GBU 204
February 29, 2012
Ethics Case Study
This ethics case study focused on a scenario in which a gubernatorial candidate named Molly is advised to use an advertisement in support of her campaign which, through the use of an incriminating photograph, will discredit her opponent, Frank, and help her to win the election. Although the information provided along with the photograph in the advertisement was factual, and in itself portrays Frank in a negative light, the picture itself was a fake. This fact was immediately realized by Molly. The question at hand in this scenario is whether or not Molly should run the advertisement and use the photograph, in spite of the fact that she knows it is a fake.
From a simple and logical perspective, Molly should not consider running the ad. After all, she immediately realized that the photograph was not genuine. If it was that easy for her to notice that it was not real, then it is very likely that the general public would quickly realize this as well. Consequently, from this way of thinking, it is unlikely that Molly would use the photograph, unless they could produce a more convincing fake. The defense offered by the union president that the photograph is obviously fake so they aren’t really trying to be deceitful is weak and in itself does not justify the use of the photograph. So, rather than viewing the issue from a logical perspective, the observer should instead consider it from an ethical standpoint.
The underlying issue is not a simple one, and there is not one particular solution which will be absolutely right and satisfy everyone. There will always be doubt, debate, and dissention about this type of moral dilemma, as is the case with most issues. By considering the situation from two distinctly different perspectives, that of deontology and teleology, one can see clearly see how easily different individuals can reach varying decisions when presented with the same, or similar, moral dilemmas.
First, the scenario will be looked upon by taking into account the views of the school of deontology. Upon consideration of the issue from this standpoint, at the heart of which lies the driving belief that the ends cannot justify the means, there can be little doubt that Molly should not run the ad. It is the conclusion most likely to be reached by any individual who holds strictly to an ethic belief system which is akin to that held by the proponents of this deontology belief. Although Molly feels strongly that Frank is an unethical person and should not win the election, if she were to run the ad, she would herself be committing an unethical act, and could as a result be considered by some to be no better than her opponent.
Even though the end result of using the photograph, if successful, would greatly benefit the workers to whom Molly had dedicated her life, it would still not justify her decision to commit the dishonest act of knowingly using the fake photograph. She would be violating the underlying principle of deontology which states that the end result or objective, no matter how noble, can never justify the use of immoral or