Contemporary debates may address various topics, including animal rights, stem cell research, the death penalty, and abortion. All these discussions can affect the personal position of the individual and the public, along with it might have ethical implications for humanity. Personal and social ethical factors, cultural and religious values, and the individual’s socio-economic status play an important role in determining a human’s moral position when debating moral topics.
Taking into account Kant’s categorical imperative, it can be argued that the execution of a prisoner is not a moral act as this action considers a means to an end. On the prisoner’s side, the death penalty violates one of the fundamental human rights — the right to life. On the other hand, some people may argue that the death penalty is a fair punishment for severe crimes and is a deterrent to other criminals. In general, human social norms and boundaries play an important role in shaping moral beliefs and attitudes toward life (Ellemers et al., 2019). This may be an argument that deterrence of a potential crime is achieved through moral pressure. However, the Kantian position is more logical and convincing in this situation.
Also, in considering the ethics of abortion, the Kantian categorical imperative holds that interrupting the fetus’ life is immoral, as the fetus is used to achieve its purpose. Ethical positions can be determined by assessing the consequences of an act, duties, and rights or the nature of an individual (Rachels, 2019). If the situation of a woman who wishes to have an abortion is assessed, she has every right to control her own body. However, if one refers to the categorical imperative of Kantian, the position against abortion is more ethical and convincing, as it recognizes the fetus’s value and right to life.
In conclusion, social and personal ethical factors play a significant role in determining the moral position of the individual in contemporary debates. These discussions may relate to religion, culture, or social factors directly affecting human existence. However, suppose these topics are evaluated using moral theories, one of which is the Kantian categorical imperative. In that case, the explanation of ethical positions seems more logical, as it recognizes the value of every person in the world.
References
Ellemers, N., van der Toorn, J., Paunov, Y., & van Leeuwen, T. (2019). The psychology of morality: A review and analysis of empirical studies published from 1940 through 2017. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 23(4), 332–366. Web.
Rachels, J., & Rachels, S. (2019). The elements of moral philosophy (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.