Prudent pragmatism as superior approach to ethical dilemmas

¶ … ethical dilemmas. The main ones described are the utilitarian, the deontologist, and the prudent pragmatic. Out of the above mentioned methods for solving and discussing ethical dilemmas prudent pragmatic appears to be the most effective and superior. This is due to composition of the prudent pragmatic method. The deontologist method calls for the analyst judging the situation to use abstract means instead of carefully weighing the merits of a particular case; they will instead focus on the ideals and values of an individual and allow those to influence their judgment. The utilitarian approach will call for the analyst in the case to value and prioritize the effect that the decision will have on the majority of the population in the case. This Chapter clearly presents the prudent pragmatic method as being superior in dealing with ethical dilemmas when being compared to the above mentioned methods. The author presents several convincing argument and examples that evidence the superiority of prudent pragmatism. One very fitting example is when he alludes to the American war on terrorism. The author states that the prudent pragmatic approach call for the analyst to "consider all the American values inherent in the situation, recognizing their often conflicting and damaging character" (227). This is important because by weighing and considering the American values and the effect they can have on important issues like terrorism we can avoid making decisions that are not logically sound. If the analyst does not recognize the impact that American values can have, he or she runs the risk of judging erroneously, while being influenced by emotion and passion, which are to elements that are not a part of logical reasoning. Prudent pragmatic appears to be superior in comparison to other approaches because it calls the judge of analyst to consider the circumstances that are immediately relevant and present, while at the same recognizing the factor of time. That is to say that what was found to correct, appropriate or logical in another time might to be necessarily be so in the present or future. The information gathered from this chapter indicates that Ethical choices must be well informed and not constrained to a particular set of values or beliefs. In order to remain accurately informed and objective in regards to ethical issues borders should be ignored. We must search for and find what the international community deems ethically correct or incorrect and incorporate that into our decision making processes. The author points out in the text that as a global community we have sought to do that with organizations like The United Nations. Through agreements and pacts made with this and other organizations we have outlined several ethical and moral issues that have been deemed morally and ethically right or wrong. Using a prudent pragmatic approach seems to be appropriate in a time were globalization of all types is occurring.