A Discussion On Morals And Freedom Essay - 1486 Words

Philosophical discussions on morals and freedom often focus on the issue of free will. This often brings up the question of whether humanity is responsible for all actions or could there be other forces already in play. The amount of evil caused by human fault is a theme located in literature all throughout history starting as early as the book of Genesis when looking at Adam and eve, ranging to Shakespeare s seminal play Macbeth. In the following paper, I will argue that Shakespeare has written this play so the reader can understand that, regardless of the metaphysical, biological determinants, and environmental aspects throughout this play, Macbeth is to be held fully responsible for freely choosing every action he commits. In order to understand my claim, it is important to understand the situation of good and evil Shakespeare places Macbeth within. Myths in correlation to evil have been identified in text dating all the way back to the beginning of time. One of the most common my th types seen throughout history is titled the Adamic myth which is highly known from the book of Genesis. This myth, according to Paul Ricouer, is based upon the account of human fault, and essentially determines that moral evil created by living agents is the cause of the fall. For example, the book of Genesis states, When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. (Genesis 3.6). InShow MoreRelatedThe Metaphysics Of Morals1418 Words   |  6 Pagesof the Metaphysics of Morals by Emmanuel Kant, we are presented with this conception of Kant’s called â€Å"the Form of Law.† With the discussion of the Form of Law, we will also come to encounter both moral law and the categorical imperative. Kant’s notion of the Form of Law, we will later see has a great deal of significance within the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Within the discussion of the For m of Law’s significance in the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant also provides usRead MoreThomas Hobbes And The Leviathan And Nicomachean Ethics1602 Words   |  7 Pagespromoting good morals and leading a virtuous life; Hobbes by sovereignty and Aristotle through means of reaching telos. Thomas Hobbes’ position is made in The Leviathan, in which he argues that citizens are less troubled when they agree to a commonwealth, or a â€Å"unity of them all† because they are â€Å"unified in that they constitute one single person† (Hobbes 79). When men agree to be governed by a sovereign, he is then responsible for encouraging them to lead virtuous lives by practicing good morals. They couldRead MoreThe Inherent Rights of Human Beings Essay1123 Words   |  5 Pageswith an attempt to create a working definition of a rights, and will then proceed to examine the essence of humanity and the roots of what is a right, to see if it is possible to have a right simply by being human. Questions concerning society, freedom and morality will all be seen to arise, and will be dealt with accordingly. A most important attempt at defining rights is Richard Dworkins metaphor of Rights as Trumps. This is essentially comparing a rights to a trump in a card game, oneRead MoreWhat makes man truly human?1422 Words   |  6 PagesIn understanding how can man be truly human, first is the reason for the human freedom and this freedom is the most important aspect of making human truly human. One of the most important problems with which we have to deal in our reflections on man, and one which constantly recurs, is the problem of mans freedom. The problem has aroused innumerable discussions, not only among philosophers but also among theologians, and the passion with which controversy was often carried on is an indication ofRead MoreSufficiently Less Than Enough: Consent, Sex, and Moral Behaviour1600 Words   |  7 PagesThan Enough: Consent, Sex, and Moral Behaviour Consent is uniquely argued position within philosophical analysis of moral and immoral behaviours, especially in regards to positions refuting consents ability to be sufficient enough to legitimize moral behaviour. We must remain critical in our analysis of consent, and ways that it may, or may not legitimize moral behaviours. At first glance, one might assume that; the consent of two people is enough to constitute moral behaviour. Upon further investigationRead MoreWealth Of Nations By Adam Smith1574 Words   |  7 Pagesto assess the morality of these arguments, David Hume’s definition of morality and Kant’s definition of morality can be used. These definitions, ultimately, serve as context for Smith’s arguments, so that there is a clearer idea of whether they are moral or not. From this, modern readers of Smith’s book can better determine the positive and negative qualities of Smith’s idea of free-trade. Kant’s definition of morality contrasts with Hume’s definition. For Kant, morality is split into three categoriesRead MoreOn Liberty1318 Words   |  6 Pagesapply in modern society. Liberty and authority are two factors that are constantly conflict. Liberty could not only mean the working of self-government and individuality, but also mean the right of freedom. Similarly, if a democratic society is lack of individuality; it could means the lack of freedom as well as the lack of what makes human. On the contrary, Skorupski (2006: p40) pointed out: â€Å"liberty meant ‘protection against the tyranny of political rulers’.† Indeed, limiting state’s authorityRead MoreThe Different Ways Of Which Freedom Can Be Compatible With Determinism1334 Words   |  6 Pages FINAL EXAM 1-Discuss the different ways in which freedom can be compatible with determinism. Answer: According to (Consider Ethics text book on page 224), Freedom and determinism can be compatible with Simple Compatibilism, which according to David Hume, he claimed that ‘’all the puzzles and disputes about free will result from sloppy and confused use of language. Therefore, if we think carefully, and avoid verbal entanglements, thenRead MoreA Discussion Of Campaign Finance Regulation1466 Words   |  6 PagesIn his discussion of campaign finance regulation, Christiano argues that with cases of gatekeeper mechanism and opinion formation mechanism, campaign expenditures should be regulated to prevent â€Å"drowning out† of the opinions of nonaffluents. He proposes that certain regulations will actually help protect and promote freedom of expression, and suggests to limit expenditures and distribute vouchers during campaign periods. Using a prima facie equation, I will argue against the claim that Christiano’sRead MoreTrait Attributions: Evaluation, Descrip tion and Attitude Extremity1468 Words   |  6 Pageson DV: Political Framing on Trait Attributes In a study done by Montiel and Shah the effects of political framing and the perceiver’s social position on trait attributions of a terrorist or freedom fighter was tested (Montiel Shah, 2008). By using a short description or story of either a terrorist or freedom fighter bombing a building, they were able to see if the framing had an effect on the attribution of traits they gave to the characters. In this study however, another independent variable that