Free Essay About The Ethics Of Emergencies

Naturally human beings are a selfish species and will always put their interests ahead of everyone else’s. This means that human beings have a tendency to ensure their satisfaction and fulfillment before they can be able to help other people achieve their desires. According to Ayn Rand, some people base their ethical values and principles on emergency situations that are prevailing. In most circumstances during emergencies people have to choose between their lives and that of the other people involved in an emergency. This is the natural selfishness that is found in each and every person.
People often act in accordance with their values and principles. In fact, there is a hierarchy of values and principles that have to be opted for in every situation. It is these values and principles that most of the time dictates the actions of the individual. It is these values that determine if an individual will be able to do something in the right manner or the wrong manner. Morality however demands that such actions be in line with the social norms that are dictated by society. For example, businessmen who is late and is rushing for a business meeting and comes across a baby drowning in a swimming pull is expected by society stop and help the child even if it means that he would delay for the meeting by doing so. The society thus expects such an individual to be altruistic and forget about the important meeting and act to save the child. That is what society and morality dictates and such a man’s hierarchy of values is not expected to play a role.
However, the hierarchy of principles and values should not be an excuse for one to participate in antisocial activities or criminal activities. Despite the fact that we have the right to make decisions and do things that seem right to our conscience, it is important to understand that our actions are bound to have an effect on the lives of others around us. It is also important to note that some of the actions that seem to be driving us to achieve our high ranked values and principles have been shunned by the society. This is to say that some of the actions that we would like to do in order to achieve our goals in life are considered as illegal in the society. As such these actions are bound to land the individual who does them into trouble.
Rules are a way of controlling human actions. Rules keep an individual in check and prevent them from doing things that would prove detrimental to the other members of the society. Without rules, an individual would easily opt for the cheapest way to achieve their goals and interest even if it were at the expense of another person. It is there for not justified for one to commit a wrong like stealing, murder or lie all in the name of achieving their utmost values and principles. Our values and principles can only be valued to the extent that they do not interfere with the enjoyment of life of another person or group of persons. It will not be a value, therefore, if it is achieved by doing something that is considered to be wrong in the society.
The fundamental principle of morality, therefore, is always to act in accordance with the hierarchy of your values such an action will not impact negatively on the life of any other person. Morality involves acting in accordance to socially accepted norms and those which follow the religious inclinations and principles.