Introduction
Ethical and political values may be for the interest of the common good or rights of individuals. Various theories seek to explain these values. The most common are Utilitarianism, Libertarianism, Egalitarianism, and Rawlsian. Utilitarianism is a theory that suggests that maximizing utility should be the priority in any action that people take. Libertarianism is a theory that suggests that everyone in society can undertake day-to-day lives the way he or she pleases. This theory suggests that it is their right to do whatever they wish to do. Rawlsian theory suggests everyone should attempt to gain something extra from what he or she already has (Chaffee 15-20). The late Professor John Rawls, who developed the theory proposed two principles. The first is the principle of liberty, which states that people have the right to make their choices. The second is the difference principle, which argues that all economic and social equalities should be such that they give the most disadvantaged person the greatest benefit. The two seem to suggest that people and corporations should aim at increasing benefits (Chaffee 15-20). Finally, Egalitarianism is a theory that suggests that everyone in society should have an equal share. This essay will give some examples using theories of ethical and political values to demonstrate the common good and individual rights.
Main body
It is essential to understand that most of the ethical and political values have something to do with community claims. These refer to demands the community makes because they are their rights. For instance, the government should ensure that hospitals are available for its citizens and those doctors are there to treat patients. There are several reasons why ethical and political values should be primarily rooted in the interest of the common good. Below are some of these reasons.
If the government system uses the utilitarianism approach for the interest of the common good in the society, the government will ensure that in every county, there is a general hospital, and in every community, there is a dispensary. This will ensure that there is affordable health care for its citizens. Accessibility is also important to maximize utility. The utilitarian theory emphasizes the maximization of utility. The ethical and political values, in this case, are that the government avails hospitals close to the citizens so that they can access health services whenever they need them. It is also essential to have several dispensaries in various locations. This will reduce the number of patients flocking major hospitals, which will help specialists in major health care centers to treat main health conditions. On the other hand, these dispensaries will treat patients with minor health complications. This is the maximization of utility, where the government uses all available resources to satisfy people’s needs. This concept is clear in Jeremy Bentham’s reading The Principle of Utility (Hallman 369-373)
If the government decides to use the libertarianism approach of ethical and political values of the common good, it will ensure that its people have access to quality health care, the government system will ensure that good and decent hospitals are available (Hallman 371). The government can also privatize some of its hospitals to make them accessible to the rich. This category of people will not mind paying extra for health services. The government should also ensure that the government-run hospitals are also decent for the people who cannot access the expensive hospitals. This theory of libertarianism emphasizes the freedom of people. That person should live their lives the way they please. Of course, the rich will not associate with the poor so they will seek medical attention in the most expensive hospitals around them even if the service provided is still the same. The middle-income earners and the poor in society will seek medical attention in health care facilities that they can afford. This is what the libertarian approach is about (Baynes 385-390).
Rawlsian is another approach that the government can use to ensure that the ethical and political values are in the interest of the common good. This theory emphasizes ensuring that everyone in society maximizes the little he or she has. Therefore, the government will provide health care facilities bearing in mind that people will improve their status every day. No one is poor in society; everybody can afford good medical care. If members of the society aim at investing what they have, it will be possible to eliminate poverty. The government will create health care facilities that everyone can afford in society. Of course, the distribution of income will never be the same. The government should avail hospitals that the rich, the middle-income earners, and the low-income earners can access (Nickel 528-231).
Egalitarianism is another approach that the government can use to ensure that ethical and political values are in the interest of the common good. This approach emphasizes the equality of people in society. It suggests that there should be no discrimination whatsoever in society. The government should ensure that the health care facilities do not discriminate. Health care should be available to all people irrespective of how much they earn. This will be possible if the government manages the hospitals to ensure that the service is affordable to all people in society. It will be unfair to make health care costs such that only the rich can afford it. The government should consider all in the society (Renouard 85-97).
Claims of the community are another approach that the government will use to ensure that the ethical and political values are in the interest of the common good. Society should claim for what is rightfully theirs (Hallman 430). Society should demand better healthcare facilities that are affordable but mostly decent. The government should ensure its citizens can access affordable health care from wherever they live. This is what a good government system does to its citizens.
I object ethical and political values should be primarily rooted in the rights of individuals. If the government follows a utilitarian approach, the citizens will most probably be lazy and unproductive. The ethical and political values in terms of the provision of good health care facilities by the government will only make the citizens lazy. This does not mean that the government should not provide hospitals but this does not also mean that society should get it free, no; everyone should work to earn a living to satisfy his or her needs. Even if the government provides the hospitals, there are operational costs that are necessary if they are to continue operating. This makes it necessary to charge for the health services and medicines (Hallman 369).
Libertarianism is another approach that the government can use to obey the rights of individuals. This approach emphasizes people living their lives as they please. Individual rights will not apply because people have to mind the welfare of others. The government has to consider everyone in the society and not just the few who speak (Hallman 534).
The egalitarianism approach, which emphasizes that, is the right of individuals for everyone to get everything equally in society (Hallman 371). Even if the government builds healthcare facilities, society will never be equal. People cannot all earn the same amount of money. Therefore, they cannot all afford to go to a similar health care center. The government must build hospitals that are affordable for low-income earners (Baynes 16).
Rawlsian is another approach that the government can use in the distribution of public wealth. This approach emphasizes the maximizing of what everyone has in society. This approach cannot be the determinant of whether the government should avail affordable healthcare facilities or not. This is because there are productive people in society and there are those who are not. This means that not everyone will maximize what he or she has. The government should not use this approach in the name of the rights of individuals (Hallman 416).
The community has the right to claim their right in society. In reading, The Ethics of Care, Philosopher Virginia Held argues that it is vital to evaluate and make amendments to existing care practices (Hallman 422-431). Likewise, the government should evaluate existing health care facilities and make appropriate developments. Society should also be productive enough to ensure that the facility runs smoothly. For instance, the facility will not run if society expects free service. The facility cannot operate without money (Goodin, Phili, and Thomas 55).
Conclusion
In conclusion, ethical and political values should be in the interest of the common good and not individual rights. If everyone fights for his or her, then the ordinary citizen unable to fight will suffer in the hands of the capable ones. This calls for the government to protect the rights of the poor. This group of people does not have the resources to protect themselves, and as such are likely to suffer if everyone is to fight for his or her rights.
Works Cited
Baynes, Kenneth. “Toward a political conception of human rights.” Philosophy & Social Criticism 35.4 (2009): 371-390. Web.
Chaffee, John. The philosopher’s way. Upper Sand, New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2011. Print.
Goodin, Robert E., Philip Pettit, and Thomas Pogge. A companion to contemporary political philosophy. Vol. 105. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell Publishers, 2012. Print.
Hallman, Max O. Traversing Philosophical Boundaries (4th Edition). Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth Publishers, 2006. Print.
Nickel, James W. “Inherent Human Rights: Philosophical Roots of the Universal Declaration by Johannes Morsink (review).” Human Rights Quarterly 35.2 (2013): 528-531.
Renouard, Cecile. “Corporate social responsibility, utilitarianism, and the capabilities approach.” Journal of business ethics 98.1 (2011): 85-97.