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Making Mass Media

One theory that stuck out to me when it comes to the topic of making mass media is the Divine Command theory. This theory is the belief that what’s moral and what’s immoral—is commanded by the divine, whether it's the “Big G”, Judeo—Christian God, or some other deity, or group of gods. People have been going the gods to figure out how to behave since the start of recorded history. Divine Command Theory also solves the grounding problem, even ethical system needs some kind of foundation, and with the Divine Command Theory, it would be God. This continues to address questions about right and wrong, which is why it’s the ethical theory of choice for much of the world. This comes to media by different platforms of that religion explaining their stance on certain issues. Individuals that believe in a certain God; or Gods, can explain their political stance and how that affects they're voting. For example, individuals that are Christians can explain their stance with media on how they feel about abortions and the legalization of gay marriage. Depending on the Divine Command Theory and which God you follow, this dilemma can be expressed out. In all religions; maybe or maybe not, this would be consider uncommon and against morals. Especially in the Bible with the religion of Christianity. As a media consumer I would to watch media that isn��t offensive and delivers fairness to the people that they display. I would want the information to be accurate and make too sure that everyone story is heard. I would want to hear everyones perspective on the same situation.  I would want to be aware of important issues that is going around globally. I would also want to know how we could help not just our own environment but also to help other cities and countries that are not our own. I would also want to see how we can raise awareness for other issues that are harming us. As a media maker, I would follow the same ethics as I would as being a media consumer. I would follow a certain code of ethics such as showing fairness to people. I would use the same methods as I would as a media consumer. Yet I would make sure that not only does the media showcases everyone perspective but also show representation and not misrepresent anyone. This media will showcase everyone no matter their gender or their race. Also as a media maker I would take the initiative to inform what is important for nit just the adults but for children as well. 

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Media Ethics for liberation

This topic is the discussion of Media Ethics for liberation. I feel that the media has a huge role, impact, and dynamic force when it comes to social justice. This can bring awareness to these justices or it can cause even more harm. It can bring awareness with these justices because of the sense of having accessibility and this can bring a sense of community because it can build people together that believe in the same cause. Different people from different cultures, backgrounds, and upbringings can all come together. It also can provide the same opportunities for everyone equally, and because of these opportunities, it can also bring engagement. Engagement between people can be Brough up and can continue with the help of social media as well. This keeps everyone together even when they are far apart and informed within the community. Yet, the responsibility holds a different standard and requirement. The responsibility of it can lead these soil justices to empowerment and standing up for that cause. Yet, these same people that are fighting for these social justices could be the same people that are oppressed. So, the fight for equality might take some time because of the oppression they have to face. Enrique Dussel called these groups of people “other” in 1973. Enrique Dussel is a philosopher born in La Paz, Argentina. These individuals that he called “other” included the poor, women, and indigenous Latin American individuals. In current times, these groups of individuals would be people of color, women, the homeless, the poor, and the LGBTQ community. He states that these are the groups of people that are oppressed will continue to be mistreated and face this type of exploitation. Then, this finally leads to ethical liberation which basically its defined as moral freedom. One example of this in contemporary journalism would be withholding any necessary information. Depending on the situation and what the information is, it could be a danger or a threat to the people involved. It can have a massive affect which could only lead to negative results. The information might be important for the public to know. Another example of contemporary journalism would be plagiarism. To report on the same story wouldn’t necessarily be surprising, especially if it was a huge story. Yet it is entirely different to copy the information and the sources from another news media outlet, because that is uncalled for. 

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The Five Fault Lines

This topic is the discussion of the Five Fault Lines and how they affect the way we view the news and media. The Five Fault Lines have to deal with race, ethnicity, gender, generation, class, and there geography. The Fault line goes even further detail by discussing occupation as well. I’ve decided to go with the news headline of the death of the rapper called Juice Wrld. To give some background on the individual, Juice Wrld was an American rapper born in Chicago, Illinois on December 2, 1998. Yet, he moved to Homewood, Illinois in that next year.  His real name is Jarad Anthony Higgins. He died on December 8, 2019 due to an overdose on Percocet pills. The news outlet I decided to choose is based in the city he was born called, “The Chicago Tribune”. This story discusses the process of how he died and how all the events that eventually led to his death. It doesn’t go into much detail on the Five Fault lines. The only Fault Line details that are discussed is his gender and his occupation.  I think that this story doesn’t necessarily reflect the five fault lines. It has the transgression because it just focuses mainly on how the rapper passed away and how he got to that point. Even though there is a picture of what he looks like, there was no reflection of his race, class, geography, or generation. This new headline doesn’t even state his age or his real name for that matter. It seemed that his life was less important than the entire story. The main focus of the article was the death. I also feel that it reflects some of the fault lines such as the gender and the occupation. Yet it doesn’t get into detail about any of the other fault lines. It doesn’t get into detail about some of the fault lines that it already has. This was handled very discreetly because the passing was overshadowed by some of the other details that was in the news story. Additionally, he story of how he passed also was overshadowing everything else. It could be improved by giving a small description or a small introductory discussing these fault lines. That way if someone is reading or watching this story, that can have an understanding of who the person is. It can also give better knowledge and having awareness to that certain news story. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-juice-wrld-guards-arrested-20191209-sfhqe3cns5hsffhxskrhqfagl4-story.html

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Immanuel Kant and the Categorical Imperatives

This topic has to deal with Immanuel Kant and the Categorical Imperatives. Immanuel Kant is an 18th century German philosopher who thought that religion and morality should be kept apart. In order to determine what rights you have to use reason. This then divides into two imperatives. The first one is Hypothetical Imperatives and the second is Categorical Imperatives. Hypothetical Imperatives commands you must follow if you want something. This was about prudence rather than morality. Categorical Imperatives are commands you must follow, regardless of your desires. Moral obligations are derived from pure reason. This goes into the discussion that you don’t need religion to determine what that law is, because what’s right and wrong is totally knowable just by using your intellect. It can be understood in terms of various formulations. The first formulation is the universalizability principle. You can only act according to that maxim which you can at the same time will that ie should become a universal law without contradiction. Formulation Two is the formula of humanity. This is when you act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end, and never as a mere means. Then it goes into the definition and the explanation of mere. The definition of mere is to use it only for your own benefit, with no thought to the interests or benefit of the thing you’re using. Yet, the video continues to explain that we’re not mere objects that exist to be used by others, were our own ends. We're rational and autonomous. We also have the ability to set our own goals and word toward them. Since the events of 9/11, the United States has taken more precaution when it comes to the safety of their country. The documentary “Control Room”, tells the story of news stations in Al Jazeera. Not only do they cover the news in their own hometown but they also cover news that is in the United States. They cover the invasion of Iraq that happened in the year of 2003. These events happened because of the event of 9/11. It doesn’t necessarily stay focused on one news stations but other news stations as well. Yet, all of them and their main focus is the invasion of Iraq. This also continues into the assumption that their culture has a horrible stigma because of the history that has happened. 

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Extra Credit Post: Utilitarianism and The Newsroom

The final feature that I decided to choose is the show called “Newsroom”. This show is the story about a man named Will McAvoy who is a news-anchor. In the pilot episode, he is at a college witnessing a debate between a democrat and a republican. In the beginning, he avoids any type of question that may seem harmful to the people. So, he would answer it sarcastically or answer the questions with a joke to be humorous. This action reminded me of Act Utilitarianism. In any given situation, you should choose the action that produces the greatest good. Another form of utilitarianism is rule utilitarianism. This is the version of the theory that says we ought to live by rules that, in general, are likely to lead to the greatest good for the greatest number. Yet, everything changes and goes downhill when he answers a question pertaining to the current state of America. While answering this question he insults both political parties and the women who asks the question. This instance and situation reminded me of the term Utilitarianism. This is a moral theory that focuses on the results, or consequences, of our actions, and treats intentions as irrelevant. Utilitarianism also agrees that a moral theory should apply equally to everyone. This term was such a reminder because Will was entirely opposite to that definition. He didn’t understand what he had done and dint understand the consequences right after everything was said. He only understands the repercussions when he notices almost his whole entire staff is gone. Yet, when he first walks in the room, he initially doesn’t notice. He was so focused on what he had to do,  that he wasn’t focused on any one else. Then a former employee took the time to explain why his staff suddenly didn’t want to work for him any more. Will combated and argued in the situation because he thought the reason for it was for the question he answered rudely. Utilitarianism continues to refer that it is lines that good people do not cross. Yet, he continues to do that and to make the situation worse, he crosses that line even with his former employees. He doesn’t truly realize that it's actually his demeanor, personality, and his attitude that make people not willing to work with him. They used his interview as a scapegoat to stop working for him all together.

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Extra Credit Post: Nightcrawler and The Code Of Ethics

Another film I decided to chose was “The Nightcrawler” staring Jake Gyllenhaal. This tells the story of a young man (who is portrayed by Gyllenhaal) desperate for a line of work. Yet the process it takes for him to get into this type of work wasn’t necessarily honest. He stole things to get where he needed to be at. He used the items he stole as a stepping stone to obtain the items he needs for work and employment. Then he stumbles upon a line of crime journalism. All the events that happened, this movie gave me the impression of the code of ethics. The definition for the code of ethics is that it is a guide of principles designed to help professionals conduct business honestly and with integrity. Code of ethics also has a set of principles of conduct within an organization that guide decision making and behavior. The objective for the main character was to do anything and everything to get whatever story it could be. The main character went to certain extents, and total extremes when it came to getting the story that he needed. He destroyed any and almost every type of ethics there is. One type of ethic he abused was the invasion of privacy. Each and very journalist respected the boundary and the space of the victim. Yet, the main character did not. He would get as close as he possibly could no matter the distance. Even when bystanders would tell him to back off, he would still push that boundary. Yet, he didn’t stop there. He defied the code of ethics by not showing fairness to the people he worked with. He continued to overstep this by threatening with one of the women he worked with. He has no accountability when it come to being fair. He took his crime journalism so far that it even made the company he was selling his footage to question his ethics. Just how far exactly is too far? For him, it didn’t matter whatsoever. To continue, he sins show diligence as he moved a dead body for his own personal gain. E used the body to get a better angle for his footage. He even went out of his way to defeat his competition by causing permeant damage to the computer’s vehicle. It became worse when the computer was inured because of the damage from the car, and the main character proceed to film that footage as well. 

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Extra Credit Post: Virtue Theory & The Zodiac

The journalist movie I chose for this was “Zodiac” starring Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, and Jake Gyllenhaal. This tells the story of how investigators, reporters, and the cops come together to figure out exactly who the Zodiac killer is. The Zodiac Killer is known for various killings in the California area. His known signature was his As I was watching this film, it reminded me of the idea of virtue theory. Virtue theory is an ethical theory that emphasizes an individuals character rather than following a set of rules. This also pertains to the idea of hind virtue. This is a skill and a way of living. It is also something that can only be learned through experience. Virtue is between the extreme of excess and the extreme of deficiency. So there is no middle or no in between. Reporters and the investigators focus on the character of the Zodiac killer by investigating patterns that he makes and interpreting the letters he sends in to the reporters. Eventually, they discover that his killings is similar to the individual of Count Zaroff. Yet, it seems that the main focal point is the killer focuses on not doing the right thing but doing the thing he thinks or believes is right. Then the topic of natural law theory comes into play. This is the idea that God made us with the tools we need to know what’s good. Yet, the film portrays the exact opposite of that when it came into the reporters and their own dilemma. One example, is the decision for the reporters to release information that the Zodiac killer wanted to be out for the public. That dilemma was eventually faced with reality because then this information was released for the safety of the public. This would be an example of proper functioning. This is when a thing is good to the extent that it fulfills its function and bad to the extent that it doesn’t. Having this virtue just means doing the right thing at the right time, in the right way, in the right amount, toward the right people. This reflects the assumption that humans have a fixed nature.  The film continues to also have the portrayal of Eudamonia from the killer. This is a life well lived with human flourishing. The killer gave the portrayal of having a sort of pleasure when executing his victims. 

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Aristotle Redux & Virtue Theory

The topic for this for this week has to deal with the concept of the Aristotle redux and the Virtue Theory. The YouTube video gives the explanation of what the two concepts are and further discusses the concepts of it. The Virtue Theory is the ethical theory that emphasizes an individuals character rather than following a set of rules. This theory has no categorical imperative or any principle of utility. Yet we can just focus on being good people, the right actions will follow effortlessly. It reflects the ancient assumption that humans have a fixed nature. We as people flourish by adhering to that nature. This continues onto the subject further by stating about proper functioning. Proper functioning is a thing that is good to the extent that it fulfills its function and is bad to the extent it doesn’t. This continues into the concept of Natural Law Theory. This is the concept of God making us with the tools we need to know what’s good. Having virtue just means doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way, in the right amount, towards the right people. Then virtue is the spot in the middle between the extreme excess and the extreme deficiency. Virtue is in between the idea of vice which has defiance and vice which has excess. Virtue is the golden mean between it. This is a skill, a way of living, and that’s something that can only really be learned through experience. People that posses this virtue are moral exemplars. This goes into the definition of Eudaimonia. This is a life well lived  and its flourishing with individuals. This is also life of pushing yourself to your limits and finding success. This life will be full of happiness that comes from achieving something really difficult, rather than just having it handed it to you. This concept applies to the movie “Deadline USA” because of the virtue theory. Yet, this theory isn’t shown because of the danger and the exposure the journalist deal with. The man in charge, who is Ed Hutcherson, takes all his energy, time, and effort to cover the story on Rienzi. He even sends more journalists to cover on the story, which leads to one of being being injured and eventually leading to his death. He efforts seem to be a waste of time even with people informing that it is. 

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More DIY Code of Ethics

This weeks topic has to deal with more of the DIY code of ethics. This time it is pertaining to the topics of diversity, hate speech, mental health and suicide, naming suspects, obscenities, privacy, race and gender, and sensational material. The definition of Privacy is the condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people. This has to deal with the expectation of that the individuals that are in the media will have their privacy respected and not tainted in the public. Yet, with social media and platforms that expose this, it is hard whether to decide if something is private or not. Privacy concerns also raise the fact that entertainers, actresses, and comedians that are in the entertainment industry, may not have a lot of privacy. It is because their work, social, and personal lives are out for everyone to see, hear, and judge off of. Yet, even wit just individuals that have nothing to do with that industry, some of their personal lives is broadcasted because of social outlets online. This raises the concern of what is consider private and wha is not considered private? This can make interviews harder for journalists because there is a possibility of overstepping boundaries. The next code of ethics would be race and gender. Each and every individual has their own race and gender, yet in some examples, it may or may nit be relevant to say what their race and gender is. It would be relevant for polls and statistics to display what different races and genders are voting for, or what they are interested in. Race and gender could also be necessary for research purposes so a journalist could report on that aspect. To continue, it would be important to report on race and gender if there was an accomplishment. If it was a first woman vice president or a first latino president, it would be important to report and broadcast the race and gender. This situation can inform individuals of the progress that we are making as a country and as a nation. Then it can continue to grow and it can showcase not only they can do it, but and individual watching it can do it too. It can give that sense of representation once it is viewed in the media. In any other situation, it wouldn’t be important to report on race and gender if it has no relevance.

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Contractarianism

The topic for this week has to deal with the concept of Contractarianism. The youtube video goes into deeper topic about the idea of Contractarianism and the contracts that go along with it. The definition also for this, states that the right acts are those that do not violate the free, rational agreements that we’ve made. This concept also goes into detail about how it can trade in some freedom for the benefits that come out of cooperative living. Both parties want something and we make an explicit contract that we both believe will result in us being better off. This belief and set up eventually leads into the idea of implicit contracts. This is contacts that we never actually agreed to, but just sort of find ourselves in. The rights imply obligations, so when you take from common pot— by enjoying the goods that the system provides—you’re also expected to pay in. The video also goes into some well detail on  the definition of defection. This is when you break the contract you’re in other you agreed to be in it or not and you decide to look after your own interests, instead of cooperating. The video goes into explanation how it is a moral outrage for someone who freely makes an agreement they didn’t have to make, and then violates it because, our whole society is built on the trust that people will keep their word. This concept of defection has major influence when it comes into the film “Live from Baghdad”. The main character Robert Weiner and the crew that he is reporting with broke rules just to have an exclusive story for their news network CNN. Once their actions have been noticed, the interviews that may have happened have been cancelled. Robert and his crew broke some of the rules. It seemed that because of the access they had, they saw an opportunity to cover more ground and they used to their advantage. Despite the fact that this happens, they continue to go even further when filming the bombings that are actually happening. They actually take the time to actually livestream the events so the people in the States can know firsthand what is going on. Not only does this break even more rules, the journalists are risking their lives to get the coverage that they need. The consequences leaves them with the footage that they need but the crew itself is left with these traumatizing events. 

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Utilitarianism

The topic for this week is the concept of Utilitarianism. The youtube video explains that this has the expectation of lines that good people do not cross. Utilitarianism is the moral theory that focuses on the results or consequences, of our actions, and treats intentions as irrelevant. It is agreed that a moral theory should apply equally to everyone, and it is a hedonistic moral theory. To continue, the good is equal to the pleasant, and morally to pursue pleasure and happiness and wok to avoid pain. To pressure pleasure and happiness, it can’t just be just for ourselves, but for other people and individuals as much as possible. Utilitarianism also discusses several other concepts that have to deal with this topic of having morals and having good values. One concept is called Act Utilitarianism, which is in any given situation, you should choose the action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number. Another concept is called kantianism which is sticking to the moral rulebook. It has no exceptions no excuses for violation of the moral rules. The last concept would be Rule Utilitarianism which allows us to refrain from acts that might maximize utility in the short run, and instead follow rules that will maximize utility for the majority of the time. With that being said, what exactly does this have to do with “Reportero”? The journalist in the this film take the effort and the time to report on stories that other reporters wouldn’t necessarily report. These journalists actually take the time to sacrifice everything including their lives to report on dangerous crimes. The journalists have even died in the hands of people that they are reporting on because of the risks they are taking. Yet, this doesn’t stop some of them because they feel that the public has to know what is going on in their community. Despite all the danger, they feel that it is in their morality that people should have access to that information. Even at one point in the film, the government had control over all the newspapers and they controlled on what should be put out in the public stands. Yet, some journalists didn’t feel that way and decided to break out on their own. The government had no control and they were able to publish whatever they wanted, including their own politics, despite the fact that they were only able to sell their work in other parts of the country. 

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DIY: Code of ethics

The code of ethics as states in earlier posts, all have a different dilemma depending on the people and the company. The company themselves could ask an individual to obtain or do a certain task for them. Yet, for the individual, this dilemma could be difficult because it might affect their morals and their own code of ethics. In each code of ethics are different topics ad different issues that can help or hurt the company. Different topics will bring different issues whether the object is problematic or not. One example, of this would be covering children for interviewing. Children are considered a symbol of innocence and purity. Once a child commits an adult crime, all that innocence and purity is taken away from them, and yet some individuals still seem them with those qualities. Ethics comes into the situation by handling crimes that have to deal with children. When children are involved, would it be morally right or correct to feature them in the news? We know that children are still minors and react technically adults, but should we give them the same rights as children or as adults? Children may have committed the crime and are normally charged as adults for the crime, but should they have those same right as adults charged for the crime? Another discussion towards this would be online commenting. Online commenting might have to be censor because it can lead to being inappropriate. The comments can continue to be offensive and derogatory. Yet, based on the Second Amendment, we have the freedom of speech. Yet, there is some speech that we aren’t allowed to say because of offensive and derogatory commentary. Online Commenting is an ongoing issue that belittles people and discourages individuals no matter what the post or what the concern is. The last concern would be the actual interview process itself. Some questions may be acceptable depending on the context, yet some other questions could be borderline unsuitable and distasteful. Should the individual that’s being interviewed know the questions beforehand? That situation might work out better but it might not be a “true” definition of an interview. It’s almost as if you know the questions and the answers to a test before actually receiving the test. The person going the interview cold actual ask the interviewee what they deem appropriate and inappropriate to ask before they can proceed with the entire process. 

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The Natural Law

This weeks discussion goes into the topic of Natural Law and how this pertains to The Black Press: Soldiers without Swords. This film had a deep resonation with me because of the history of African Americans breaking out into journalism and using that as their platform. I feel that it is always incredible to see how our ancestors thrived and made certain goals that they had flourish. To able to use the technology that we have today, to read and watch the history that has happened is always an opportunity. We can use what they learned and teach it to our future generations. If it wasn’t for them, I would not have the same opportunities that I have today. Also, that platform helped with other African Americans around the United States have their own newspaper outlets. You can see the hard work and the effort they put themselves into. Yet, even though we see the greatness from that history, you can also witness the negativity and bigotry as well. Some parts where difficult to watch because of the hatred and ignorance towards African Americans. Even when they tried to voice their opinions, these people with hatred would Lynch them with no reason or cause. But what exactly does this have to do with natural law? Natural Law theory is based on the idea that God wants us to want things—specifically, good things. Natural Law also discusses on how it has seven basic goods. Which is life, reproduction, educate one’s offspring, seek God, live in society, avoid offense, and to shun ignorance. The video discusses that Aquinas argued that God created the world according to natural laws—predictable, goal-driven systems whereby life is sustained, and everything functions accordingly. To continue, natural law also discusses that sometimes, we seek what we think is good, but we’re wrong, because we’re just ignorant. Once you witness a group of people doing something, whether it is right or wrong, an individual tends to follow suit because they don’t want to be seen as an outsider. We feel shame and guilt when we do things that cause our group to turn against us. The video further discusses that we see what we should do, but emotion overpowers our reason and we fail to do the things we know we should. It is fallacious to assume that just because something is a certain way, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is ought to be that way.

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The Divine Command Theory

This section has to deal with the Divine Command Theory. The Divine Command Theory explains that it is the belief that what’s moral and what’s immoral is commanded by the divine. This also solves the grouping problem and every ethical system needs some kind of foundation and with the divine command theory, it’s God. It also addresses many of our biggest questions about right and wrong, which is why it is the ethical theory of choice for such of the world. This theory is evident when it comes in the movie “Spotlight”. The story is that reporters from Boston, Massachusetts are exposing catholic priest are sexual abusing children in their church. The people know that it is morally wrong but they never ever seem to report it because of their morality with their faith. They run into multiple dilemmas. Dilemma is a situation in which you’re forced to choose between two options, both of which lead to unpleasant results. They have the dilemma of reporting their priest because of what happened, but in the same situation, it’s a priest. The priest is looked up as a good morality type of figure that everyone can believe in and trust. The Divine Command Theory furthers explains that no matter who you think wrote that manual, many people feel that, in order for morality to really be binding for it to be something we all have to adhere too, and it can only originate with God. The priest is a representation of them being close to that higher power or too that higher being. These journalist do every thing in their power to expose these priest but yet certain people that still believe in that divine command theory, so they do everything they can so these priest aren’t exposed. It continues throughout the movie with “The Euthyro Problem”. This problem consists of two questions. Are right actions right because God commands them? Also, are right actions commanded by God because they are right? The first questions states that you are accepting that God’s command alone is simply what makes any situation right. Whatever God says is to be right and true, no matter what the situation or the circumstance. The second questions states that there are things that God can’t command at all. It is either you believe in the morality of God and continue to follow what He has set, or you follow your own morals on what you believe is right or wrong. 

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Metaethics

What is right and what is wrong? For many individuals this question would have a simple answer but for others, this hold too much of a bearing. This is where the definition of ethics comes into play. Ethics is the definition of the branch of philosophy that studies morality or the right and wrong behavior. The meta ethics video explains the grounding problem of ethics is the search for a foundation for our moral beliefs, something solid that would make them true in a way that is clear, objective, and unmoving. To continue, moral realism is the belief that there are moral facts in the same way that there are scientific facts. In Journalism, this becomes more evident as the job hinders your moral belief to put out the sort or to protect the party involved. In News Wars Part 3, the viewer can see when the journalist have to deal with when it come to ethics, moral realism, moral antirealism, and the utilitarianism. They have to deal with what is ethically right and what is ethically is wrong. Yet, what is consider right and wrong can vary from person to person and can vary from culture, gender country, etc. This information will always portray a big factor when it comes to reporting the news for all of the masses to see and hear. Also with social media the news can come at an even faster rate. What could be considered ethically wrong in one culture, could be ethically right in another culture. Which is why ethics comes into play with journalism and how it can be conflicting press and news. The dilemma of chasing to out a story out vs keeping it under wraps because of the consequence has to deal with the ethics and what exactly does the story contain. The story can contain information that van hurt other people in the process or it could help people in the same predicament. It just all depends on what the story is about and what kind of people are involved. Moral antirealism is the belief that moral propositions don’t refer to objective features of the world at all, that there are no moral facts, and nothing about gratuitous violence that’s inherently wrong. The video also continues to state that all ethical theories have some kind of starting assumptions, which shouldn’t be surprising because of of our beliefs. Then finally, Utilitarianism relies on the starting assumption that all beings share a common desire to seek pleasure and to avoid pain. 

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Hedonism vs. Eudaimonia

To begin with, the the definitions of Hedonism and Eudaimonia should be defined. Hedonism is defined as the pursuit of pleasure. Eudaimonia is defined as flourishing type of happiness. The YouTube video Hedonism and Eudaimonia goes into a deeper explanations of these two types of pleasure. Hedonism has been described as a sweet addicting type of a happiness. It has the influence to do things repeatedly because of the brain having its own reward system that influences you to do it. That influence is called dopamine and it is released by nucleus accumbent. Dopamine also influences individuals to do things repeatedly. The neurons in our brain help regulate these dopamine levels so that individuals don’t experience this type of pleasure on a constant base. Yet, anyone can be addicted to anything that boost theses dopamine levels. There are some factors that block these neurons. For example, cocaine and heroin block these neurons so individuals feel that consistent pleasure every time they take these drugs. Eudaimonia is a flourishing type of pleasure. This type of pleasure lets an individual experience the ups and downs where as Hedonism only lets an indium experience the ups. Eudaimonia also has the win and lose mentality and the mentality of how to figure out the most ethical goals in life. Instead of “yolo” you only live once, its “yoli” you only live infinitely. So, with these definitions the movie “Citizen Kane” gives the impression of Hedonism. It begins with how Charles Foster Kane was a success because of the empire he built from his Newspapers. The narrator continues on how Kane has an “empire on empire” because of the success he built. Yet, as the film continues on Kane displays elements of Eudaimonia as he is talking with Thatcher. He explains that if the company hits a low then he will continue with whatever work he is doing. Kane says to Thatcher, “As such its my duty, I’ll let you in on a little secret. It is also my pleasure to see that working people of this community aren’t robbed by a pack of money mad pirates, just because they have no one to look after their interests.” Yet, as the film continues the Hedonism come into the film once again when Kane tries to gain his pleasure by being with another woman. He ends up maintaining it as a secret until he is caught by his wife and his campaign is ruined. That Hedonism pleasure continues more and more throughout the film. 

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