Personal ethical philosophies guide an individual in determining what is right or wrong. My ethics is defined by the need, to be honest, have integrity, and be considerate of how my actions affect others' welfare at all times. My philosophy is influenced by Kantian deontological ethics and social contract ethics. Kantian deontological ethics emphasizes the importance of societal obligations and respects others' rationality by not using them as a means to an end (Rachels, 2019). Social contract ethics provide that every person in the society owes specific duties and obligations to each other so that there can be peaceful coexistence (Rachels, 2019). My philosophy guides me to follow societal laws to promote fairness and justice without putting my individual needs above everyone else's.
John Doe acts immorally when he illegally downloads the book for his nursing course since integrity is unalienable even when facing personal challenges. Were everyone to change their moral standards depending on the situation they face, the whole society would collapse since everyone faces challenges at some point(s) in their lives. The intentions of an individual, no matter how good, cannot justify treating others as a means to one's end (Rachel, 2015). John's economic situation and aspirations should not justify the illegal download as it hurts the book's producers economically. In reverse, if all John's hard work in a nursing school was illegally exploited, he would also feel hurt. Therefore, he should not condone any act that would hurt many people if adopted as society's standard behavior.
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John Doe subscribes to a religion that explicitly forbids what he is doing, which is willful moral ignorance, which cannot be excused (Mason, 2015). Mason provides that an objective view of blameworthiness could look at the formative circumstances of the morally ignorant person (2015). If it can be shown that John's interaction with other low-income people made him ignorant of his immorality, then he would be a victim and not blameworthy.
References
Mason, E. (2015). Moral ignorance and blameworthiness. Philosophical studies . https://doi.org/10.1007/s11098-015-0456-7
Rachels, J. (2019). The Elements of Moral Philosophy . Mcgraw-Hill Higher Education. http://gen.lib.rus.ec/book/index.php?md5=0BF4F4404E9EE8F464AFDA71CB1404F0
