Action or Inaction and the Ethics of Choice Essay

One of Peter Singers four main dogmas of ethics is that we are middling as responsible for our in executions as we are for our sourions. This authority that we as human universes shake off an ethical responsibleness to act if we witness something wrong happening. Even if we do non see it moreover we know it is tone ending on, then erst we possess that association we have also incurred a moral duty to act. Without this obligation, we depart a liability to the community because we are no longer taking obligation for the well-being of others when it is in our power to do so.Examples of this are easily free-base in the modern media. The first example of such(prenominal)(prenominal) an understood and implicit responsibility would be in the case of Penn State and their football defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky. Jerry Sandusky pull horrible crimes, molesting and sexually assaulting numerous young boys who were looking for to him to help them out of already bad situatio ns at home via his charity, Second Mile. These were at risk youth. The offer handler of Penn States football team, Joe Paterno, had been alerted to the crimes peradventure being committed by his defensive coordinator scarce he had failed to act or contact legal philosophy enforcement.The president of the university also was accused of knowing but taking no action. (1) In the eyes of the public, one time the criminal trial began to get underway, the head coach and the president were both equally guilty for allowing such atrocities to go on under their noses. To the American community and the plaintiffs, apparently saying, It wasnt me that hurt these boys. was non decent to excuse their inactiveness. They had failed in their civic duty to encourage the community and its children. To fail a society in this manner means you have become a hindrance and a liability to the mess who once sustained you.It is no small question to investigate where the line is drawn between an ob ligation to action and the freedom to do nonhing. Not only is it illicit to rob a bank, it is equally illegal to causal agent the getaway car. True, as a mere driver, you did not in fact steal money or hurt anyone. However, by your own inaction (you did not call the cops, you did not discourage the robbers), you have enabled disparage to be brought to others. The consequences then are that had you acted, harm whitethorn have been negateed. Just as if you had held the gun yourself, your knowledge means that you acted to hurt someone else even if it was simply by not acting.Many cultures have degrade and honor systems which detail explicitly the duties of a citizen to act and the restrictions on actions as well. American law makes real clear pronouncements about guilt by association, being an alibi, being an accomplice, and other specific things required by those who stood by. We as a people do not accept inaction as an excuse to avoid blame. Peter Singers specific principle de notes the ability to choose between action and inaction automatically confers upon the decider the weight of their choice. Once you are assured that you have a choice to make, you also should be aware that the choice rightly bears consequences.Surprisingly, many people find this unfair. They do not believe they breastfeed any blame if they choose not to mystify action. If a woman is raped in a street in broad daylight with cardinal witnesses, almost all the witnesses will feel that it was not their problem, not their responsibility to stop it or promulgate it. When confronted later, they will squirm with shame, but as the well-known case of Kitty Genovese (2) proved, they do not honestly feel they did anything wrong. Therefore, the ethical idea of responsibility for both action and inaction is an idea that smooth needs advocates throughout the world. The social contract that exists between man and his government also extends to man and his lad man.Works cited1.) Simon, M. (2 012, November 7). Former Penn State president arraigned in Sandusky scandal This Just In CNN.com Blogs. Retrieved November 8, 2012, from http//news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/07/former-penn-state-president-arraigned-in-sandusky-scandal 2.) Darley, L. (2010, high-minded 19). Bystander Effect The Case of Kitty Genovese. Retrieved November 8, 2012, from