is beyond what the people in the widely
accepted moral principles of shooting. The thinks are, is.

Now I have to decide if I am going to sign a petition with my friend against Coyote hunting.

Solution of the Problem

Firstly, coyote hunting is a competition in which people kill coyotes, and the person with the
most kills win an award. But some were Described as "reckless" and "inhumane" by some
critics; the contest prompted renewed calls for the province to outlaw bounty hunts and tighten
restrictions on coyote hunting. But I don't see any reason to stop fox hunting ethically.

Due to the increase in populations, there have been more violent encounters between pets and
coyotes. Several of these attacks have occurred near large cities, prompting an outcry to control
the coyotes. As the population grows, more coyotes will likely spread into locations they were
not seen before. However, the increased hunting of coyotes can significantly mitigate this
issue. These contests are helping at reducing coyote populations.

But we can find the solution through ethics in Utilitarianism. According to Utilitarianism, we
know it teaches us to give the greatest happiness to the greatest number. Many people enjoy
coyote hunting contests, and they are even happier when they win a prize for their efforts. The
great philosopher Bentham said that pleasantness is the only quality because an experience is

Page 06
good or valuable. So the amount of spiritual and emotional peace that a person will get due to
some amount of Coyote hunting is unmatched in exchange for some amount of Coyote life's.

So, I am not going to sign a petition with my friend against Coyote hunting.

Page 07
 Chapter 2: Donation for Planting Trees

Theory Analysis: Kantianism

Kantian ethics are a set of universal moral principles that apply to all human beings, regardless
of context or situation. Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, calls the principles Categorical
Imperatives, which are defined by their morality and level of freedom. Kant is arguing that
individuals can still be seen as important - as ends of themselves - rather than as means to an
end. Theory is an example of a deontological moral theory–according to these theories, the
rightness or wrongness of actions does not depend on their consequences but on whether they
fulfill our duty. Kant believed that there was a supreme principle of morality, and he referred
to it as The Categorical Imperative.

Kant develops a checklist to assess whether or not a categorical imperative exists. “Act only in
line with the precept from which you can will that it become a universal law at the same time,”
he states. It implies that an invention can only be made public if it is extended to all. Only
where someone else's cheating on a test is acceptable will cheating on a test be considered
moral. In practice, however, a widespread bribery scandal will destroy confidence in the
meritocracy structure, resulting in the collapse of educational institutions.

To summarize, cheating on an exam is unethical. Categorical imperatives, according to Kantian

ethics, are counterintuitive in the sense that, through human beings' natural proclivity toward
self-interest, their acts must be guided by their responsibility to mankind. Self-improvement
and protection, according to Kant, are an unquestionable responsibility that everybody bears.
As a result, inefficiency, suicide, and all other method of self-destruction are intrinsically
unethical.

Page 08
 Problem Analysis: Coyote Hunting Contest

You have lived in Saskatchewan your whole life. Tremendous Saskatchewan is going door-to-
door to raise funds to plant more trees in Saskatchewan. The volunteer asks for a $50 donation.
"It sounds like a worthy cause," you reply, "but shouldn't we think first of the people in
homeless shelters?" Trees provide homes for many kinds of animals and humans. Their
happiness is threatened by CO2 and other gases our industries emit; you say. Planting more
trees will help remove CO2 from the air and so reduce our contribution to global warming. You
would accept that it will be unethical to disregard the effect of our environmental exploitation
on our descendants. Remember that if you are unable to donate funds, you will be able to donate
your time and volunteer with us. So, What I will conclude about whether!

Solution of the Problem

Kant himself says, "the search for and establishment of the supreme principle of morality"
That supreme principle, which Kant calls the categorical imperative, commands simply that
our actions should have the form of moral conduct; that is, that they should be derivable from
universal principles. That means A person who does the right thing for the right reason evinces
what Kant calls a good will. A good will is the only thing to which we attribute "unconditional
worth. “The good will is good "through its willing “which means that it is in actions expressive
of a good will that we see this special kind of value realized.

Kant’s theory believes in and supports which work that best for the world, but it must be
accepted by all. Whether it is good or bad. In this summery their a community of volunteers is
seen here planting trees with the assistance of 50 dollars. And this work will be appreciated by
all. On the other hand, giving money homeless people a hypothetical imperative that is not part
of Kant's theory. So, we should donate 50 dollars for planting trees.

Page 09
 Chapter 3: Plastic Water Bottle Ban

3.1. Theory Analysis: Aristotle’s virtue ethics

Aristotelian Virtue Ethics:

Virtue ethics is a philosophy developed by Aristotle and other ancient Greeks. It is the quest to
understand and live a life of moral character. This character-based approach to morality
assumes that we acquire virtue through practice. So, virtue ethics helps us understand what it
means to be a virtuous human being.

Aristotle Virtue Ethics refers to responding in virtuous way for getting a peaceful life. It doesn't
allow responding according to our feelings. It focuses on what we did and how our virtues
impacted other actions.

So, Virtue ethics is a broad term for theories that emphasize the role of character and virtue in
moral philosophy. Most virtue ethics theories take their inspiration from Aristotle, who
declared that a virtuous person is someone who has ideal character traits. Since its revival in
the twentieth century, virtue ethics has been developed in three main directions. Eudaimonism,
agent-based theories, and the ethics of care are the main branches of virtue ethics. The third
branch of virtue ethics was proposed predominately by feminist thinkers. It challenges the idea
that ethics should focus solely on justice and autonomy. It argues that more feminine traits,
such as caring and nurturing, should also be considered.

Problem Analysis: Plastic Water Bottle Ban

This belief connects you to the threat to the health and well-being of humans and the
ecosystems around the world because it's based on plastic contamination being dangerous to
the world and harming the ecosystem.

Page 10
You and a community of friends has been in frequent competition with each other to be the
best students for years.

Campus officials expect the government to prohibit the selling of water bottles of any size as
the new regulations would apply to all people, and not just students. So what should we do!

Solution of the Problem

While it is common knowledge that plastic is bad for the climate, few people understand just
how harmful it can be when provided the opportunity. These materials will throw habitats out
of whack and cause more issues than they solve, whether during the production phase or during
disposal. As a result, we would strive to be mindful of these problems in order to develop
solutions to combat the plastic crisis.

Plastic contamination kills one million seabirds per year, as well as 100,000 whales, marine
animals, and turtles.

Water bottles that are both compact and environmentally friendly have seen incredible
advancements. The better ones are UV-resistant, and there are also self-filtering bottles that
enable you to pour ordinary tap water into them and have the filtering device do its job when
it passes through the lid and spout. Finally, disposable water bottles can be prohibited.

There are several reasons that we do not ban plastic bottles. If plastic bottles were banned,
water would be available in any location and it would be difficult to transport water. This would
have a negative backlash, and citizens will take measures against this attempt to prohibit single-
use water bottles in canteens and shops. That is my attempt to prevent single-use water bottles
from being banned because it would have a detrimental effect on others' behavior and reactions.
As a result, it could be avoided by my fourth by prohibiting the use of disposable water bottles.
Aristotle's morality ethics expressed the same sentiments about us.

Aristotle Virtue Ethics refers to responding in virtuous way for getting a peaceful life. It doesn't
allow responding according to our feelings. It focuses on what we did and how our virtues
impacted other actions. So, according to Aristotle's theory of consistency, if the measures we're
taking to ban bottled water are appropriate to citizens in culture, they'll be acceptable;
otherwise, they won't be.

Page 11
 Conclusion

Ethics is a system of principles that helps us tell right from wrong, good from bad. In virtue
ethics, character is all about what a well-intentioned person with good character would do. We
need to be ethical because it defines who we are individually and as a society. Our society
might fall into chaos if we accept that each of us could pick and choose what the right thing to
do is, he says. Some people may lie; others may not do what they say they will do; still others
act irresponsibly and engage in harmful behavior, he writes. But an ethical person must be
willing – at least sometimes – to place the interests of others ahead of self-interest, because of
our responsibility to a civil society.

In this project paper, I used ethical ideas to solve three problems. In our daily lives, we
encounter many questions and ethical issues that can be addressed through ethical philosophies
such as utilitarianism, virtue ethics, and Kantian ethics.

Page 12
 Bibliography

https://www.mtnpursuit.org/latest/mountain-pursuits-standards-for-ethical-coyote-hunting.

https://www.gazettenet.com/Editorial-Coyote-hunting-contests-27062519

Williams, Ted. May 22, 2018. Coyote Carnage: The Gruesome Truth about Wildlife Killing Contests htShivik J. The
Predator Paradox: Ending the War with Wolves, Bears, Cougars, and Coyotes. 2014.
Beacontps://e360.yale.edu/features/coyote-carnage-the-gruesome-truth-about-wildlife-killing-contests

Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of South Africa, Pretoria. Author of L'Évolution de la pensée
kantienne; editor of Kantstudien.
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights
reserved.

https://www.csus.edu/indiv/g/gaskilld/ethics/kantian%20ethics.htm

Definition of Kantianism from the Collins English Dictionary

Thank you sir …...

Page 13