Essay on "Morality in the Magus"
Essay 4 pages (1284 words) Sources: 0
[EXCERPT] . . . .
Morality in the MagusProbably the most interesting thing about ethics theories is that they are not only numerous, but also significantly divergent. This appears to suggest that human beings differ in terms of what they consider moral, good, and even true. The value of truth itself is indeed generally more subjective than many would like to admit or even consider. Particularly where political upheaval and violent disagreement are concerned, what is considered "true" by both sides is used as the basis for violence and conflict, whereas moral and ethical decisions use completely contrasting platforms to take effect. In John Fowles's novel, the Magus, while the ethical theories of utilitarianism and ethical subjectivism might be applied in varying degrees to the situations, decisions and actions described by Conchis, the specific outcomes suggest that the most relevant theory is subjectivism.
The basis of ethical subjectivism is the premise that perception, whether individual or collective, dictates moral decisions and actions, and particularly where such decisions and actions concern judgments about human conduct. In other words, these judgments are based upon a fundamentally arbitrary viewpoint that can vary among nations, individuals and time periods. The reason for this is that ethical statements are based upon feelings, beliefs, preferences, and attitudes. All these tend to be subjective to the individuals or collectives that hold these attitudes. It then follows that an ethical theory is constructed on the basis of personal experiences that are generalized to become judgments about the world and how the individual should respond to the world and other human beings. Accord
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When applied to the extract from Fowles's work here, ethical subjectivism can be applied to both Conchis personally and the Nazis collectively.
Where Conchis is concerned, his personal values are temporarily overridden by the Nazi ideal, and specifically by Colonel Wimmel. Indeed, the collective Nazi ideal is so strong that he initially believes that he has no choice in terms of actions that, under normal circumstances, might be questionable. When the colonel, for example, orders Conchis to make a hostage provide information, he does this not out of a sense of personal duty, but rather out of a sense of being trapped within a certain moral paradigm. This is evident in his words: "…I begged the man to give all the information he could. & #8230;I felt passionately that it was my duty to stop any more of this atrocious degradation of human intelligence." (p. 391).
For Conchis, the moral decision-making process did not extend beyond his own horror at the torture he had witnessed. His ethical subjectivism was therefore based upon a reaction towards what had been done to other human beings, and secondly upon the desire to stop it from happening to anyone else. No consideration beyond this, such as saving human lives, was important. It was his very immediate and direct experience of and response to his own environment that drove his decision. This is the basic premise of ethical subjectivism.
As his narrative progresses, Conchis, however, becomes increasingly conscious of his own power of choice, which culminates in his final decision to resist the colonel's orders to bludgeon two hostages to death. Despite the radical change in his specific decision, the basic premise for his moral decision-making process, however does not change. It remains ethical subjectivism. Although he was no longer subject to the horror imposed by the German paradigm, Conchis nonetheless still adheres to a collective sense of ethics, this time in the form of… READ MORE
Quoted Instructions for "Morality in the Magus" Assignment:
“The attached is an extract from John Fowles*****' novel, The Magus. (New York: Dell Pub., 1965, pp. 387-395.) It is an experience recalled by a key character, Conchis, and related to the central figure of the nove, a young English teacher (who is not mentioned in this extract, he is, so to speak, off camera). (The truth of the story we never discover but that does not concern us here.) The story goes further than a simple account of the facts--Conchis makes a number of revealing and important insights into the nature of moral dilemmas, moral agents and moral actions in the context of this particular narrative.
Select on of these reflections on the nature of morality--there are many--and discuss it from 2 of the 3 ethical theories--Utilitarianism, Subjectivism and/or Kant*****'s theory. The essay may be written so that these two standpoints are compared together or in two separate parts: the Utilitarian view and the Ethical Subjectivist view.
Try to reach a conclusion concerning which of the two theories you have considered best describes and accounts for Conchis*****'s observations, and why it does so, and what you consider to be the failings of the other theory.
Begin your paper by explaining precisely the issue you are raising--quote the passage that you are discussing where that is appropriate. Choose a title for your paper that captures the main point of your conclusion about the ethics of this situation. *****
How to Reference "Morality in the Magus" Essay in a Bibliography
“Morality in the Magus.” A1-TermPaper.com, 2011, https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/morality-magus-probably/6923. Accessed 1 Jul 2024.
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