Question

: The Reading & Study materials this module/week discuss the complex issue of poverty, and the moral imperative of promise-keeping is mentioned several times. After reviewing the Reading & Study materials, compose a 500-600 word argument that is objective, carefully-constructed, and free of emotion (and hence it should not contain any exclamation points) in support of your opinion on each of the following questions.

Why is promise-keeping morally important?

Is it ever morally permissible to break a promise?

If you answer “yes” to #2, then what are the conditions that render promise-breaking morally acceptable?

If you answer “no” to #2, then explain why you believe it is never permissible. How would you handle difficult scenarios wherein someone has made a promise the keeping of which would have significant undesirable consequences?

Is it ever morally obligatory to break a promise?

If you answer “yes” to #5, what are the conditions that render promise-breaking morally obligatory?

Answer 1

Yes, promise keeping is morally important. Promise has many moral behaviours involved. Honesty, trust and actions. Honesty of words, trust from the receiver and the action symbolizes the fulfillment of promise. It is a bundle of many moral behaviours and hence it carries more importance.

Yes, promise breaking is permissible at times. To understand the situations, I would like to throw light on the meaning of the term moral

Morals are philosophies of what is right and wrong in behaviours.

Situations where promise breaking is permissible are,

1. Unavoidable situations

Example - A person promises to deliver books at the end of first month. Due to unexpected floods in town, his books are totally destroyed and he unavoidably breaks his promise.

2. When the receiver forego the promise

Example - A lady is promised by a person that he would get her husband a new job. The lady forego of the promise, as the husband is no more and the promise fulfillment is no longer required.

3. A promise was made for a desired outcome and when the situations changed, the outcome may no longer be desirable. In such case, the promise maker has to explain and in good terms break the promise in goodwill.

Situations which makes promise breaking morally obligatory are little but may arise. An example which immediately strikes is when a wrongful deed against a person has been vowed under pressure. In that case, breaking the promise is less morally wrong than keeping it. It is just weighing of things, to see which is more wrong and choosing the action which is more of right ans less of wrong.

Example- A person promises his owner to intentionally cheat a customer in huge sums. The customer is poor guy and amount may be is his lifetime savings. The person weighs that cheating the person can do more harm morally and destroy his family than a small wrong deed of breaking the promise and hence does not cheat.