The Theories of Ethics as Depicted in Movies

Movie Analysis and Ethics Theories Application

The daily operations of organizations across the globe is faced and directed by the ethical decisions that they make and the ethical approach that they use as a culture will determine the end result of their performance and their stability. Art has always helped in imitating real life and movies often depict the actual happenings within corporations that are hailed as the top corporations in the society, and from such depictions teach the same society lessons they never knew about the corporations. This paper takes a keen look at two movies, 'Wall Street (1987)' and 'Michael Clayton' and the association between these movies and the ethical theories or approaches that are available.

Wall Street (1987 original)

Plot

The movie rotates around two central characters; Gordon Gekko and Bud Fox and the daily undertakings they have in the business arena. Fox is depicted as a young stock broker who initially struggles to make honest money until Gekko comes along and embraces him into his fold. Being the Gekko is a rich and influential stock market predictor and trader, Fox gets enticed into his influence and learns his illegal trades apart from the legal trade. Gekko teaches Fox that greed is good and he gets swallowed into that philosophy, leading to significant change in his lifestyle with strappings of wealth following him.

Ethical issues

The movie brings to the fore greed that is predominant among companies and the rich within the society. It shows how much people disregard human life and welfare just for personal gain. It also shows the immoral undertakings that go on among the illicit traders who go as far as sharing women among themselves. There is total disregard for the societal ethics of fair distribution of wealth and equal chances to advance one self. A section of the society is suppressed economically by a few who feel they own the entire economic might and system and they justify their actions by the "greed is good" philosophy.

Connection with the ethical theories

The utilitarian theory of ethics justifies the action for each ones good. An action is deemed right or wrong by the amount of good or bad it brings to self. For instance telling a lie to save one soul is deemed right. In his chapter (Pp52), Boatright outlines the utilitarian theory to be advocating for actions that give the maximum pleasure to be the ethical actions to take. This is the same approach that Fox and Gekko among other traders end up in, their levels of underhand deals, deceit and coercion of debtors do not bother them as long as at the end of it their personal needs are met and they live a luxurious lifestyle.

Michael Clayton

This is a movie based on individual connections and the misuse of such connections in skirting the legal process. Michael Clayton, the main character here is seen as an individual who knows how to fix issues within the criminal justice and the law enforcement agencies. He is however so much into gambling and alcohol, habits that take toll on his financial stability. He uses his connections to solve most of the problems that clients have, yet he is unable to solve his own challenges. An outstanding case which he handles through his dubious connection is the case of Arthur Eden. Arthur has been working on a case with an agrochemical company for the last six years and he is dependent on drugs for his mental and emotional stability. This state is however challenged when Arthur stops taking his medication and he starts stripping naked in a deposition meeting where Michael is also present. This is the point at which Michael comes to learn of deeper details of the case and his life edges closer to danger.

Ethical issues

Michael is a legal representative who is well trained and in a stable firm yet addicted to gambling and alcohol, facts that push him to engage in underhand dealings with the law in order to win cases and get the pay to keep afloat. The legal system is also depicted to be highly flawed with results of cases depending on the personal connections that one has. The profession and the practice in which Michael operates is dangerous and involves deals and even possible killings as depicted by the car bomb that he escapes narrowly.

Connection with the ethical theories