Module 3 – Nick Tomaine

1. It is more important to perform good acts than be a good person. These both can be related to each other as described in the reading. The good actions that one performs are what others are able to see. They are then able to perceive this person as being good. Also, from the good actions, there is usually some kind of benefit. When thinking of this topic, politics come to mind. When a candidate is running for a position, it is their actions they perform is what gets them elected. Their certain actions can be giving speeches, vowing to do something when elected, and the past actions they performed. These actions are what make the candidate the right choice to do the job. This example shows how performing good acts have positive benefits. Another example that comes to mind is the spontaneous acts of kindness movement, paying the bill for the person in front of you at a checkout line. This hopefully leads to more good actions from more people and shows the good in people.

3. The process decisions are made does matter more than the outcomes of these decisions. Everything we do is a process. When that process changes, the decision changes. The process is what leads a person to a rational decision which leads to the outcome. The outcome is reinforced by the process that was taken. Democracy is a great example of how decisions are made. It shows there are processes that need to be fulfilled to achieve the best outcome. The process has multiple aspects and steps to ensure the best outcome is obtained. The process for making a decision can be simple or complex depending on the outcome. During the process one should think about what is going to happen when the process is complete and if it is going to produce the desired outcome. Another aspect to consider is the impact that the decision is going have from the process.

5. I believe the pleasure and pain of non-human animals matter almost much as the pleasure and pain of humans. The concept of speciesism, which is the view that some species are more ethically important than others, can be debated for and against. Human welfare and the welfare of non-human animals should be equal, but it is not. Our society thieves on the sacrifice of other animals for such as food, enjoyment, and goods. Also, our society, at least in the United States, does not have the same punishments for harming animals as harming humans. This concept can be related to the food chain, by it is the way of life. Domesticated animals are seen closer to humans by the way they interact with us. People treat them almost like humans and view them as part of their families. Our society values these pets as a higher standard as other animals and treat them differently.

One thought on “Module 3 – Nick Tomaine

  1. Greetings from California! My name is Kevin, trying to play devils advocate a little bit here, I am sort of curious as to how perhaps some one of the other topics, can a person say they believe they are a good person in topic 1 and then simultaneously come to question 5 and state that pain or pleasure of other non human creatures does not matter to them. I feel like the first couple of questions will dictate the final couple of answers. I am not sure though and it seemed to me that everyone took a very optimistic view on our morals as a whole. Thoughts?

    http://geog030.dutton.psu.edu/2016/02/03/ethics-kfb/

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