What do you mean by moral obligation?

Question

We have an assignment in an ethics class to convince a city counsel to create a new plan, in essence avoiding/preserving fossil fuels, and promoting alternative fuel. There are obvious enviornmental benefits from this, among others. However, we are supposed to make the argument a moral one. For example: 1) fossil fuels produce carbon emissions 2) carbon emissions are harmful to us 3) it is morally wrong to cause harm to yourself or others 4) other alternative fuels have less harmful effects, 5) therefore, it is our moral obligation to use alternative fuels... something like that. And he always asks, well, what do u mean by moral obligation, why is it our moral obligation not to cause harm to others or ourselves... and so on. everyone is confused. so I was wondering what others think is meant by moral obligation? Or how you might say we have a moral obligation, or do we? to use alternative fuels. I just need some outside thoughts, because I am stuck. Thanks.

Answer 1

Perhaps it is linked to well being of the human race. Basically that is what ethics teaches, right? Think it in terms of survival of the human species...If we fight or keep consuming or destroying do you think we can survive? Don't you agree that we all would have been extinct at one point of time long ago? If you look at it from a survival perspective, we have to help others survive which in turn helps us survive. Hence this precipitates finally as some kind of a moral obligation.

Answer 2

morals shape your life even if you don't realize you have them. if a baby is crying, would you pick it up or step on its head? You would do whatever is moral to you.

most humans have a moral obligation not to harm others. by investing and using alternative fuels, you are promoting a healthier and safer lifestyle for all citizens. Alternative fuels could and would mean less allergies, heart problems, breathing problems, cancers, etc.

we have a moral obligation to use alternative fuels so that mankind has less suffering, and medical problems and to preserve our environment for future generations. I hope this helps some and good luck.

Answer 3

moral means what's concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong. so whats moral means to do what's right and based on that anything that hurts others is not moral. so a moral obligation will be to do what's good for everyone even if it turns in a monetary lost or something like that for the person with the moral controversy. so you could say that is a moral obligation to seek the best for everyone and searching for alternative fuels will contribute to the best for humans and for the environment too.

Answer 4

Parents have a moral obligation to do the best for their children's future. Our generation has a obligation to not set future generations up for failure. The sooner we work on using new fuels the smoother the transition will be. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Moral obligations are essentially the rules you have to follow in order to extend your bloodline in the long run. You don't go around naked in public because that would harm your image and lower your chances of finding a mate to accept your genes. You don't go around hurting other people because that will put you into a place where you will not be able to find a mate to accept your genes.

Answer 6

typical question asked by some college professor that makes about a tenth of what i make in a month.

every prof i encountered in university has ZERO knowledge or comprehension on how to explain or ask anything simply. if they asked questions like this in my company...i would have fired his boorish AS$ a long time ago and gotten a straight shooter who knows that the f-u-ck he is talking about.

here is his bullsh!t question asked in a simple realistic way.

why the f-u-ck do you smoke crack?

it f-u-cks you up, it makes you go broke, it makes you steal, it makes you suck d!ck whether youre a guy or girl and it f-u-cks up your friends and family.

stop being such a selfish, self centered, self absorbed crack whore, pull your sh!t together and stop sucking d!ck. your family hates you, your friends hate you and society hates you. stop doing that sh!t, take a shower, get cleaned up and stop being suck a selfish bast@rd.

hows that for a more realistic non-artsy way of presenting things?

your prof's are idiots...

have them talk to me and i will shoot any of them down whether they have one phd or 200...no stupid moralists, philosophers or french friers even remotely intimidate me...not even close...