In addressing the Liver Problem and the question of saving human lives, I employed an elimination system to guide my selection process. Eventually, I narrowed it down to two options: Chris, an eight-year-old boy who is the sickest among the candidates, and Sarah, a 26-year-old single mother with six school-age children. Despite acknowledging that ethically, some lives may hold more value than others, I made the inconsistent decision to choose Sarah for the liver transplant.
My choice of Sarah as the recipient was influenced by my personal identification as a mother and an understanding of the vital role a mother plays in her children’s lives. Drawing from my own experiences, even brief separations from my children have highlighted the significance of a mother’s presence. I empathized with Sarah’s six children, envisioning the hardships they would endure if they were to lose their mother, particularly considering their young age.
PHIL 2001C Week 1 Main Discussion Post
Descriptive ethics or morals encompasses the study of human behavior and the beliefs surrounding what is perceived as right or wrong, good or bad, and beneficial or productive. Ethics, on the other hand, delves into the exploration of what is considered morally right and what is typically practiced within a group, society, or culture (Philosophy Lander Education, 2001). Analyzing the situation more closely, the ethical choice would have been Bob, the homeless man, as he was the first individual on the list. However, I did not select Bob because I held reservations regarding the potential for him to revert to his previous lifestyle even after the liver transplant. I stand by my decision to choose Sarah since it translates to saving the lives of seven individuals, including her children. Conversely, the eight-year-old boy’s prognosis was unfavorable, and he might not survive the transplant.
References:
Laureate Education (Producer). (2012). Virtual Philosopher [Interactive media file]. Baltimore, MD: Author Philosophy Lander Education (2001). Ethics. Retrieved from
http://philosophy.lander.edu/ethics/types.html
