Question

Write one page (typed, double-spaced) in reply to the following: Imagine a moral theory, "John's Theory," comprised of the following principles: (1) Never lie; (2) Make pleasure your ultimate goal in life; (3) Benefit friends and harm enemies.

Answer 1

John’s theory of lie:

John’s theory of lie states that the act of lying causes a sense of insecurity which reduces the self-image leading to a reduced quality of life. In his theory , the act of lie is affecting of our sense of security which then affects our self-image thereby the quality of life. So in other words, lying decreases the quality of life which is hard to restore if lost once.

According to John’s theory of lie, lying is an act committed by people who do not trust their own gut. The act of lying has other impacts on your life as reduced respect from others when the one’s act is in light and loss of credibility for the rest of their life.

Sense of insecurity

1. Sense of insecurity is one component being increased by the act of lying which then initiates a chain reaction.
2. According to John’s theory, this is the first component to be affected during the act of lying.

Self-image

1. Self-image is the second most important component to get affected by the act of lying.
2. According to John’s theory, this is one of the most valuable component of a human life. Self-image is considered as a mirror where a person sees himself which is based on the act of himself in the past and in the future.

Quality of life

1. Quality of life is the bigger component being affected by the act of lying.
2. According to John’s theory, quality of life is a broader term which encompasses the other important things in life.

John’s theory of pleasure:

John’s theory of pleasure states that finding pleasure should be made the ultimate goal in one’s life to live it to its fullest.

Pleasure

According to John’s theory, pleasure is feel where one tends to increase their self-image not necessarily by affecting others happiness and sense of security.

Life

According to John’s theory, living life to its fullest means living life the way a person desires to live and not by the intention of those who surround him.

John’s theory of friends and enemies:

John’s theory of friends and enemies states that a person should live his life by benefitting his friends and harming his enemies , in case if his enemies harm him , to protect himself.

Friends

According to John, friends are a set of people who tend to desire for a good or better quality of life for their peer even at circumstances when they might sacrifice their own desires.

So John states that a person should live his life in a way that benefits his friends.

Enemies

According to John, enemies are a set a people who tend to harm their opponent even at the time of sacrificing their own valuable possession they consider in their life in order to satisfy their ego.

So John in his theory explains that a person who is harmed by an enemy who is trying to satisfy his ego towards him, the person should harm him in return in order secure him and his possessions which are necessarily people who rely on him.