Ethical Analysis Essay:
Analyze a film’s ethical dimensions that include its characters and the story.
First, select a film of available works.
Films for Ethical Analysis Essay:
The Jacket (2005) (R) - A Gulf war veteran is wrongly sent to a mental institution for insane criminals, where he becomes the object of a doctor’s experiments, and his life is completely affected by them. The film centers on a wounded Gulf war veteran who returns to his native Vermont suffering from bouts of amnesia.
Next, view the film and then write a planning document using the following subheadings:
1) Introduction
2) Ethical Analysis.
The planning document should be a minimum of 250 words in length (excluding title and references pages).
Introduction (Film Synopsis) – Recommended one paragraph
Brief film synopsis in your own words that includes the medical ethical dilemma present in the film and what happens in the film, including the ending.
Ethical Analysis – Recommended one to two paragraphs
Identify the ethical theory you have chosen to apply to the film. Briefly explain how the theory you selected applies to the film. Select one:
Virtue Ethics – Core Principles – telos, virtue, eudaimonism
Kantian Ethics – Core Principles – duty, universality, impartiality, reciprocity
Utilitarian Ethics – Core Principles – welfare, impartiality, sum-ranking, consequences
Identify the core principles of the ethical theory that apply to a medical ethical issue present in the film. Briefly explain how at least one of these core principles applies to the medical ethical issue. (You will expand upon this in the final essay and incorporate all of the core principles for your selected theory.)
APA Formatting – Your planning document must be written using APA format (including APA-approved fonts – e.g., Calibri or Times New Roman 12-point fonts). It should be double-spaced and include a title page and references page. Include in-text citations and references as needed for sources that support your work.
Required Citations and References – You will need to provide in-text citation(s) and reference for the film you select as well as course materials (media or readings) you use to inform your planning document. (USLO 7.4)
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Ethical Analysis Essay: The Jacket (2005)
Introduction
“The Jacket” (2005) follows the story of a Gulf War veteran who is wrongly placed in a mental institution for insane criminals. The protagonist becomes a subject of questionable medical experiments conducted by a doctor, leading to significant impacts on his life. The film delves into themes of memory loss, trauma, and the ethical implications of medical interventions in vulnerable populations.
Ethical Analysis
For the ethical analysis of “The Jacket,” I will be applying Virtue Ethics as the chosen ethical theory. Virtue Ethics focuses on the character of the individual and emphasizes traits like courage, honesty, and compassion. In the film, the core principles of Virtue Ethics—telos (purpose), virtue (excellence of character), and eudaimonism (human flourishing)—are particularly relevant.
The medical ethical issue present in the film revolves around the doctor’s decision to subject the protagonist to experimental treatments without his consent, raising questions about autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence. By applying Virtue Ethics to this scenario, we can examine how the doctor’s actions align with virtues such as respect for autonomy, beneficence in seeking the patient’s well-being, and the pursuit of human flourishing through ethical medical practices.
Moreover, exploring how telos plays a role in this narrative can shed light on whether the doctor’s actions were aimed at the patient’s ultimate well-being or if they were driven by other motives. Virtue Ethics challenges us to consider not just the outcomes of actions but also the character and intentions behind them, providing a comprehensive framework for evaluating ethical dilemmas portrayed in “The Jacket.”
In the final essay, I will delve deeper into these core principles of Virtue Ethics, analyzing how they interact with each other to inform ethical decision-making in the context of the film’s medical ethical issues.
Note: The above planning document provides a structured approach to analyzing the ethical dimensions of “The Jacket” using Virtue Ethics. In the final essay, each subheading will be expanded upon to provide a comprehensive ethical analysis of the film.
