Ethical norms have one important common characteristic – they regulate the relationship between people in society who act for the benefit of others of their free will. In other words, ethical standards are a more comprehensive concept than laws since most members of society obey them based on internal, personal prerequisites. This paper aims to analyze the examples of utilitarianism and social contract ethics in action.
Utilitarianism is the ethical concept implying that the rightness or wrongness of actions is determined by their consequences. In other words, according to utilitarian theory, the result of actions is of primary importance. Interestingly, utilitarian adepts believe that social harmony can be achieved by reducing bad tendencies, such as pain and suffering, and increasing good events that bring pleasure and happiness. Modern society relies on the utilitarian model in many areas, including in the field of lawmaking.
In exceptional cases, representatives of the official or unofficial authorities make decisions against utilitarian ethical standards. A prime example is the Virginia governor’s recent order to remove the mandatory wearing of masks in schools (Maxouris par. 1). This order is a bad decision because it puts immunocompromised schoolchildren at increased risk. Such a requirement violates several provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. From a utilitarian perspective, lifting the mandatory mask requirement is a bad move, as it harms schoolchildren with health risks and increases social unhappiness. Remarkably, the ban on mask mandates was proposed without extensive public discussion and was widely criticized.
Equally important, the initiative was highly likely a sole decision of the governor and did not pass a vote in local authorities. It is safe to assume that if the governor held a preliminary public hearing, the local administration would have the opportunity to work out a more comprehensive solution. Given the continued rise in the total number of COVID-19 infections, the lifting of precautionary measures is premature.
Social contract theory is a common ethical concept according to which people are capable of making decisions to act ethically of their own free will. This theory states that people live in society according to norms that establish moral or political rules of conduct. Social contracts include explicit requirements, such as formal laws, and informal contracts, such as rules at informal meetings. Notably, the US Constitution is an example of an explicit social contract in that people in America agreed to participate.
An example of a social contract being implemented is the passage by the Senate of a bill to expand healthcare options for veterans who have been exposed to toxic burn pits. Such pits were popular in US military camps in Afghanistan and Iraq and were used to burn garbage, including toxic chemicals and hazardous materials. Many veterans who were exposed to toxins continue to experience health problems (Floran and Zaslav par. 2). Therefore, it was decided to expand the opportunities in healthcare services from 5 to 10 + 1 years after veterans’ retirement (Floran and Zaslav par. 5). The decision is ethical and was worked out within the framework of a social contract, that is, by voting in the Senate. Remarkably, both the Democratic and Republican parties supported the bill that expanded access to health care.
Thus, the examples of utilitarianism and social contract ethics were analyzed. In the first example presented, following the requirements of utilitarian ethics, such as looking more closely at issue in terms of its social harm, would help avoid the erroneous decision to abolish the wearing of masks in Virginia schools. In the second example presented, the Senate made an ethical decision to provide greater healthcare options for veterans through a process characteristic of public contract theory – namely, by a vote of Senate representatives.
Works Cited
Maxouris, Christina. “‘We’re doing everything we can to survive’: As the US looks to move on from Covid-19, high-risk and disabled Americans feel forgotten.” CNN, Web.
Floran, Clare, and Ali Zaslav. “Bill to help veterans suffering from toxic burn pit exposure takes key step forward in Congress.” CNN, Web.