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Ethics of Fear in Crisis

The document discusses utilitarian ethics versus Kantian ethics in relation to instilling fear during a crisis like COVID-19. Utilitarian ethics argues that scare tactics are acceptable if they encourage risk-reducing behaviors in large populations at moderate risk to help those at high risk, while Kantian ethics says such tactics could violate moral rights. The document notes that fear appeals were used during COVID-19 to encourage social distancing and argues they can be effective if the message conveys strong fear and efficacy. It also relates that instilling fear was effective for personal discipline growing up but as the author gained knowledge, fear was less needed to determine right from wrong.

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KRISTINE RIO BACSAL
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33 views1 page

Ethics of Fear in Crisis

The document discusses utilitarian ethics versus Kantian ethics in relation to instilling fear during a crisis like COVID-19. Utilitarian ethics argues that scare tactics are acceptable if they encourage risk-reducing behaviors in large populations at moderate risk to help those at high risk, while Kantian ethics says such tactics could violate moral rights. The document notes that fear appeals were used during COVID-19 to encourage social distancing and argues they can be effective if the message conveys strong fear and efficacy. It also relates that instilling fear was effective for personal discipline growing up but as the author gained knowledge, fear was less needed to determine right from wrong.

Uploaded by

KRISTINE RIO BACSAL
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ASSESSMENT 1: THE ETHICS OF FEAR

DIRECTIONS:
On a word document,  answer the following questions in 3, 4 or more sentences. Make sure
to refer to the article attached herein.

o Based on the article, what is the difference between Utilitarian Ethics and Kantian
Ethics?

In Utilitarian Ethics, it consider the thing moral or right when it give the greatest
benefit and happiness to the majority of the people. It is stated in the article where is
argued that scare tactics are acceptable in times of crisis so long as they urge ‘large
population segments, who are at moderate risk, to adopt risk-reducing practices to
influence those who are at high risk. On the other hand, an argument premised on a
Kantian, rights-based moral philosophy. With that might say that if these tactics violate
certain moral and legal rights that people hold inviolable, then such appeals are morally
inappropriate.

o Based on the article, how important is instilling fear to suppress COVID-19 infections?

It is important to instill fear to the people to suppress COVID-19 infections because of


the increasing of cases in the country. As what we observe government enforced social
distancing, lockdown and curfews to help discipline the people to avoid from the infection
of COVID-19. Fear appeals is not new to us, we already experience it since we are child with
our parents. However, some have argued that such campaign are ineffective, there are still
others such as Kim Witte and Mike Allen found that ‘strong fear appeals and high efficacy,
messages produce the greatest behavior change.’

o Based on your personal experience, do you think ‘instilling fear’ is effective to make you
more ‘moral’?

Based on my personal experience, instilling fear is very effective to me back then,


because that it is one way of how my parents discipline us. However, as I grow older and I
have enough knowledge about the things around me, I’m now able to determine the right
and wrong. Nevertheless, I still accept the concept of fear appeal as I cross my journey.

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