Deliberation Overview
This deliberation was begun on Sunday, September 4, 2005
This history was compiled on Sunday, November 22, 2009
Describe the Situation
I was sitting in my room doing homework on Thursday night around 8 PM. Just as I was finishing it up, my roommate came into the room telling me about this awesome party down the hall. He said there was a ton of hard alcohol there and I should at least show up to the party to get something to drink then leave. Even though I had finished my homework, I did have an 8 AM class on Friday, and I was pretty sure there was going to be a quiz. I am also under 21. I don’t know what to do in the situation. My roommate said that the RAs would probably not come by, so that wasn’t going to be an issue. The issue is should I be drinking hard alcohol?
Consequences Framework
Chosen standard for evaluating consequences:
Personal Health
This standard is most appropriate because:
Personal Health involves health physically, mentally, and socially. This standard is appropriate because I do not need to worry anyone’s health but mine because those at the party will stay there regardless of if I am there or not. Since my choice is inconsequential to anyone else involved with the party, I only need to worry about what ingesting alcohol will do for me, physically, socially, and mentally.
Chosen course of action:
This action fulfills my chosen standard because:
This action is consistent with the expectations of any ethics codes that apply to your situation.
I will NOT be able to do this action.
I am really stressed out this week and really want to just relax, so I think I'll go to the party to relax and have some fun.
Other alternatives explored using the Consequences Framework:
Duties Framework
I have judged that the most dutiful conduct in my situation is:
This action is most dutiful because:
This action treats me with respect because it gives me the ability to make my moral decision of in which area of my life I hope to improve in. It treats my friends with respect because I am allowing them to make their own decisions, regardless of whether I party with them or not.
Anyone would be obligated to perform this action because:
Kant’s perspective on autonomy helped me make this decision. Autonomy means allowing me to make moral decisions that treat myself as an end. Allowing someone to make moral decisions about their body is one way we treat others as an end. As such, I have the autonomy to make moral decisions, but I do not have the right to tell others how to treat their own bodies.
This alternative is NOT consistent with the expectations of any ethics codes that apply to your situation.
No, this action is not in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct because it violates sections B.5 (a responsibility to report violations of policy) and D.1 (alcohol misuse). However, I do not have a moral responsibility to follow these two sections of the code because neither of them treat me with autonomy or respect. Well, I guess I signed a pledge to follow the Code, and I do have a duty to keep my promises, but I sort of feel like I was forced to make the pledge, since I wanted to attend DU. I do have a legal responsibility to follow these and if I am caught, I will have to accept the consequences of my action.
I will be able to do this action.
Ranking of specific duties explored using this framework:
Virtue Framework
An action that will exhibit the most virtuous traits is:
The best course of action would be to not attend the party because it preserves my honesty and the responsibility I have towards my community. The other traits (want of friendship, want to relax) that will be lost by not drinking can be fulfilled without sacrificing the other virtues. Since I agree to follow the honor code, to be a virtuous person, I must be honest and uphold that standard.
This is the action that an ideally virtuous person would do because:
Aristotle’s views about Honesty helped me make this decision. In only for anyone of us to trust anyone else, we must all be Honest with what we say; that is how community is preserved. If I lie, then I am diminishing that trust. While Aristotle does not talk about Responsibility as a virtue, it connects with the reason why Honesty is a virtue. The only way we can relate to others honestly is if we take Responsibility for our actions and take Responsibility for preserving our community.
This alternative is consistent with the expectations of any ethics codes that apply to your situation.
I will NOT be able to do this action.
I have had a really stressful week and just want to relax and party, so I don't know if I will have the will to fulfill the virtue of honesty.