Storm Over Everest (May 13, 2008) short essay ethical system analysis

Storm Over Everest (May 13, 2008) short ethical system analysis - Essay Example A team was hired to be a guide in an expedition in one of the highest mountains on earth. Near the summit, passed the mountain’s death zone, one of the clients passed out. Everyone in the team is too weak to carry the client; they are almost running out of time, and a storm is already on its way. In addition to the weak client, the most experienced leader and the weakest climber is also in their weakest state, and is already showing signs of High Altitude Cardio Edema (HACE). The team only has one injection of Dexamethasone (Dex), which will slightly help only one of the three weak people to ease his or her pain. Each person in the team is left with one tank of oxygen, which is only good for four hours; however, the steep descend will take the team six hours. It is up to a member to decide to stay with the client or continue to descend. In the Kantian perspective or in ethical formalism, good will is the only thing that is good. Good actions done out of good will, whatever the results may be is a moral act, and whatever you do wrong, even with a good result is still not moral (Pollock, 2012). In the scenario above, the other members must continue to descend to camp. You should stay with the client who had passed out in order to look after him or her. The Dex must also be injected to the client who had passed out because he needs it the most. In the utilitarian perspective, an act must consider the whole and not just an individual. In this system, it is allowed to harm a person or a small part of the whole for the goodness and benefit of the remaining or bigger parts (Pollock, 2012). In the scenario above, if the utilitarianism ethics is used, the client who had passed out and the weakest climber must be left behind by the team for a lesser burden on the other members. This action will allow the others to descend faster and will also be able to maximize their oxygens. The Dex will also be injected to the most