Final Blog

(1) Question:

Are some acts morally obligatory regaurdless of the consequences for human benefit or harm?

(2) Conceptual Clarifications:

morally obligatory- morally responsible to do a certain action or morally binding in conscience.
human benefit- promotes human well-being
human harm- physical or mental damage

(3) Answer:
I believe that there are actions that we are morally responsible for regaurdless of the consequences for human benefit or harm. I believe this because when you feel morally obligated to an action then you normally don't take into account the benefits or the harm that can comes from the consequence of that action. You only feel morally obligated to acts that you view as morally right, you would not feel morally responsible to do an act if it conflicts with your morals. So when you feel the act that you are obligated too is morally right, then you should not have to take into account human benefits or harm. Unless your morals do not include the well-being of others, then you would still feel morally obligated to an act even if it results in human harm. Or if you feel that an act you feel obligated too is in the interest of the greater good or lesser of two evils, even if it results in human harm, then you can feel morally binded to an act regaurdless of it's consequences.


(4) Example:

Say you are driving to class and you are almost to class and you see your friend walking home. You know he lives a good distance away from school and it is a hot day but if you pick him up and give him a ride then you will be late to a very important class you can't afford to be late too. So you decide to not pick him up and go to class because you feel morally obligated to do the right thing and not be late to class and turn in a very important assignment. Now youchoose to do what you felt you were morally obligated too, even thogh letting your friend walk home could lead to human harm, like dehydration or say he gets hit by a car or something.



(6) References:
Ruggiero. (2008). Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues. McGraw Hill.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/