Introduction
To begin with, issues of morality and what is right or wrong depends on the number of factors. For instance, what is s believed to be right or wrong may differ from individual to individual, group to group, and society to society? The same applies to what is right and what is wrong that is what is right or wrong differs from individual to individual, group to group, society to society.
This means that as ethical subjectivism believes that what is right and wrong is a matter of personal opinion. This is due to differences in beliefs in choosing the right position on any issue. Culture relativism believes that what makes any action right or wrong is the culture. Since there are more than one culture and since cultures differ in their beliefs about what is right and wrong, there is no one right position on any given issue.
Universalisms also believe that moral values are revealed (discovered, learned) and not created. They believe that what is right and wrong holds for every person, in every time, regardless of their personal beliefs, culture, or religion.
President’s misdeeds
The president’s act of concealing some of important information from public is right or wrong depending on the beliefs of the public members.
When we reflect on general moral issues as they arise in this case, we are trying to use practical cases in determining issues of morality. In his work, Plato wrote relating to power in one of his works as “Those who practice justice practice it constrained by want of power to act unjustly. we might better perceive if we do the following in thought: granting each one of them both, the just and the unjust, license to do as he wishes, let us then follow them closely to observe whither his desire will lead each.
We should then catch the just man in the act of following the same path as the unjust man on account of the advantage that every nature is led by its very nature to pursue as good, being diverted only by force of law toward the esteem of the equal. The license I am talking about would be supremely such if they were given the very same power as is said to have been given in the past to the ancestor of Gyges the Lydian”.
In story of Plato he starts with an inquiry into justice by the story of a man who tries to escape responsibility for his acts, then, after showing us, in the body of the discussion, how, far from plunging into deeper chasms inside the earth, we should ascend on the path of education from the chasm we live in. He further states that a man should not try to escape responsibility but he should try to leave with the truth that can set him free from the invisible chains binding him to the cave and make him responsible leaders of others.
Using the above extracts from Plato’s work, I will advise the president about being a good leader using this work. I will also remind him of being honest and the teachings of the Old Testament and the gospel of Mathew.
However, the issue of extramarital affair can be very controversial to both the public and to me to state it. Since this is a case of relevance to normal, daily life of individuals and some may question my integrity. Some people within the public may view me as a troublemaker while others may view as a righteous person. This being a personal decision, which is likely to make it, puts me in dilemma. Before this making, this decision I will critically think on the following lines what evidence to I have against the president and will I be able to support them.
Does presidents act result from normal deviations of the president that is from norms governing various the presidency? What will be anticipated critical thinking of objections from the public? What attitude will I get from the members of the public? Will the public accept the statement from me? Then will be an appropriate decision to make and incase the decision is to tell the public then the burden of proof will rest in me.
Using critical thinking, I will on the first case, therefore, confront the head of state with the evidence and get his opinion. Using an extract from prince story of 1513, which states, “it is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity.
Therefore, putting on one side imaginary things concerning a prince, and discussing those which are real, I say that all men when they are spoken of, and chiefly princes for being more highly placed, are remarkable for some of those qualities which bring them either blame or praise; and thus it is that one is reputed liberal, another miserly…; one is reputed generous, one rapacious; one cruel, one compassionate; one faithless, another faithful… And I know that everyone will confess that it would be most praiseworthy in a prince to exhibit all the above qualities that are considered good; but because they can neither be entirely possessed nor observed, for human conditions do not permit it, he must be sufficiently prudent that he may know how to avoid the reproach of those vices which would lose him his state…” (Niccolo Machiavelli: The Prince [excerpts], 1513). I will advise the president to confront the truth and ask him to own up his actions and the public.