The relationship of one towards other has always been one of the most important ethical issues. The limits of what one can and cannot do within ethical bounds have long been controversial. With new technologies constantly being developed, and products being easily marketed from one nation to the other, the problem arises as to when one should be allowed to do this and when it is unethical. When it comes to this type of product, it is unethical to allow people to manufacture it in a nation that has proven its effects to be toxic on the human body, even if they are not going to sell it in their own country.
First, it is important to delimitate the subject somewhat, as noxious products are constantly made and given to foreign countries. This could be done deliberately, as a manner of harming other people, as if in a war. In the present paper, this will not be considered, as it would be more I lines with just war theory than commercial considerations. Therefore, it is important to note that the present argument assumes the citizens of the other country would purchase these products deliberately, yet ignoring the health problems involved.
The main underlying problem is that the chemical processes in the human body do not vary depending on the nation that the people belong to. If there were substantial changes between the organisms of people living in different nations, then it could maybe be considered ethical to produce these chemicals. Nevertheless, the chemical processes that determine the function of people’s bodies around the world are essentially the same. This would mean that if a chemical were to produce significant damage to the population of one state, it would probably do so to that of another as well. Therefore, it would not matter what the reasons are, especially if economic in nature, because humans should always be treated with priority. As Kant would say, it is important to always treat “every rational being as an end in itself”. It would then be unacceptable to harm or kill other people just for one’s own personal gain.
However, it is important to note that there are many other details that should be taken into account, especially when it comes to countries that are less developed. According to Ecobichon (2001), some of these nations depend on more toxic chemical pesticides in order to competitively enter the market. Even though they may be poisoning future generations, they see it as a problem towards solving their economic problems in the present. It is important to note that he also states that the controls found in these countries are not rigorous, and would thus be probable recipients in the case under discussion. It may then be somewhat ethical to allow these countries to import chemicals that are more dangerous, because it may be the only way for them to actually feed their population.
In conclusion, the manufacture and exportation of known toxic chemicals is ethically complicated because, even though one should not do harm onto others, sometimes they may help less-developed nations. If one does not stray into just war theory, one can pretty safely say that it is never ethical to deliberately harm and kill other people, even if for economic purposes. Nevertheless, these toxic pesticides could really help out other nations, making it a morally grey area.
Works Cited
Kant, Immanuel. “Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals”. Bartleby. Web. 28 Jun. 2016. <http://www.bartleby.com/32/601.html>.
Ecobichon, Donald J. “Pesticide use in developing countries”. Toxicology, 160.1-3 (2001): 27-33. PDF. 28 Jun. 2016.
