Question

Aristotle and Kant - then read the following question completely before you begin writing your reply:

You have been on vacation in Bali with your wife and 18-year-old son. You’re now at the airport ready to return home. The three of you are getting ready to board your plane when an armed officer approaches with a drug-sniffing dog. You have all the suitcases with you and your wife - and the dog sniffs at your bag and then your wife’s bag, but passes over them. When the snooty-pooch gets to your son’s bag, the dog begins to get far more active. You look over at your son and he’s looking a little nervous. You know he has smoked marijuana while on vacation, but generally he’s a good kid. You certainly didn’t think he’d be stupid enough to bring it back on the plane with him. At first you feel angry that he would do such a thing and start planning your responsibility lecture, but then you remember that you are in Bali - and they have a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, meaning your son could be jailed for life, or worse, executed. You look at your wife and realize she has come to the same conclusion and has gone pale with fear. The armed officer with the dog is now extremely interested with every sniff the dog takes and looks directly at you and asks you to open to the bag – and you comply. As the officer begins to take things out of your bag, to your horror you see a small quantity of marijuana stashed with some other items – which you recognize as your son’s. The officer looks at you and asks, “Whose bag is this?” You realize you must answer – and fast. You see your wife in the corner of your eye, and she is about to step forward and claim it as her own. What should you do? Consider your answer based on either the ideas of Aristotle or Kant (select one). Your task is to select the one you think best resolves this situation. Explain the theory, the facts; then decide why one is better than the other based on your understanding of each of these 2 philosophers, Aristotle and Kant. Conclude your answer explaining how/why your selected philosopher's solution is best. Your answer should be approximately 3-4 complete paragraphs.

Answer 1

I would go with Immanuel Kant’s deontological ethics in resolving or approaching this issue because according to this theory, one has to fulfill one’s duty without worrying about the outcome of that action. This would force me to admit to the police officer that the bag belongs to me because I need to save my wife because she is innocent and at the same time I need to save my son because it’s my duty to save my family.

If I go with Aristotle’s virtue ethics, I should speak only the truth thus I would point out that the drug belongs to my son thus sending him to jail. It’s very important, according to Aristotle that one should be honest, truthful, loving and caring in order to lead a happy and content life. This would have forced me to put my son in jail which I don’t want to happen.

Although the bag belongs to mine, it’s my son who had kept marijuana in my bag. My confusion would be to protect my family and save myself. As a human being my option would be to put my family’s interest over my interests. Fortunately, the drug was also in my bag, so I would agree that it is my bag.   

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