Critical Thinking

Marcus Chan
Teresa Welch
Philosophy 1000
5/2/16
Group Assignment
Critical Thinking
1. Do we have any ethical duties regarding what we do with our money? For
instance, Peter Singer says that we have an ethical duty to give away any
money that we earn that is not spent on meeting our basic needs of food
and shelter to those who cannot afford to pay for their basic needs. Do you
agree? Why or why not?
Money is necessary and a means to get the basic necessities of life. Money is
not everything but it worth a lot in an individuals life. To live a better lifestyle
anyone tries to earn more money. To make money is a regular thing but on the
ethical ground, later on, it will distinguish that how people are getting money, is it
dirty or clean money and how they are spending their money. Ethics exists
beyond rules and regulations limits and to disclose your spending is not
described in any rule book. According to my point of view, I dont think that
someone is ethically bound or restricted to disclose their spending.
Everyone has their own life and way of living and spending, but up to some
extent, someone should assure that their earnings are spending on right things.
By expressing my point of view I also faced some criticism from my fellow

Critical Thinking

members, but I stood at my point. They said that individual should have an
ethical duty regarding their spending of money. First of all, I want to separate
ethics and obligations, as I discussed above that ethics starts beyond the limits of
rules and regulations. Ethics are someones personal beliefs to analyze
something with positive or negative manner. The class discussion doesnt help
me to change my opinion because I still believe that someone is not liable to
disclose or having any ethical duty regarding their spending.
Peter Singer is an Australian moral philosopher who has an optimistic approach.
By having an optimistic approach, he believes in ethics and morality (bbc.co.uk,
2014). He suggests in his moral philosophies that its an ethical duty to donate
and do charity. Foundation refers to the act which is undertaken to help needy
and deserving people. Charity may be given in financial form or kind, but its aim
is to assist deserving and needy people. After reviewing Peters philosophy I
agree with him, I believe that if we have sufficient amount and God has graced
us with his kindness so we should also help needy and deserving people by
providing financial assistance. If we have money which is not used to cover our
basic necessity, we should donate this to someone who cannot even fulfill their
basic needs. Its better to do a charity instead of spending money on unethical
activities.
2. Is it unethical to eat meat? Do we have an ethical duty to be a vegetarian?
Why or why not? Is it unethical to eat any food? Why or why not?

Critical Thinking

Well, it is quite difficult to explain that eating meat is ethical or not. The major
conflicts arise between the vegetarians and not- vegetarians. In our societies
majority of the people eat meat even some who are extremely fond of eating
meat. Vegetarians who are against animal cruelty think that it is not healthy. The
point that even animals have a right to live, and animals should not be killed.
When some people have some social and ethical issues regarding whether they
choose to eat meat such as religious restrictions.

Hinduism prohibits meat

consumption whereas Islam certain animals are restricted from consumption.

Again I think that its not an ethical duty to become vegetarian, its your choice
whether you want to eat meat or not. Singer said that animals suffer pain to
become food for human beings, he cant decide on whether it is ethical or not
because most communities eat meat and every type of meat. (waitbutwhy.com,
2016).

Only vegetarians will support this ethical philosophy against animal

cruelty.
Discussing what types of food consumption we choose brings up a debate. You
can eat meat but eating every type of meat or food is again dependent on
individual beliefs and their religious background. We cannot conclude anything
regarding food that this food is ethical for consumption and that particular food is
unethical. In a few religions, you can eat anything but in some religions, you are
restricted to certain food items. (Srivastava, 2007)
3. What is truth? How do we know if we have arrived at the truth? Are the
skeptics correct that we cannot ever have knowledge of the truth? Is truth
relative? Why or why not?

Critical Thinking

The fact of the matter is frequently used to mean being as per certainty or reality,
or fidelity to an original or standard. The truth may also often be used in modern
contexts to refer to an idea of "truth to self," or authenticity. Nowadays, truth is
easy to understand in literary knowledge but it is hard to differentiate in reality
whether one is speaking the truth. While speaking truth is our own moral and
ethical duty whereas knowing the truth from someone else;s mouth and believing
them is quite difficult because we cannot differentiate whether they are speaking
the truth or not.
There is no perimeter in the world which assesses that someone is speaking the
truth or not. Basically, skepticism means that having a questioning mind to know
the facts, figures, and reality. While having a skeptical approach you can assess
the truth with the help of evidence but its not possible to know the whole 100%
truth. (stanford.edu, 2015) The truth is relative because truth belongs from your
inner satisfaction and someone's beliefs regarding truth and ethics. Relativism is
an approach of belief where you believe in truth and while speaking the truth,
individuals must have firm belief in truth and confidence to face the
consequences if otherwise.
4. How is good behavior vs. bad behavior determined? Do the consequences
of ones actions define whether an action is right or bad, or is it the
motivations or intentions of the actor that matters? What are important
most- the work, the intentions behind our actions, or both?

Critical Thinking

Determination of good or bad behavior depends on various factors; like behavior

is assessed on ethical grounds or it can be evaluated on the consequences of
your behavior. Good behavior is mostly judged by someones actions instead of
their intentions. This again creates discrepancies between thoughts because it
depends on people and how they perceive good or bad behavior. Absolutist
believes that action must be right and acceptable on ethical grounds, it doesnt
matter what are the consequences of an action will be. Whereas relativism
believes that results matter rather than actions or good behavior, they think that if
the result of work undertaken is right than practice is good. It is quite difficult to
conclude that either action is right, or intentions determine the good behavior. It
depends on circumstances to that, being a human being we are not able to judge
what is running through someones mind or what their intentions are, so most of
the times actions best describes good behavior instead of plans.
5. If we do the right action for the wrong reason, is it less moral? (I.e. giving
money to charity to cut my tax bill)
To be fitted on the moral ground, everything should be done morally, as your
actions and reasons both should be moral and ethical. Ethics depends on
someones beliefs that how they perceive something or some actions ethical. If
we do the right action for the wrong reason then it is unethical because the whole
situation and actions are not ethical. Like giving money for donations just to avoid
tax is totally unethical because the person who cannot even follow their states
rules and evade taxes is not acting on ethical grounds. Ethics lay under your

Critical Thinking

beliefs and started after rules and regulations so if someone is not following the
basic rule - how could they donate their wealth to become ethical?
6. Are bad actions that are completed with good intent less moral? (I.e.
stealing food to help the poor)
Ethics depends on someones beliefs and how they perceive something or some
actions to be ethical. To be fitted on the moral ground, everything should be done
morally, as your actions and reasons both should be moral and ethical. To
evaluate something on ethical grounds, this could be good or bad and right or
wrong depending on beliefs, actions, and circumstances. Bad actions completed
with good intentions dont set on the grounds of morality and ethics. If you are not
able to help someone, so its not necessary that you start stealing someone else
assets just to help others, this action will not become ethical although it contains
good intentions. (Spielthenner, 2005).
7. What does living the good life consist of?
The good life is money, success or happiness. Living a good life depends on
what matters to you. Take the time to define your values, priorities, and goals for
life. Work to fulfill the desires you want to achieve. The real life consists of
wanting to get out of bed every morning, excited to take on whatever each day
has in store for you. It has nothing to do with the material possessions or
artificially induced sensations. The good life is based on the compassionate
deeds you perform, the personal goals you strive to achieve, and the legacy you
decide to leave behind as a result of the mark you made on the world around

Critical Thinking

you. Fabricate your connections and be a decent relative and companion. Serve
your group and humanity and stay consistent with yourself. (Irvine, 2008)
8. What are the qualities of the superior individual?
Every normal human being cherishes the aspiration to become a superior man
superior to his fellows, if possible, but surely superior to his past and present self.
S/he is surprisingly mindful of his or her motivations and are frequently more
open to the nonsensical inside him or herself. Traits of a good leader are
common across disciplines, professions, and geographical regions. The superior
individual is a team worker, passionate and having a mission or goal which is to
be accomplished and most importantly his or her actions are not unethical or hurt
any other individual. (JAVITCH, 2009)
9. To what extent, if any, does happiness relate to living the good/moral life?
What is happiness?
Satisfaction is a mental or enthusiastic condition of prosperity characterized by
positive or lovely feelings going from happiness to extraordinary euphoria. What
is the relation between living a good life and being happy? Too many, the good
life is a financially prosperous life, and happiness lies in the possession of
wealth. Happiness majorly underpins someones ethical and moral behavior.
Some consider joy as cash; others take a stab at life taking into account honor
and open acknowledgment. A decent life is comprised of fraternizing with the
right individuals in the right settings, and joy is a matter of picking up
appreciation. Happiness is again a thing that depends on someones thinking

Critical Thinking

and desires happiness might be money for someone, or it might be love for other.
It is possible to live a good life without being happy, but not happy without living a
good life. (Lama, Cutler, Lama, & Cutler, 1999)
10. To what extent, if any, does ones duties to society/other people relate to
living the morally good life?
This definition, without anyone else, lets us know nothing about the standard by
which we build up or measure good and bad. The hundreds of years have seen
various ways to deal with morals; none is by all accounts attractive. The terms
'morals', and significantly all the more along these lines, "ethical quality" conveys
substantial psychological weight. Conventional ways to deal with ethical quality
are befuddled and opposing. Morales is worried about inquiries of how
individuals should act, and the quest for a meaning of right direct distinguished
as the one bringing on the best great and the great life in the feeling of an
existence worth living or a reality that is fulfilling or upbeat. Individual profound
quality is both a cognizant and also intuitive guide to characterizing and
accomplishing our objectives and joy.

References
BBC.co.uk. (2014). Ethics Guide . Retrieved 4 29, 2016, from Peter Singer: It's our duty
to give: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/charity/duty_1.shtml

Critical Thinking

Irvine, W. B. (2008). A Guide to the Good Life. William B. Irvine.

JAVITCH, D. D. (2009). Qualities of Superior Leaders.
Lama, T. D., Cutler, H. C., Lama, D., & Cutler, H. (1999). it is possible to live a good life
without being happy, but not happy without living a good life.
Spielthenner, G. (2005). What Makes Actions Morally Good? Retrieved 4 29, 2016, from
units.it: http://www2.units.it/etica/2005_1/SPIELTHENNER.htm
Srivastava, J. (2007). Vegetarianism and Meat-Eating in 8 Religions. Retrieved 4 28,
2016, from hinduismtoday.com:
http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=1541
Stanford.edu. (2015, 6 2). Skepticism. Retrieved 4 28, 2016, from plato.stanford.edu:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/skepticism/
Waitbutwhy.com. (2016). Is it Ethical to Eat Meat? Retrieved 4 28, 2016, from
waitbutwhy.com: http://waitbutwhy.com/table/is-it-ethical-to-eat-meat