Instructions
Based on the Lesson Two materials, consider the following scenario and do the exercise in a Word format document for submission.
Review the 1.1b PDF: Consequentialist (Teleological) Theories and 1.1c PowerPoint: Lesson 2 – Consequentialist Theories.
The scenario:
Pastor Payton faces a dilemma: duty and results seem to clash. The church he leads is in a poor community. The president of a social agency, a church member, asks to use the church building for distributing sterile needles to drug addicts. Good results justify the practice: Statistics show that fewer drug addicts transmit infectious diseases like AIDS when they use sterile needles. The deacons, however, think the church must take a stand: Illegal drugs are absolutely wrong. The church has a duty to preach against sin, but handing out needles condones sin. In fact, the deacons argue, preaching against sin will bring less drug use and thus less disease. Payton wants to preach the gospel faithfully, but he also wants the church to be active in the community. If it sees the church as being condemning and accusatory, the neighborhood will boycott the church. Payton fears losing his credibility with various groups; he realizes this could hamper his ministry.
Pretend you are Pastor Payton and work through this ethical problem using each of the teleological approaches we have discussed (ethical egoism, act utilitarianism, rule utilitarianism, and situationism). That is, first pretend you are Pastor Payton and you subscribe to ethical egoism. How would you work through this ethical problem? What is your rationale? What is your decision?
Repeat this process with each of the other teleological approaches, answering the same questions listed above.
