Where should one place value when making a decision? Does the ethical come in the intent or is it the outcome? If they conflict which is to be chosen?
2007-03-15 06:59:43 · 4 answers · asked by James L 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Ethics is a restraint to instinctive behaviour which conditions the intents of a civilized person. So it is an outcome of conditioning process as well as a conditioning factor for a civilized behaviour.
2007-03-19 06:22:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Any stoic will point out that you are not in control of outcomes. Things can and do occur that you are powerless to change... and in some cases even powerless to know about.
If ethics exist at all, therefore, it can only be largely in intentions. Presumably just about everyone can control what they are TRYING to do, even if the ultimate outcome of every act is not likely to ever be fully revealed to any person.
Here's the problem, however: Right now it's pretty much impossible for us to know what someone is thinking, and largely impossible to determine even if anyone is telling the truth. Thus, even though it's far more reasonable to seat ethics in intentions rather than outcomes, it's far less practical to do so.
Because we live in a world where we can (generally) tell what has happened but others' minds are opaque, just about all criminal justice systems are going to be based on an inferior ethical system based predominantly on outcomes. At least for now.
Even so, intentions still play a very big role - few people are tried for accidents if they took proper precautions, and some are tried for completely failed attempts at crimes.
2007-03-15 07:03:28 · answer #2 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Intent is very important to the doer, less important to the receiver, especially if the outcome is not what was expected by the receiver
2007-03-15 07:13:13 · answer #3 · answered by BANANA 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think value should be placed in both, and that you should weigh both the intent and outcome,,,,,,, if conflict,,,, and the outcome can be harmful, the outcome should get priority,,,,,,,,, not matter how great or worthy the intentions,,,,,, it is eithcal to search your intention, and research, to the best of your ability, any possible outcomes,,,,,,,
2007-03-15 07:58:39 · answer #4 · answered by dlin333 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋