First some definitions. Ethics are a set of moral principals that govern behavior. Deontology defines ethical behavior as that which follows a moral code without regard for the outcome. Teleological ethics judge the final outcome, not the methods used to get there.
I'm sure this all sounds obscure, but I've seen two good examples this week of teleological ethics and judging by my reaction to them, I think I know where I stand.
According to the email, 25% of the $20 t-shirt price goes to fund "translational women's cancer research." That's a buzzword for a branch of research that seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and having an impact on women's lives. A worthy cause indeed.
However, I emailed back with my normal arguments about how this contributes to a malaise about the truth of breast cancer, how the emphasis on breasts is harmful to those of us who had them removed, how saving a woman's life should be more important than "boobies." The woman who wrote me responded with empathy, but this was her final line.
The Noreen Fraser Foundation and Threadless collaborated on this design, which we believe lends an irreverent note to a very serious discussion. The tee itself is intended as an attention-getter; the funds raised by the tee are destined for a worthy nonprofit.So, I wonder, is this ok? Does the harm this does outweigh any potential good money raised by the sales of these t-shirts might do?
2. The Atlanta anti-obesity billboard campaign has made national news. Here is one of the billboards.
I've been involved in discussions with people on facebook and I see one of two responses. On one side, there is outrage that children are being shamed this way and that this emboldens bullies and prejudice against obesity. The other side points out the health crisis of obesity and says that bold action needs to be taken to get people's attention. Basically, that since I am talking about it here, it's a good campaign because it started a conversation.
I'm sure you can identify my bias here. Neither of these "ends justify the means" arguments sit well with me. Harming people in pursuit of helping them makes me squirm. The phrase DOING GOOD BADLY keeps coming to mind.
What do you think?
9 comments:
attention-getter I can give them One of Those.I want to do Play-Boy!
I Saved My LIFE,Not My BOOBS!!
In a free society, you could organize your own initiative, collect resources, and speak out in the other direction. Like what you're doing here, or on a scale similar to the above group.
In a controlled society, special interest groups get govt to prohibit one of the two perspectives.
Sigh. So true, fordmw. I don't like 'the ends justify the means' arguments. In a perfect world, we would not have to negotiate this slippery slope, ever. It crops up in everything from war, legislation, healthcare and cancer treatment, social programs, and fundraising.
But since it is a rampantly used strategy, it is up to the rest of us to point out the harm caused by "the means," which we all know so often causes more harm than any "end" can undo.
Ends justify the means? But what is the "end" here? Saving "boobies" or saving lives? I find the messaging on this t-shirt surprising especially since Noreen Fraser herself is dealing with metastatic cancer and has no boobies to save. But I guess that doesn't work well on a fun gimmicky Tshirt. *sigh*.
Is "Doing good badly" an excuse for taking the easy way out? May be. As a woman, I'm not keen on other women using a 13-year-old's language to describe our bodies. If we describe ourselves in this way, we can't be offended when men do this. Sigh.... Yes!
I am always offended when it comes to refocusing the discussion of disease to be more attractive to the masses to raise funds. The sexualization of breast cancer is as demeaning as it gets and also sends the erroneous message that by somehow saving a breast, the disease is cured. The "anything for money" line doesn't pass the ethics test.
Thanks for pointing this out.
Damn good post, Katie. That Boobies T-Shirt and the ad against bullying both seem uncalled for. Regarding the boobies thing, I wish society would be focused on finding a cure for breast cancer than oogling breasts. Ridiculous.
I don't think this shirt is meant to be "demeaning" in any way. Quite honestly, I think it does a great job at tapping into that younger demographic that otherwise might not have given breast cancer a second thought...and not just because it raises funds for a charity, but because it serves as a reminder for young women to get TESTED. It's not about "saving a breast", it's about prevention.
I can definitely see where you are coming from though. The subject of health can be sensitive. This is a very thought-provoking post.
Anon... getting tested (which I assume you mean a mammogram) is not the same thing as prevention. A mammogram can only detect a cancer that's already there, and even then they're not very good at it for young people. And on the topic of ethics, the intentions are not the issue -- it's the means vs. the ends.
Katie
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