Political Motivations: Ethical Theory Guiding Presidential Admin

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the ethical theories that may guide the current presidential administration's decisions. Participants explore various frameworks including religious ethics, utilitarianism, and personalism, while also questioning the presence or absence of ethical considerations in political actions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the administration's decisions could be influenced by divine command theory or utilitarian considerations.
  • One participant argues that there is no ethical framework guiding the administration, suggesting that decisions are driven by the interests of the wealthy elite rather than moral principles.
  • Another participant introduces the term "non-ethical, immoral personalism" to describe the administration's approach.
  • Some participants note that the president often references religious themes, implying a potential alignment with religious ethics, but also acknowledge the necessity of utilitarian decision-making in positions of power.
  • There is a suggestion that the president may prioritize religious ethics over utilitarian considerations, though the implications of this are left open for interpretation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the ethical motivations of the administration, with no consensus reached on whether a coherent ethical framework exists or what that framework might be.

Contextual Notes

Some arguments rely on assumptions about the motivations and actions of the administration, and there are unresolved questions regarding the definitions of the ethical theories discussed.

Inquisitor
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What ethical theory guides the current presidential administration? Are their judgements based on religious ethics (divine command theory)? Utilitarian considerations? Egoism?
 
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I think it is applied ignorance born of the blind privledge afforded the obscenely wealthy. There is no ethic. Remember, the players in this administration became wealthy, brokering oil, a planetary resource, from which a very powerful elite take profit. They are like a latter day Marie Antoinette, "What no bread? Let them eat yellow cake!" What shall we do with all this costly low level nuclear waste? Let us tip missles with it, and dump it on Iraq. No one will notice. Let us deny that there is a Gulf War Syndrome, and let us deny the new Gulf War Syndrome, when it manifests. These are the people that will be selling us air to breathe, one day.
There is no ethic or judgement, only the appearance of moral rectitude to keep the votes coming. There is no morality in preemptive war. The divine creator, does not call on us to kill. This is the energy, weapons, and drug business; out of the control of reasonable entities.
 
Inquisitor said:
What ethical theory guides the current presidential administration? Are their judgements based on religious ethics (divine command theory)? Utilitarian considerations? Egoism?

Its called non-ethical, inmoral, personalism.
 
Bush often speaks of religious things. If we take him at face value, then he follows religious ethics. At the same time, any person the such a position of power necessarily makes utilitarian decisions.
 
Dissident Dan said:
Bush often speaks of religious things. If we take him at face value, then he follows religious ethics. At the same time, any person the such a position of power necessarily makes utilitarian decisions.
That would be my assessment as well, except that I think Bush leans more toward the religious end to the detriment of the utilitarian. Whether that's good/bad, right/wrong...
 

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