This assignment requires that you construct a PowerPoint (or similar) presentation that explores the ethics behind a social justice cause or movement. People join social justice movements to achieve equity, inclusion, and justice for entities such as humans, nonhuman animals, and the environment. Select a social justice movement and discuss how at least two ethical concepts listed below have been or could be used to create social change. Your presentation must address the following: Include at least two of the following ethical concepts:
Utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, rights-based ethics, feminist ethics, environmental ethics, or animal rights ethics. Provide an overview of the social justice movement you have chosen and explain its goals and objectives. Analyze how the chosen ethical concepts have been utilized to create social change within the movement. Evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of these ethical approaches in achieving the desired outcomes of the movement. Finally, propose additional ethical strategies or approaches that could further enhance the movement’s impact and promote social justice.
For the purpose of this presentation, I have selected the Black Lives Matter movement as the social justice cause to explore. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement emerged in 2013 after the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer and gained significant momentum in response to the killings of other unarmed black individuals such as Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Breonna Taylor. The movement aims to address systemic racism, police violence, and the devaluation of black lives in society.
The first ethical concept that has played a significant role in the BLM movement is rights-based ethics. Rights-based ethics, also known as deontological ethics, is an ethical framework that emphasizes the inherent rights and dignity of individuals. It asserts that individuals possess certain fundamental rights that must be protected and respected. In the context of the BLM movement, rights-based ethics is essential in advocating for the recognition and protection of the rights of black individuals. The movement seeks to ensure that black lives are valued, respected, and protected against unjust treatment by law enforcement and society at large.
Rights-based ethics within the BLM movement is evident through various strategies and initiatives. For example, the movement has actively pushed for policy reforms and legal changes that address systemic racism and police brutality. It aims to hold law enforcement accountable for their actions and promote equal treatment under the law. By using rights-based ethics, the BLM movement highlights the importance of upholding the rights of black individuals to life, liberty, and security.
Another ethical concept utilized in the BLM movement is virtue ethics. Virtue ethics emphasizes the development of virtuous character traits and moral virtues in individuals. It focuses on the idea of moral excellence and the cultivation of virtues such as justice, courage, and compassion. In the context of the BLM movement, virtue ethics plays a vital role in promoting empathy, understanding, and compassion towards the experiences and struggles faced by black individuals.
Virtue ethics within the BLM movement can be observed through the emphasis on empathy and understanding in creating social change. The movement seeks to foster empathy and understanding among individuals by sharing personal stories and experiences of black individuals. By doing so, the movement aims to challenge biases, stereotypes, and prejudices that perpetuate systemic racism and discrimination. Virtue ethics encourages individuals to develop virtuous character traits such as empathy and compassion, which are essential in promoting social justice and equality.
However, while rights-based ethics and virtue ethics have been utilized effectively in the BLM movement, there are limitations and challenges associated with these ethical approaches. One limitation of rights-based ethics is that it can sometimes prioritize individual rights over collective well-being. In the case of the BLM movement, this can lead to a focus on addressing individual instances of injustice without fully addressing the broader systemic issues of racism and inequality. Similarly, virtue ethics can be subjective and vary across different individuals and cultures, which can pose challenges in creating a unified approach to social change.
To further enhance the impact of the BLM movement and promote social justice, additional ethical strategies and approaches can be considered. One such approach is utilitarianism, which focuses on maximizing overall happiness or well-being for the greatest number of people. By adopting a utilitarian perspective, the BLM movement can assess the long-term consequences of policy reforms and advocate for changes that will have the greatest positive impact on black communities as a whole. Additionally, incorporating feminist ethics can provide an intersectional perspective that addresses the unique challenges faced by black women within the movement. By considering the experiences of black women and promoting gender equality, the BLM movement can broaden its support base and further advance its goals of equity and justice.
In conclusion, the Black Lives Matter movement has utilized rights-based ethics and virtue ethics to create social change. These ethical concepts have helped emphasize the value and rights of black individuals and promote empathy and compassion. However, there are limitations to these approaches, such as prioritizing individual rights over systemic change. Incorporating additional ethical concepts, such as utilitarianism and feminist ethics, can further enhance the movement’s impact and promote social justice.