SIÑO, FERL DIANE S.
BSA31
Guide Questions:
1. What ethical framework/theories are present in the story of Sully? Explain how this
applies on his story.
I think the ethical framework that is present in the story of Sully is Utilitarianism. The
concept of Utilitarianism holds the idea that the most ethical choice is the one that will
produce the greatest good for the greatest number. It shows “the end justifies the means”
mentality. Captain Sully was faced with an extremely challenging situation and decision.
He needed to either stick with the status quo, fly back to an airport and hope that he
makes it, or as he did, fly the plane to a water landing in a populated river and hope that
his guesswork is right. Although Captain Sully would be risking the lives of a few boaters
and pedestrians and the million-dollar plane, the greatest good for the greatest number
rested on his heroic water landing. By applying Utilitarianism to his decision, he was able
to consider the majority of the group, and he knew that landing on the Hudson River was
the best thing to do to save his passengers. His decision was considered the right thing to
do at that moment since everyone lived, and a lot of people praised him for that. But
suppose the scenario is everyone had died. In that case, we could then say Sully did not
do the right thing under the Utilitarianism principle since the results were not able to
produce happiness for the greatest number of people.
2. If you were in his situation what would have you done differently? Or do you agree
in his decision to land in the Hudson river?
If I were in his situation, I would make the same decision to land in the Hudson River.
Because if I am like Sully who was able to develop judgment, scientific knowledge,
ability to assess situations quickly, I know that I could use those to do good decision
practices and make a mindful decision. For me, it would be most important to save the
lives of many people than to save a plane that worth millions of dollars because lives
cannot be measured by money and it is worth more than that.
3. What real-life scenarios can you think of where we use the theories discussed in this
module and how do we apply them?
Utilitarianism
Suppose that you are deciding where to eat with your friends. Your options are
seafood restaurant and fast-food restaurant, and some of your friends like seafood
while others like fast-food. As a utilitarian, you should choose the restaurant that will
result in the most pleasure for the group as a whole. If eight like seafood and two like
fast-food, then you should select seafood. That decision will yield what Bentham, in a
famous phrase, called “the greatest happiness for the greatest number.”
For example, there is a need to create a new vaccine to cure a disease. In applying the
utilitarian principle, you have to do medical testing on a few people even if it would
risk their lives to find the cure for a virus or disease that will save many more people's
lives.
Another real-life scenario would be the trolley scenario. You are on a trolley that is
running its course without stopping. You cannot activate the brakes on the trolley.
Ahead, on the track the trolley is due to run on, five people are tied. On another track,
one person is tied. There is a lever in front of you that switches tracks. If you let the
trolley run its course, it will kill the five people tied to the track. If you pull the lever,
it will switch to the other track and kill only one person who is tied to the track.
Should you pull the lever or not? A utilitarian would argue that you should pull the
lever, since they believe that the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount
of people must be sought. Saving five people instead of one would achieve the
greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people in this situation.
Hence, a utilitarian would save the five by turning the trolley onto the track on which
only one person is tied.
Deontology
For example, you are in a long-distance relationship with your partner or spouse. You
can apply deontology by not cheating on him/her and by remaining faithful. Even if a
more attractive person comes along, and you are not that happy anymore with your
relationship, you won't cheat because it is your duty and responsibility as a partner to
remain faithful as you cite your vows in front of God and of many people. It is all
about fulfilling your duty or obligation, and it is not based on what is pleasant or
beneficial.
Another example, the way we treat our parents. You can apply deontology by
choosing to respect them even though they did something terrible or they are the ones
at fault, or we have a genuine reason behind disrespecting them because according to
the ten commandments, we have to honor our father and mother and it is our duty as
their child to respect them at all times.
Suppose you are in a situation wherein you are torn if you would lie for the benefit of
everyone or you have to tell the truth because that is the right thing to do. In applying
the deontology theory, lying is considered wrong, even if it is a “white lie” and will
benefit or bring about better consequences. So, in the end, you have to tell the truth
because that is what is right in deontology’s view.
Virtue ethics
For example, you have been entrusted of confidential information. As a virtuous
person, you would not leak that information even though you could benefit a lot from
it. The reason is you believe in yourself that you have the integrity, self-control, and
you do not want to break the trust of your colleagues just for personal gain.
Suppose you do make a mistake; you own up to it instead of trying to blame others
for the failure. This makes you a responsible person in the eyes of your superiors and
they know they can count on you to give your all at work and they often allow you to
have more responsibilities at work. This may mean assisting them on a project, being
a team leader or taking on bigger clients. Even though you don’t do it for the rewards,
displaying virtue ethics at work can help you achieve more than others who don’t
have your character.
Another example is when you saw or witnessed someone being harassed. A virtue
ethics view will look into yourself and believe that it is morally right to stand up for
other people. Thus, you will stop the harassment because you think it to be ethically
correct to do so.
References:
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