Question

Play devil's advocate (opposition) to one of the ethical judgements from this week's assignment. Explain your stance by creating premises that support your conclusion.
11f (FRED)
1) Fred pays for his education by stealing items and selling them.
2) Fred does not believe he is doing wrong because the owners will be compensated by insurance.
3) Owners take the risk of theft when they go into business and plan for it with insurance.
4) Stealing is ethical when it is for a good purpose.
5) Paying for education is a good purpose.
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6) Thus, Fred is acting ethical by stealing and selling items to pay for his education.

Provide a current example of cultural relativism from your own everyday life. Can you make an ethical judgement about it? Why or why not?

Answer 1

The below is unethical because, we cannot assume from the owner's point of view. They may not have insured their products. Few products do not come under insurance, hence they will be at loss. Insurance does not compensate for the loss sometimes. There is lots of procedures behind, to claim it. Stealing is wrong, and will remain stealing no matter, what is the reason behind it. Due to reasons like this, one cannot justify stealing act. This is not the only reason. People may come up with reasons like medical emergency, religion etc. If people start stealing giving some good reasons, then it would be unfair for the people who are honestly doing their business. This will ruin the orderly society. Additional reason would be, stealing is not the only way for Fred to solve his problem. He can ask for loan, do part-time jobs, opt for scholarships, ask people to mentor him etc. These ways are far better than stealing and does not do undue harm to others. Hence, what Fred did is wrong and cannot be justified.