First, select a topic of moral controversy, debate, disagreement, and dispute, Examples of such topics are euthanasia, the death penalty, abortion, cloning, etc. You can pick any such topic. It need not be listed here.
Next, detail the positions of each side of the ethical debate. Note at least two moral reasons each side presents to show their view on the topic is correct.
Now, we want to evaluate these positions using the moral theories we studied this week:
What would an Ethical Egoist say about this topic? What side would the Ethical Egoist take? What would the Ethical Egoist say to justify their moral position? Is there a conflict between loyalty to self and to community relevant to your topic? If so, how so? Note what you feel is the best course of action.
What would a Social Contract Ethicist say about this topic? What side would the Social Contract Ethicist take? What would the Social Contract Ethicist say to justify their moral position? Does your topic involve a collision between personal obligations and national ones? If so, how so? Note what you feel is the best course of action.
Finally, reference and discuss any professional code of ethics relevant to your topic such as the AMA code for doctors, the ANA code for nurses, or any other pertinent professional code. State whether and how your chosen topic involves any conflicts between professional and familial duties.
Euthanasia is the deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable suffering, as attributed to the House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics. Euthanasia has been a dynamic argumentative topic featuring spectrums of bioethicists on its approaches with a complex dilemma incorporating specific elements: agent, subject, intention, and causal proximity with which the action of an agent corresponds to the outcome. The philosophy of ethical egoism elaborates on the notion that individuals are an obligation to self-interest pursuit exclusively. Ethical egoism with regards to Euthanasia focuses on the benefits alienated to the patients with their content motivated by self-interest. For ethical egoism, Euthanasia must correspond with an individual’s ultimate interest exclusively but with a relative consideration for the well-being of others. (Rachels, 2022, p, 74)
The foregoing is argued to beget mistrust between the two parties, particularly from the shareholders (employers). Consequently, the mistrust increases the inclination of enhanced monitoring of the agents’ (directors and managers) activities. Upon the foregoing principle lies the foundation of auditing profession (Millichamp & Taylor, 2008). The theory further expounds on the principle agent problem, that is, agency dilemma. The dilemma is said to be occasioned by the inclination of the agent’s inclination to act in his own best interest rather than those of the principal. There is a likelihood of moral hazard and conflict of interest arising in the corporate scene.
It is exemplified that, the principal (shareholders) may be sufficiently concerned that at the likelihood of being exploited by the agent (directors and managers) that a dilemma may arise in hiring the right agents. The foregoing is necessitated by the desire to minimize or get rid of agency costs (Bebchuk & Fried, 2004). According to Adams (1994), the agency theory can provide for richer and more meaningful research in the internal audit discipline. Agency theory contends that internal auditing, in common with other intervention mechanisms like financial reporting and external audit, helps to maintain cost-efficient contracting between owners and managers.