The Role of Morality and Religion in Addressing Ethical Dilemmas
Ethics are concerned with universal rules guided by logic and not tradition or injunction that govern decision-making employed by people of any religious denomination, including atheists. In addition, ethics comprise a branch of philosophy that investigates questions such as the difference between good and evil, how to respond to mistreatment, or whether it is fair to reward some groups with more benefits compared to others. In contrast, religion entails statements about cosmology, social conduct, and the correct treatment of others based on specific expectations (Rachels & Rachels, 2019).
It is typical for religion and ethics to be used interchangeably, with different religions making claims about their systems of beliefs that create the best conditions for living. Moreover, religions will develop goals to actively proselytize and try to convert unbelievers, attempting to legislate public behaviors around isolated religious passages. Ethics and religion can be closely connected for individuals practicing religion because religious convictions impact ethical matters. A specific faith is usually used as a moral guide for those who practice and believe in them, leading them in all facets of life.
Case Backgrounds
John Doe, being sterile and unable to find a partner, plans to clone himself using a procedure that transforms his skin cells into an embryo, creating a twin-child with identical genetic information.
Jane Doe, an 18-year-old attracted to women, struggles with whether to come out to her religious parents, whose beliefs condemn lesbianism and warn of divine punishment.
Cloning Case Analysis
In the case of John Doe, the ethical decision is not to clone himself not only because of religion but also due to the psychological, social, and physiological risks associated with the procedures. Not because John’s clone will be his twin but because the process of reproductive cloning will introduce high risks of loss of life, which makes it highly unethical. In addition, clothing can be used to breed “better” humans, which violates the principles of equality, human dignity, and freedom. Therefore, it will be unethical to pursue the path of cloning because the negative implications, including expensive resources, outweigh the positive ones. Despite John’s emotional need to have a child, the decision to make a clone rather than adopt is unethical.
Orientation Case Analysis
In the case of Jane Doe, the decision to tell her parents about her being a lesbian is an ethical one. She is a legal adult, and there is nothing inherently wrong, illegal, or immoral in her preference as long as she has relations with consenting individuals of legal age. Even though Jane’s parents have certain religious beliefs that suggest that homosexuals will be punished in the afterlife, if she does not ascribe to the religion, there is nothing that stops her from telling her parents.
Emotivism Perspective
According to the view of emotivism, different moral perspectives are similar in terms of differences in taste. Forms of conduct or decisions that are considered appropriate and valid by some people may not be considered as such as others (Habermas, 2016). However, emotivity does not feel moral judgments as reporting speakers’ beliefs; in contrast, they express emotions. Therefore, it is urged to communicate one’s feelings and work to persuade others to share one’s opinions and views on life. Drawing from the perspective of emotivism, John Doe should have a child by cloning himself, while Jane Doe should tell her family about her sexuality despite their religious concerns.
Natural Law Perspective
Ethicists who subscribe to the principles of natural law claim that humans are born with a particular system of morals that guide their decision-making. Such inherited rules essentially distinguish between what is right and wrong in law. Under natural law ethics, all humans are given the same rights, such as the right to life or happiness. Moreover, it should be noted that natural law is evident in shaping many human laws, policies, and rights agendas. However, unlike such systems, the rules of natural law ethics do not change and are inherently assigned to everyone.
According to natural ethics, Jane Doe does not do anything harmful as it is not unlawful to identify as a lesbian. Therefore, the decision to reveal her sexual identity to the family aligns with the principle of natural law ethics. In this case, natural law ethics would argue against cloning due to its abandonment of natural procreation processes as well as the risks of complicating relationships with others and John’s clone himself.
Divine Command Perspective
Divine command theory is a moral framework that suggests that something is morally right if God commands it, while something is ethically wrong if God forbids it. The theory claims morality is ultimately based on God’s commands. Since there are different gods in various religions, the decisions on acceptable decisions will vary from one religious framework to the next (Wong, 2008). However, all versions of the theory share a claim that morality and moral obligations of people ultimately depend on God’s teachings.
In both cases, divine command ethics would suggest that the decisions made by John and Jane are morally wrong because religions prohibit them. According to Jane’s family, God forbids them to have sexual relationships with people of the same sex due to the negative repercussions in the supposed afterlife. The divine command ethics will guide Jane to withstand her natural urges and do what is right according to her religion. Similarly, the majority of theistic religions reject reproductive cloning because of the consideration that God must gift life.
References
Habermas, J. (2016). The future of human nature. Cambridge, UK: Polity.
Rachels, S., & Rachels, J. (2019). The elements of moral philosophy (9th ed.). Mcgraw-Hill Education.
Wong, H. (2008). Religiousness, love and money, and ethical attitudes of Malaysian evangelical Christians in business. Journal of Business Ethics, 81, 169-191. Web.
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