Confucius’s Golden Mean model for ethical decision-making main
focus is maintaining equilibrium with the world. “Let the states of equilibrium
and harmony exist in perfection, and happy order will prevail throughout heaven
and earth, and all things will be nourished and flourish” (Christians, Fackler, Richardson,
Kreshel, & Woods Jr., 2012, p. 12). Keeping a balance in one’s life is
what Confucius believed was important when trying to maintain a happy and
healthy life. An example of that is when one looks at their dietary needs. One
must maintain a well balanced diet to stay healthy. When it comes to the body
one can have too much of a good thing such as milk, when one drinks too much milk
at one time they will vomit. Thus keeping equilibrium is an important part of
life as Confucius believed.
Kant’s Categorical Imperative model is based off of the golden
rule that states, “Do unto others as you would have done unto you” (Matthew, A.D., Matthew 7:12). He believed that to check one’s
decision and its principle one should think about if they would want that
decision to be universal to all people. Along with this belief he also believed
that there were higher truths that were right universal and for all people,
that people should follow these truths no matter the circumstances. For example
is it wrong to cheat, steal, or lie in any kind of situation. (Christians et al., 2012)
In Islam’s Divine Commands the soul command is the god Allah, the
monotheistic Muslim religion. According to the Tawhid, the writing rules of the
religion, “Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting all that is
good, and forbidding what is wrong” (Qur’an 3:104). Meaning to “Commanding to
the right and prohibiting from the wrong” (Christians et al., 2012, p. 14)
which is one of the more well known Islamic precepts. Human dignity is another
one of the main principals in the Muslim religion, along with being truthful.
With the three main principles being justice, human dignity, and truth it
covers almost every dilemma a person may encounter. (Christians et al., 2012)
All three of these models are good to follow and seem like they
would work well together. While as we know following Confucius’s model by
having a balanced like is very necessary to maintain a happy and healthy life,
one must also consider others when they are making decisions. Kant’s model
shows us that before we make a decision on whether things are right or wrong we
need to consider them to apply to everyone first, including oneself. Then with
one ads Islam’s Divine Commands to honor human dignity, be truthful, and keep
things just it completes when one needs to do to live an overall morally sound
life.
Confuscius’s Golden Mean, Kant’s Categorical Imperative, and
Islam’s Divine Command are three models that offer assistance for people to
guild their lives. Because life can be difficult to know what is right and
wrong to do it often times makes it easier to have a guiding principle for
people to follow. Sometimes even learning a variety of different models can
help someone guild themselves in the life that they believe is right and true
for them. Overall everyone must choose their own path whether they
intentionally choose or not.
References
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