Humes Approach To Morality example essay topic

There are plenty of unethical characters in American Beauty. I alone would not make friends with or even be friends with someone just because I think that it will make me feel better. Lesters change of heart was something that came on all of a sudden. It has been going on between these two for as long as they have been friends. Although there were many characters with unethical actions, ethics is shown by the action that one makes, not what they think. Movie characters could have taken a totally different course of action had they acted upon their thoughts.

According to Locke, thoughts of each individual are of primary importance, which makes it possible to conclude that in the movie characters should have been free to make a choice of their lifestyle. After watching the movie we were able to see how the characters felt about ethics through their actions, which were not accepted according to existing social norms. This movie was very successful in showing this specific aspect of humanity. American Beauty is also that rare American film that abandons the war on drugs and openly endorses drug use as a way to enhance a persons physique and sex life, which according to beliefs of majority of society is not accepted according to social standards that exist. That definitely sets it apart from the crowd.

Also, the boob count is higher than it is in most movies about the meaning of existence. In those instances, it does push the morality envelope. Humes approach to morality is a descriptive-explanatory one, not a normative one (meaning he wants to describe, not prescribe, moral conduct). Hume claims to proceed as an anatomist (who draws conclusions based on empirical evidence) as opposed to a painter (who presents moral principles in their most favored light). Humes project in the Enquiry is to determine whether reason or sentiment constitutes the foundation of moral conduct of each individual.

In contrast with the movie where the characters due to homoerotic behaviors needed to resist heterosexuality, ultimately deciding the outcome of the film. However, such principles cannot be solely viewed as their disbelief in moral conduct norms. The demise of Lester Burnham is solely due to the fact that he brought out the homoerotic behaviors in his homophobic neighbor. Lesters neighbor shot him because of an insane realization that he himself was a gay man, living a lie; afraid of the truth, afraid of people knowing his sexual preference, afraid of losing his family, and afraid of facing himself. With regard to morality, Hume was most concerned with peoples actions, since he believed that their actions causally followed from their sentiments and desires.

In this way, reason is incapable of motivating an action. Rather, Hume would say that it is our sentiment that ultimately drives our actions. According to Hume, reason cannot fuel an action and therefore cannot motivate it. In order to prove this against the idea of rationalism, Hume suggests firstly, that those who suggest that morality conforms to reason, and certain unchanging relations between things, are in turn suggesting that morality can be traced back merely to ideas and their relations. Thus, Hume argues that rationalists suggest that reason alone enables us to make moral distinctions.

Moreover, Hume then goes on to make a number of arguments suggesting that reason alone is not adequate to make moral judgments. It may be prudent, therefore to briefly summarize these arguments. Humes account of human psychology is central to his theory of morality. Hume offers a naturalistic foundation for social practices and institutions rather than a rational or theological and puritan one. According to Hume, we approve of moral dispositions or conduct which are useful or agreeable to others or us. Because we desire approval, we equilibrate toward uniform practices of behavior.

Hume believes that the differences between men arise from nature, from habit, and from education. Hume believes no skeptic, no matter how doubtful, can claim that there are absolutely no moral distinctions. Also, he accepts if we disregard these skeptics, we find that they eventually give up their unconvincing claims and come over to the side of common sense and reason. In this paper, it will be shown that ultimately Hume maintains that benevolence is not the basis for self-love; rather it focuses on the utility to please, and the need for benevolence for its own sake. The particular instances on which Hume first focuses are those relating to two social virtues: benevolence and justice.