Utilitarian Approach in Ecosystem Development Essay

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Argument (E) is the strongest when compared to the rest. The moral principle behind this argument is that the consequences or results of taking certain actions should be used when making a decision on morally acceptable and morally unacceptable actions.

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One of the best known theories that relate to this argument is Utilitarianism. This principle provides that an ethical decision is that which optimizes the benefits to the society and minimizes damages to the society.

The most salient aspect here is the net balance of good consequences against the bad consequences considering the whole society. A utilitarian will approach an ethical predicament by analytically pointing out the parties that are involved in a certain situation and the alternative actions and their outcome, including the benefits and the damages caused by each.

The parties concerned include any person or group with a stake in the matter concerned (Rachels, 1983).

In the situation discussed in this case, therefore, the stakeholders include the sponsoring group, the ecosystem’s species, the society as a whole and I. The consequences include the societal harms and damages for each stakeholder, as well as the economic gains following development of the ecosystem.

This approach calls for an analytical consideration of all the benefits and harms of the possible outcome for each stakeholder. This includes the destruction of most of the islands ecosystem especially the species under the risk of extinction.

The potential benefits of course include protection of the ecosystem and the endangered species or alternatively generation of colossal amounts of profits if the ecosystem is developed (Rachels, 1983).

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If an analytical analysis is conducted to evaluate the beneficial and harmful consequences, then the best ethical decision in such a situation is the one that provides the maximum net benefits for society.

Alternatively, the worst decision is the one that provides the maximum net damages for the society. Therefore, if majority of the stakeholders lose more than gain, if the ecosystem is developed, then a utilitarian would resolve that the ecosystem should be conserved.

The idea here is that, as a utilitarian, one is required to ponder broadly, regarding the results for the society as whole, and not just in respect to self-interest or the immediate beneficiaries.

Naturally, conserving the environment, which harbors endangered species, is a benefit for the whole society since these species acts as a source of its heritage or even a tourism attraction.

Otherwise, destroying the ecosystem for self-economic gain benefits only a few who are involved in the investment at the expense of an ecosystem that benefits the whole society. Consequently, developing the island does not promote the best interests of everyone concerned and, therefore, this action is morally unacceptable (Fritsche & Becke, 1984).

Argument (I) is the weakest, based on the same utilitarian principle that has been described above. This principle goes against taking actions merely because their outcome serves an individual’s self-interest.

The argument stating that ‘you should do what is in your best interest’, is grossly immorally as it will expose the society to heavy damages in terms of destruction of an ecosystem that is home to multiple of species that are extinction endangered.

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Developing this ecosystem due to motivation of huge economic benefit that is envisaged is too costly for the society to bear when these species are killed. In conclusion, this argument is unfounded and abhorrently immoral (Peach, 1994).

References

Fritsche, D.J. & Becke, H. (1984). Linking Management Behavior to Ethical Philosophy: An Empirical Investigation. Academy of Management Journal, 27,166–75.

Peach, L. (1994). An Introduction to Ethical.Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Rachels, J. (1983). The Elements of Moral Philosophy. New York: McGraw-Hill.

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IvyPanda. 2022. "Utilitarian Approach in Ecosystem Development." April 8, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/argument-of-moral/.

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