Ethics Reflection Secondhand Smoke Is Reaction Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 930 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 3

Page 1 of 3

Nicotine can imitate neurotransmitters in the brain and send confusing messages, affecting critical brain development" (Beauchaine in Shepherd). This is but the tip of the iceberg regarding the harmful nature of tobacco in any form.

From an ethical standpoint, one can take a formal moral standpoint and quote utilitarianism/deontology: Utilitarianism holds that the most ethical thing one can do is any action that will maximize the happiness within an organization or society. Actions have quantitative outcomes and the ethical choices that lead to the "greatest good for the greatest number" are the appropriate decisions, even if that means subsuming the rights of certain individuals. It is considered to be a consequential outlook in the sense that while outcomes cannot be predicted the judgment of an action is based on the outcome -- or, "the ends justify the means" (Robinson and Groves, 2003). . Deontology argues that there are norms and truths that are universal for all humans; actions then have a predisposition to right or wrong, moral or immoral. Kant believed that humans should act, at all times, as if their individual actions would have consequences for all of society. Morality, then, is based on rational thought and is the direction most humans innately want. Roughly, deontology is "the means justify the ends" (Kamm, 2007). Thus, the idea of banning secondhand smoke is defensible in both cases: there are proven statistics that secondhand smoke is harmful in a number of ways; therefore because it is harmful to the majority, the majority cannot live without fear of harm. Any civil liberties regarding individual rights to smoke anywhere in public are therefore not for the good of society.

Stuck Writing Your "Ethics Reflection Secondhand Smoke Is" Reaction Paper?

View All Our Example Ethics Reflection Secondhand Smoke Is Reaction Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written



These same arguments can be made regarding public and private healthcare. Asking what is the best solution for the largest number of people, and what means society would put in place for that outcome will likely change the paradigm of egregious prescription drug and procedure costs, and a more egalitarian approach to healthcare.

REFERENCES

"Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General." (June 27, 2007). U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services. Cited in:

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke/

Kamm, F.M. (2007). Intricate Ethics: Rights, Responsibilities, and Permissible Harm.

Kuhn, C., et.al. (2008). Buzzed: The Straight Facts About The Most Used and Abused Drugs. Norton.

Robinson, D. And J. Groves. (2003). Introducing Political Philosophy. Icon Books.

Shephard, A. (July 11, 2007). "Prenatal Secondhand Smoke Causes Psychological

Issues." The Daily of the University of Washington. Cited in:

http://dailyuw.com/2007/7/11/prenatal-secondhand-smoke-causes-psychological/

Taylor, R., et.al. "Passive Smoking and Lung Cancer: A Cumulative Meta-Analysis."

Australian Journal of Public Health. 25 (3): 203-11.

"WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control." (2005). World Health

Organization. Cited in:

http://www.who.int/tobacco/framework/WHO_FCTC_english.pdf.....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Ethics Reflection Secondhand Smoke Is" (2010, October 22) Retrieved June 27, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/ethics-reflection-secondhand-smoke-7522

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Ethics Reflection Secondhand Smoke Is" 22 October 2010. Web.27 June. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/ethics-reflection-secondhand-smoke-7522>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Ethics Reflection Secondhand Smoke Is", 22 October 2010, Accessed.27 June. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/ethics-reflection-secondhand-smoke-7522
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example