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My Answers to HW4Case, Q3
Oct. 26th, 2022 09:22 pmQ3. Write up your case on your blog with the following subheadings:
“The facts of the case.” Here is where you describe the case in your own words.
“Analysis.” Examine the case in terms of the questions.
“My conclusions.” Your conclusions and opinions about the case. Be sure to explain and justify what you write. 3 sentences of average length or more.
“Future environment.” Describe your vision of a future in which technology is more advanced than today, or society has changed in some significant way, such that the ethical issues of the case would be even more important than they are in today’s world. 3 sentences of average length or more.
“Future scenario.” Describe how this ethical case (or an analogous one) would or should play out in the environment of the future, and give your opinions about it. 3 sentences of average length or more.
Answer:
The facts of the case.
The Code of Hammurabi was the earliest known set of codified laws. It was started by a king of Babylon, King Hammurabi who ruled from the years of 1792 B.C to 1750 B.C. The set of laws had 282 edicts for a wide range of ethical dilemmas. It was rediscovered in 1901 by French engineer Jacques de Morgan who found it in an ancient Persian kingdom. The laws found on it bear a striking resemblance to laws outlined in the Old Testament. It can now be found on display in the Louvre in Paris.
Analysis.
I believe through the discussion had it can be found that the Code of Hammurabi was not ethical. The Code did not treat everyone fairly and harbored favoritism for the rich. On a historical perspective, discussion has revealed that I was wrong and it is not the earliest known codified system of laws, merely the oldest that was kept in the best condition. Although not ethical, the system of laws was the best that could be come up with in ancient times as they lacked much of modern technology and philosophy that most of the world can access from their fingertips. Even though it may have been the best they could come up with, it was still cruel and barbaric.
Conclusions.
In conclusion the Code of Hammurabi was a flawed, cruel, and barbaric method of handling law disputes. If you were to take a utilitarianist perspective then you might could say it was ethical, but the severity of punishments and bias would prove otherwise. They did what the could at the time but it should no means be a system to look to when developing modern day systems of law.
Future Environment.
The future I imagine is one in which the world has more advanced technology and a greater access to varying philosophy and opinions. It is more diverse, accepting, and merciful. The future I'm talking about is the one we're already living in. The differences in society are vast from the one that created the Code of Hammurabi and solving the matter of a crime is much more complex than cutting off a thief's hand on the spot.
Future scenario.
Say a surgeon is required to perform surgery on an important political figure who was in an accident. The surgeon performs to the best of his ability yet despite all of his skill the person still dies. Since the patient was rich and important, under the Code of Hammurabi his hands would be cut off, but in this future environment if someone were to accuse him of killing him on purpose it would be more complicated than that. There would be a trial, various factors would be looked at, and in the end at worst he would be imprisoned. So the barbaric practices that were put into place by the Code of Hammurabi and it's influences would not be felt.
“The facts of the case.” Here is where you describe the case in your own words.
“Analysis.” Examine the case in terms of the questions.
“My conclusions.” Your conclusions and opinions about the case. Be sure to explain and justify what you write. 3 sentences of average length or more.
“Future environment.” Describe your vision of a future in which technology is more advanced than today, or society has changed in some significant way, such that the ethical issues of the case would be even more important than they are in today’s world. 3 sentences of average length or more.
“Future scenario.” Describe how this ethical case (or an analogous one) would or should play out in the environment of the future, and give your opinions about it. 3 sentences of average length or more.
Answer:
The facts of the case.
The Code of Hammurabi was the earliest known set of codified laws. It was started by a king of Babylon, King Hammurabi who ruled from the years of 1792 B.C to 1750 B.C. The set of laws had 282 edicts for a wide range of ethical dilemmas. It was rediscovered in 1901 by French engineer Jacques de Morgan who found it in an ancient Persian kingdom. The laws found on it bear a striking resemblance to laws outlined in the Old Testament. It can now be found on display in the Louvre in Paris.
Analysis.
I believe through the discussion had it can be found that the Code of Hammurabi was not ethical. The Code did not treat everyone fairly and harbored favoritism for the rich. On a historical perspective, discussion has revealed that I was wrong and it is not the earliest known codified system of laws, merely the oldest that was kept in the best condition. Although not ethical, the system of laws was the best that could be come up with in ancient times as they lacked much of modern technology and philosophy that most of the world can access from their fingertips. Even though it may have been the best they could come up with, it was still cruel and barbaric.
Conclusions.
In conclusion the Code of Hammurabi was a flawed, cruel, and barbaric method of handling law disputes. If you were to take a utilitarianist perspective then you might could say it was ethical, but the severity of punishments and bias would prove otherwise. They did what the could at the time but it should no means be a system to look to when developing modern day systems of law.
Future Environment.
The future I imagine is one in which the world has more advanced technology and a greater access to varying philosophy and opinions. It is more diverse, accepting, and merciful. The future I'm talking about is the one we're already living in. The differences in society are vast from the one that created the Code of Hammurabi and solving the matter of a crime is much more complex than cutting off a thief's hand on the spot.
Future scenario.
Say a surgeon is required to perform surgery on an important political figure who was in an accident. The surgeon performs to the best of his ability yet despite all of his skill the person still dies. Since the patient was rich and important, under the Code of Hammurabi his hands would be cut off, but in this future environment if someone were to accuse him of killing him on purpose it would be more complicated than that. There would be a trial, various factors would be looked at, and in the end at worst he would be imprisoned. So the barbaric practices that were put into place by the Code of Hammurabi and it's influences would not be felt.
