Analysis of Spike Lees He Got Game Essay Example

Analysis of Spike Lees He Got Game Essay A Close Analysis of Spike Lee’s He Got Game Claimed as Spike Lee best work since Malcolm X, He Got Game is a film about the relationship between a father and his son. In this film the father, Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington), is serving time in prison for murdering his wife. His son, Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen), is the nations top high school basketball prospect. The governor, being an avid basketball fan, has made a deal with Jake that will cut back his sentence if he can convince his son to go to the governors alma mater, Big State University. Jake agrees, but much difficulty lies in dealing with a son who still hasnt forgiven him for taking his mothers life. It is around this difficulty that the plot is built. In this film Spike Lee uses different techniques of cinematography such camera angles, mise-en-scene, editing, and sound to enhance the feud between father and son. He gives us insight into their feelings and motivations, he compares their personalities and attitudes, and he illustrates the dissonance between the two men through the use of these techniques. In Jesus and Jakes first meeting on the ball court, Lee makes use distance and space to increase the sense of separation between them. Empty space here is exaggerated through the use of a wide-angle lens. Jake is seen here in the foreground with Booger, Jesus’ cousin and Jesus in the background. If you watch closely, all three men keep a healthy distance apart. When Jake approaches Booger to give him love, Booger backs away and leaves the court, reacting to the violation of the space that the director has created between these characters. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Spike Lees He Got Game specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Spike Lees He Got Game specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Spike Lees He Got Game specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer If that is the first thing you see of this movie; you feel a sense of fear and separation, like something is about to happen. This distance between Jake and Jesus is kept throughout the scene as they walk parallel paths across the court to the fence. When they get to the fence, the director purposely breaks the 180 degree rule by having close-ups taken from behind the fence and cutting from Jake left side to Jesus’ right side. When you see this, you have the impression that the two characters are separated by a fence. As the film progresses, the scene I would like to analyze is when Jesus begins to accept his father more and more, the distance between the two actors decreases. For example, when they are walking along the beach later in the film, they are walking side by side and even making contact at times. A long lens or maybe a telephoto lens is used here to help flatten the distance. Also, in this scene Jake and Jesus are nearly always in the same shot. In previous scenes, the two men were rarely seen in the same frame Lee always imposed that separation. This effects the viewers perception of the distance between them by making them seem farther apart. The use of space and distance in the ocean scene, however, creates a feeling of closeness because the distance is flattened and everything is in cluster. In this scene, Lee didn’t make a cut for about two minutes as the actors were being tracked walking down the beach conversing. This illustrates intimacy and helps the audience glued and focused to the conversation they are having. The scene ends with a dramatic violation of space: Jake hugs Jesus. With this hug, Lee demonstrates another use of cinematography. He uses close-up shots to help reveal character emotions. First, there is a close-up of Jesus face as he looks down on his father. His expression reveals much of repulsion and not a little of disgust, but for the first time in the film we dont see his anger toward his father. Next, the camera is tilted down to catch a close-up of Jake. The grimace that follows indicates to us that he is deeply hurt by the situation and that he longs for the opportunity to once again be close to his boy. The use of cinematographic techniques made the viewers so understanding of the bad relationship between a father and son. Lee made sure to impose the separation starting from the first scene. The use of close-ups gave me as a viewer a sense of emotional connectedness.

periodic table Essay

periodic table Essay periodic table Essay Havergal College SCH3U Oxidation number and IUPAC names of some polyatomic ions Oxidation number = +1 Name Ammonium Oxidation number = -1 Name Ion cyanide HSO4acetate H2PO3hypochlorite H2PO4chlorite MnO4chlorate NO2perchlorate NO3hydrogen carbonate OCNhydrogen oxalate OHhydrogen sulfite SCNOxidation number = -2 Name Ion carbonate HPO42oxalate O22chromate SO32dichromate SO42hydrogen phosphite S2O32Oxidation number = -3 Name Ion 3arsenite PO4 arsenate Ion NH4+ Ion CNC2H3O2ClOClO2ClO3ClO4HCO3HC2O4HSO32- Ion CO3 C2O42CrO42Cr2O72HPO32Ion 3- AsO3 AsO43- Name hydrogen sulfate dihydrogen phosphite dihydrogen phosphate permanganate nitrite nitrate cyanate hydroxide thiocyanate Name hydrogen phosphate peroxide sulfite sulfate thiosulfate Name phosphate Solubility of Ionic Compounds at SATP - - Cations Cl , Br , I High solubility (aq) 0.1 mol/L (at SATP) Low solubility (s) 0.1 mol/L (at SATP) most - S 2- group 1, NH4+, group 2 OH - group 1, NH4+, Sr2+, Ba2+ Tl+ Anions SO42most CO32-, C2H3O2PO43-, SO32group most + 1, NH4 NO3all All Group 1 compounds, including acids, and all ammonium compounds are assumed to have high solubility in water + 2+ Ag , Pb , most most Ag+, Pb2+, most Ag+ none Tl+, Hg22+, Ca2+, (Hg+), Cu+ Ba2+, Sr2+, Ra2+ Havergal College SCH3U Assigning oxidation numbers General Rules 1) The oxidation number of any free element is zero, regardless of how complex its molecules might be. 2) For monatomic ions, the oxidation number is their charge 3) The sum of all the oxidation numbers of the atoms in a molecule or polyatomic ion must equal the charge on the particle Rules for Specific Atoms 4) Group 1A (1) atoms have an oxidation number of +1(Excluding H) 5) Group 2A (2) atoms have an oxidation number of +2 6) In its compounds, hydrogen is +1 with non-metals and -1 with

Evolution of International Monetary System Essay

Evolution of International Monetary System - Essay Example Moreover, there was no mechanism to consolidate an orderly return to inflation-adjusted exchange rates. â€Å"When countries, such as the United Kingdom in 1925, tried to return to the gold standard at overvalued parities, they were forced to endure painful deflation of wages and prices in order to restore competitiveness† (Check against Delivery, 2009). â€Å"During the Great Depression, the united states stay with strict norms of the gold-exchange standard, but gradually could not use monetary policy to offset the economic contraction† (Eichengreen & Franklin, 1992). Bretton Woods: In the 1940s, British and American policy makers decided to work jointly to design a new post war international monetary system, which would combine the benefits of a liberal international system along with the freedom for government to pursue domestic policies aimed at promoting social well being and employment to all. â€Å"The principal architects of the new system, John Maynard Keynes and Harry Dexter White, created a plan which was endorsed by the 42 countries attending the 1944 Bretton Woods conference. The plan involved nations agreeing to a system of fixed but adjustable exchange rates where the currencies were pegged against the dollar, with the dollar itself convertible into gold. So in effect this was gold – dollar exchange standard† (International Monetary Systems, 2010). The main feature of Bretton Woods’s system was: Simplicity and adjustability to the rates as well as the exchange rates was a real reflection of the instability of inter-war period. â€Å"It was more administered than market-based; also exchange rates adjustment was... This essay presents a comprehensive review of the stages of the development of the international monetary systems. Possible reform measures to make the monetary system more fair and stable are discussed in the paper. International monetary systems are sets of internationally agreed rules, conventions and supporting institutions that facilitate international trade, cross boarder investment and basically the reallocation of capital between different nations. Over the past century, different international monetary regimes have struggled to adjust to structural changes, including the integration of emerging economies into the global economy. Systemic countries failed to adapt domestic policies in a manner consistent with the monetary system of the day. Adjustment was delayed, vulnerabilities grew, and the reckoning was disruptive for all. All the developing as well as the developed economies, should accept their responsibilities for open, strong and effective management of International Monetary System. Main function would be the timely recognition of any negative effects regarding a particular monetary decision on global economies and financial systems, as well as working to mitigate those before it amplifies adverse dynamics. So countries adopting a new policy should make sure that they submit it for peer review internally and then have the IMF do an external review Globalized economy with market-based exchange rates and effective utilization of reserves will lead to proper and harmonious external balance over time.

Two or More Sample Hypothesis Testing Paper Essay

Two or More Sample Hypothesis Testing Paper - Essay Example In this case, we want to test whether the average salary of a person who has been to school for less than 16 years in less than that of another who spend more than 16 years in school. In hypothesis testing, there is the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis. The null hypothesis is the assumed truth while the alternative is what the researcher/analyst will settle for if the assumed truth (null hypothesis) if found to be false. The hypothesis is below. A sample is used instead of using the whole population to draw inferences about the population since it is cheap, it takes a shorter while and has scope like a complete observation of the whole population. In this case, the People who spend less than 16 years in education were 79 while those who had spend more than 16 years in education were 21. Thus, a total of 100 were selected for this study. The people who spend less than 16 years are denoted by 1 while those who spend more than 16 years are denoted by 2. This is a single tailed test to the left, the average salary for those who have been in education for less than 16 years is 26,998.68 with a standard deviation of 13,305.31. The average salary for those who have been in education for more than 16 years is 45,259.52 with a standard deviation of 21,322.18. For those who spent less than 16 years, the salary range was 72,604 with a minimum of 10,997 and a maximum of 83,601 while those with more than 16 years, the range was 73,690 and a minimum of 9,879 and a maximum of 83,569. The maximum and minimum of both less than and more than 16 years are almost he same. From the above results, it is evident that the calculated value for Z lies in the critical region; is not in the acceptance region but in the rejection region as shown above. The null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative accepted. We conclude that, the average salary for those who have been in education for less than 16 years is less than the

The poem Remember Essay Example for Free

The poem Remember Essay Look again at the poem Remember which is about death and relationships, also look at the poem Remberance which is of similar themes. Look closely at the way the authors have used imagery and structure. Compare and contrast how each feels about death and their relationships. Which poem makes a more powerful appeal to your emotions? Give reasons for your answer. Each of the poems Remember and Remembrance have the similar themes; death and relationships. Remember tell us of a story of a female who is in an impossible relationship that is so bad that she seems to think that her only escape is suicide. She writes to her partner telling him not to grieve for her. The line Better by far you should forget and smile Than that you should remember and be sad. Shows us that she, in a way, doesnt want her partner to be sad. This is kind of hypocritical of this poem. She tells us that she doesnt have another choice to get out of this bad relationship and yet she doesnt want him to suffer. She is obviously a very kind person which makes me feel all the more emotive towards her. Remembrance is telling us a story of a girl who has lost a very dear person to death and we find her pondering suicide herself. This narrator has dug herself a hole in that thinking that she has no point in life anymore without the loved one. She must feel that she cannot go on without said person. Like many people who lose someone dear, she has lost her sense of enthusiasm for life so she, like the narrator in Remember, sees suicide as an escape from a life without a certain person. I can feel her pain, being a person who has lost someone dear to me, I went through a stage of my life where I didnt want to do anything. I didnt even want to go outside. But I am just glad that it did not get to the point where I considered suicide. When writing these poems each woman must have had to dig deep down into their feelings to create such emotive poems. Christina Rossettis father died in 1854, this could have been a very big inspiration for her to bring up so many emotions when writing such a poem. Emily Brontà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Also lost her mother which is a very good source of emotions to write with. Each writer has had some experience with death which might be the reason why the only thing they can see as a solution is death itself. They might choose to follow their parents and die. Christina Rossetti uses images such as the silent land which suggests an empty after life where as Emily Brontà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ uses images such as days of golden dreams which refers to memories that were very dear to her and reminds us that those memories were lost when her loved one died. Each author was very descriptive in their imagery and it was very effective in each poem The layout of Remembrance is much easier to understand than the sonnet structure of the other one. A poem being in stanzas makes it much easier for the reader to read and work out the story behind the poem. I found it much harder to understand Remember as it was in sonnet form (14 lines). A poem being all squashed together makes it had to differentiate one line from the other. My personal preference between these to poems for the one than appeals to me in the emotive way would have to be Remembrance as I can relate to the kind of pain the narrator is going through. The writer has used such emotive language and really made the effort to connect with her own feelings which is a very hard thing to do. And to write them down and make them make sense is a type of magic in itself. A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language. Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful and this poet understands that and has somehow tapped into her own language and written her very thoughts down. So on that note I conclude that Remembrance makes the most powerful appeal to my emotions.

Affirmative Action Essay -- Affirmative Action

Affirmative Action Affirmative action is a deliberate effort to provide full and equal opportunities in employment, education, and other areas for women, minorities, and individuals belonging to other traditionally disadvantaged groups. As an issue of today's society, affirmative action requires corporations, universities and other organizations to establish programs designed to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly. It also places a burden of proof on the providers of opportunities; to some degree, the providers must be able to demonstrate that their granting of opportunities to white males is not discriminatory. The policy mentioned above was first brought before the Supreme Court in 1978 in the case of University of California v. Bakke. Alan Bakke, a white man, had been denied twice to admission to a University of California medical school. It was even shown that his admission test scores were higher than several minority group students who had been accepted. Bakke sued on the basis of discrimination against white males and claimed that the school had a quota. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Bakke, but stated that the it was not a violation of affirmative action per se. The Court said that only rigid racial quotas were an impermissible form of affirmative action in determining medical school admissions. The Bakke case was followed by two rulings in favor of affirmative action programs, one of which, Fullilove v. Klutnick, upheld a quota system that required ten percent of federal public works funds to be set aside for minority-owned firms. The view of the Supreme Court was narrowed in the 1980s when new, more conservative justices were appointed. The Court held that preferred tre... ...ica=s ideals on its side, and no resort to logic can persuade either side that the opposing viewpoint should prevail. Affirmative action relates directly to the individual verses society humanity-based theme. For example, the women and minority groups fighting for individual freedoms in the general society. Many individuals have worked and still work for their specific rights and freedoms to be granted. It takes the initiative of individuals to make a difference in the society. Works Cited 1. Hill, John. "Affirmative Action: Roots to Success." http://www.afronet.com/WB/031597-2.html (2 April 1998) 2. Legislative Analyst. "Analysis of Proposition 209." http://Vote96.ss.ca.gov./Vote96/html/BP/209analysis.htm (2 April 1998) 3. "Proposition 209: Text of Proposed Law." http://Vote96.ss.ca.gov/Vote96/html/BP/209text.htm

Immanuel Kant Essay

1 Introduction Have you ever watched a group debate an ethical decision given a particular case study with several different variations to the story? It is fascinating to watch. Some of the individuals feel so strongly about being â€Å"right† they will argue until they get their point across. Others waffle and try to look at the situation from a variety of perspectives. Given a particular Case Study based on terms of confidentiality, this paper compares the basis of morality under two alternative ethical systems — Utilitarianism and Kantianism. We will explore the theory behind each ethical system, describe the facts of the Case, and interpret a course of ethical action using both ethical systems, and the significance of this dilemma. I chose to examine the Utilitarianism and Kantianism ethical systems because at times they seem diabolically opposed based on the theoretical reasoning behind choosing a particular action. Yet, in many cases the chosen action is the same. For this particular case on confidentiality, a personal relationship attempts to complicate how to determine the morally correct action. I explore this correlation by comparing Utilitarianism and Kantianism. Utilitarianism uses a relatively straightforward cost-benefit analysis where the calculation is â€Å"indifferent to persons and relationships (Dombrowski 2000:248). † Consequently, when using a Utilitarian system to examine what ethical action is appropriate everyone is â€Å"on equal footing (Dombrowski 2000:248). † This is somewhat of a simplistic view of how individuals make decisions; however, it is a simple view that allows you to make a somewhat unbiased decision. A decision not based on â€Å"rank, status, wealth, race, gender, or personal relationship (Dombrowski 2 2000:248). â€Å"Similar to Utilitarianism, Kantianism would also negate the significance of any personal relationships. The Kantian would do unto others, as they would consent to treating you. The one universal way to act should carry from person to person regardless of your personal relationship to that person. Let us explore the similarities and differences between these two ethical theories. Next, we will take a close look at the facts of one particular Case Study where personal relationships do come into play. Then, we will compare how a Utilitarian and a Kantian might act and why. What motivates the decision-makers under each moral system? 2 Comparing Theory 2. 1 Theory: Utilitarianism 2. 1. 1 Pleasure versus Pain: Utilitarianism is a somewhat general term for a variety of perspectives that all generally fall under the guise of this theoretical stance. In any case, I will attempt to summarize the major theoretical viewpoints of this ethical system. For the most part, Utilitarianism recognizes two absolutes in the world: pain and pleasure. Moral law follows the Principle of Utility, in other words, what motivates human beings. They found that Good has priority over the Right (Justice) (Griffin 2005, personal communication) and they make ethical decisions by determining â€Å"the greatest useful goodness for the greatest number of people (Dombrowski 2000:54). † Good equals happiness (pleasure) and alternatively bad equals pain or displeasure and has no value. Utilitarianism determines the right or correct action based on a formula that shows which action results in maximized good (happiness/pleasure). Maximized good takes into account all those individuals affected by the actions under consideration. 2. 1. 2 Cost-Benefit Analysis: Utilitarianism simplifies moral law to a quantitative calculation that determines ethical choice: Total Pleasure – Total Pain = Total Utility (Griffin 2005: personal communication). Utilitarianism uses a cost-benefit analysis to decide whether we tell or do not tell. We determine what is ethically 3 correct through an objective and quantitative measure of utilitarian goodness. â€Å"measure it for the appropriate number of people, compare it to measures of ill effects for the remaining people, plug it all into an algorithm, and calculate the solution (Dombrowski 2000). † Utilitarianism, born out of the technological and scientific revolution, uses a scientific approach to ethics. Theoretically, Utilitarianism does not take into account whose happiness is at stake and the action with the highest total utility is the correct action. 2. 2 Theory: Kantianism 2. 2. 1 Sense of Duty: A sense of duty is the guiding principle to Kantian theory. Ethics does not come from a higher authority nor does it rely on the individual to weigh the competing interests of the participants in an ethical dilemma. Unlike Utilitarianism, Kant’s ethical system represents a universal categorical imperative rule of ethics. The Categorical imperative is an expression of the moral law. The imperative is the correct, right, or good action taken in a particular situation. A categorical imperative â€Å"denotes an absolute, unconditional requirement that allows no exceptions, and is both required and justified as an end in itself, not as a means to some other end; the opposite of a hypothetical imperative (www. wikipedia. org). † In Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, he outlines the Categorical Imperative in three different ways (www. wikipedia. org): 2. 2. 1. 1 Universal Law formulation: â€Å"Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. † 2. 2. 1. 2 Humanity or End in Itself formulation: â€Å"Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end. † 2. 2. 1. 3 Kingdom of Ends formulation: â€Å"All maxims as proceeding from 4 our own [hypothetical] making of law ought to harmonize with a possible kingdom of ends. † 2. 2. 2 Reason versus Happiness: Kantianism recognizes Reason, not happiness or pleasure, is the foundation of moral law. Reason is the faculty of humans, which enables us to choose the principle, or rule on which we act (Griffin 2005, personal communication). The categorical imperative is an underlying moral system based on Reason, the integral link independent of a particular context — it is universal. To understand the basis of morality (the existence of a moral law) you must look for it in the capacity for reason and not in the capacity for pleasure and pain. The very foundation of Kantianism is that you must treat people the way they would consent to you treating them the same way. Your act is universal with no contradictions. Kant considers immorality as the product of individuals trying to create a different standard for themselves compared to the rest of humanity. Immorality ignores the categorical imperative. The Right comes before the Good (happiness); in other words, there are moral constraints on what one may do to promote happiness. One has a duty to obey the moral law, and the moral law is not determined by figuring out what promotes happiness (Griffin 2005, personal communication). You cannot reduce humans to meer means — treating someone is a way in which they would not consent. 3 Case Study Facts 3. 1 Case Study Overview: â€Å"You are employed as a technical communicator by Caduceus Company, a major provider of software systems for the health care industry. Currently, you are working on help-desk instructions for a new software system that operates from a database accumulated from all the records of all the hospitals, clinics, HMOs, laboratories, and physicians in your state. These records carry a good deal of highly personal information on patients and are, of course, private and confidential. The revelation of some of this information to the wrong people could be seriously damaging for those patients. Improper release of this information could, for example, limit their employability, damage their reputations, or restrict their access to health 5 insurance at affordable rates. Part of your job, in fact is to ensure that confidentiality is maintained by all who use the system while preventing access to those who might misuse it. Just yesterday, you learned of some shocking information. While observing the typical daily operation of the help-desk staff in resolving users’ questions, you recognized the name of one of the clients called up on a screen. It is the name of your cousin’s fiance, and the entry indicates that he has tested positive for HIV and has received counseling about HIV and AIDS from a local clinic. You and your cousin are very close, and you are certain that she is unaware that her intended spouse has tested positive for HIV. The marriage is only a few weeks away. She would be highly endangered after marriage but also in their current relations without this knowledge. Do you reveal this information to your cousin but violate the privacy and confidentiality that you have sworn yourself to and are legally obliged to maintain? Or do you keep the information to yourself but jeopardize the health and life of your cousin by preserving the deception by her fiance (Dombrowsky 2000:238). † 3. 2 Choices or Ethical Action: As I understand the case, there are really only three different courses of action to choose from. 3. 2. 1 Do not say anything at all 3. 2. 2 Reveal the truth to your cousin 3. 1. 1. 2. 1 Talk to your cousin 3. 1. 1. 2. 2 Write an anonymous letter to your cousin 3. 2. 3 Confront the potential fiance 3. 1. 1. 3. 1 Talk to the fiance and explain why he needs to tell your cousin 3. 1. 1. 3. 2 Threaten fiance — if you do not tell my cousin I will tell 4 Comparing the Application between Ethical Systems 4. 1 To compare the moral significance of the above stated fact, I will look at the theory behind Utilitarianism and Kantianism to determine which action is the correct action. 4. 1. 1 Application: Utilitarianism 4. 1. 1. 1 According to Dombrowski (2000), he suggests Utilitarianism is the most reasonable ethical approach to take due to the simplistic nature of the principles of the Utilitarian moral law. However, he also recognizes how it is hard to apply measurable, objective costs to the loss of the technician’s job, professional reputation, â€Å"pain, suffering, violated trust, and a broken relationship (Dombrowski 2000:248). † In any case, I attempt to illustrate through the following Table (Table 1) what the Utilitarian application may look like. Table 1. Utilitarianism Cost-Benefit Analysis Choices TOTAL PLEASURE – TOTAL PAIN = TOTAL UTILITY 1. Do not say anything at all Keep job Cousin gets HIV and dies Cousin’s kids get HIV Cousin’s marriage dissolves Lots of pain by cousin = low utility 2. Reveal the truth to your cousin Cousin does not contract HIV and lives Lose job Company loses credibility You can not get a job Lots of pain by technical communicator but cousin does not die = medium to high utility 3. Confront the potential fiance Keep job Cousin does not contract HIV. Fiance is upset by having to discuss with cousin Happiness for technical communicator and cousin, a little pain for fiance = high utility 4. 1. 1. 2 Examining the Table, you can see I have outlined three separate 6 choices, determined the total pleasure, total pain, and total utility. I was unable to determine an objective, absolute number to measure each factor, however, I did rank the total utility by low, medium, and high. As you can see, if the technical communicator chooses not to say anything at all, she would keep her job, but her cousin would most definitely contract HIV and her cousin could die from it or one of her kids could contract the disease. In any case, the cousins’ marriage is most definitely going to dissolve once she finds out that her husband was not open with her from the beginning. Consequently, I ranked the total utility to LOW UTILITY due to the extensive pain the cousin would ultimately endure. The second choice was for the technical communicator to reveal the truth to her cousin either directly or anonymously. The pleasure obtained from this decision would result in the technical communicator’s cousin not contracting HIV and living (as a result of this situation). However, the technical communicator would probably lose her job, the company could lose its credibility and that could effect the jobs of other company employees, and the technical communicator may not be able to find another job because she breached her trust with the client and her company. The total utility, therefore, results in a lot of pain for the technical communicator. Fortunately, the cousin would not contract HIV and increase her risk of dying. Due to the nature of the utility — death versus life, I ranked this decision at MEDIUM to HIHGH UTILITY because the cousin would experience a great deal of happiness that would far exceed the unequal but opposite pain of the technical communicator. The third choice, confront the potential fiance, would result in 7 pleasure for the technical communicator because she could keep her job. In addition, the cousin is able to protect herself from contracting HIV. In contrast, the fiance would be upset by having to discuss this difficult issue with his new wife. Due to these circumstances, I ranked this choice as having VERY HIGH UTILITY. The technical communicator is happy, keeps her job, and does not lose her cousin. Her cousin does not contract a life threatening disease. Yet, the fiance experiences discomfort with having to discuss this relatively important issue with his new wife. Consequently, a Utilitarianist would find this last choice to be the best and most ethically correct choice. Dombrowski (pg. 248) points out how difficult it is to reduce this case to a simple cost-benefit utility analysis for a number of reasons. Yet, the most poignant reason is the inability to neutralize the scenario and avoid the personal relationship the technician has with her cousin. Theoretically, the entire cost-benefit ratio should be the same no matter the personal relationship. However, I suspect your ethical action would tilt in a different direction should your motivations be driven by the patient’s partner. If you do not know the patient’s partner why would you risk your job, home life, and economic security for someone you do not even know. Is it really for the greater good? If so, why not find out everyone who has AIDS and post it on street corners? I am baffled by this strict compliance with the Utilitarian perspective. 4. 1. 2 Application: Kant 4. 1. 2. 1 Kant would argue that we â€Å"should act as we would expect others to act toward us and in way that should have universal applicability (pg. 247). † You must treat people the way they would consent to you treating them the same way. Given that this decision could 8 result in a life-threatening situation, Dombrowski argues that of course the cousin would want to know and would consent to treating them the same way. Dombrowski suggests that this is quite probably a universal ethical law. Yet, Dombrowski also recognizes that â€Å"most people probably would agree that the seriousness of the stakes so heavily tip the ethical scales against the side of blind compliance with the law that the ethical judgement to disclose should be binding on all people in such situations (pg.247). † In this interpretation, the seriousness and/or life threatening properties of the case motivate the Kantian. This interpretation suggests that the Kantian is obligated to the cousin and not to the patient — not because the cousin is a relative or has a special personal relationship to the technician. The technician is obligated to the moral universal law and would tell anyone should they find out. However, Kantian Moral law also says a promise should be kept. So then, the technician’s promise to her profession could take precedence over what appears to be the obvious categorical imperative. Kant might also agree with an ethical course of action where the technician approaches the potential fiance and makes it clear that if he does not tell, she will tell her cousin. In this variation, the categorical imperative recognizes that revealing this information to the cousin is in clear violation with the law. By approaching the potential fiance it also reduces the possible consequences because the outcome will ultimately result in your cousin finding out — but not through you. As a result, the Kantian does not violate the law but also does what is ethically correct. 9 5 Conclusion To summarize, Utilitarianism is an ethical system that proposes that â€Å"the greatest useful goodness for the greatest number of people† should be our guiding principle when making ethical decisions. In contrast, Kantianism suggests that the morally correct action is † an absolute, unconditional requirement that allows no exceptions, and is both required and justified as an end in itself, not as a means to some other end (www. wikipedia. org). † In the Case of Confidentiality, both Utilitarianism and Kantianism found that the best and most correct choice was to confront the fiance. In this scenario, â€Å"the presumed authority for methods & solutions is the profession meaning that personal ethics & religion do not have prima facie authority. † Yet, for the Kantian I think it is hard to figure out how to prioritize the relationships between competing duties (expression of law) — professional promise versus an individual ethics. I also wonder how your promise to your family to protect them and keep them safe plays into this account. However, the Utilitarianism cost-benefit analysis revealed how this ethical tradition takes into account all who are affected by the actions under consideration. As for the Kantian conclusion, the choice represented a universal expression of moral law. In both cases, the personal relationship did not and should not come into play as a significant fact. But I wonder, how this could possibly ever be the case. REFERENCES 2000 Dombrowski, Paul. Ethics in Technical Communication. The Allyn & Bacon Series in Technical Communication: Boston & London. 2005 Griffin, Chris (friendly neighbor Professor of Philosophy). Gratefully summarized Utilitarianism and Kantianism one night at the dinner table. 2005 www. wikipedia. org. Discussions posted on July 25, 2005. 10.