Final answer:
Ethical tests in morality revolve around reconciling the value of individual freedoms, such as freedom of speech, with societal harm. Philosophers like Rawls and Kant provide frameworks for ethical decision-making, which focus on equality, individual respect, and the greater good. Perfectionism ties into well-being by associating it with personal development through ethical behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ethical Tests and Moral Principles in Decision-Making
When discussing the ethical tests applied to moral arguments, such as the value of freedom of speech, one must consider various cases where these principles might conflict with other societal values, such as in the case of allowing child erotica on the internet. In this scenario, the test of making something public, also referred to as the public disclosure test, is powerful because it asks us to consider the implications of an action if it were known by all. The concept highlights the balance between individual freedoms and the potential harm to others.
Additionally, the writings of Rawls and Kant provide frameworks for ethical decision-making. Rawls's maximum-minimum principle guides us to consider the impact of actions on the least advantaged, while Kant emphasizes treating individuals as ends in themselves, not mere means. These philosophical ideas help navigate contemporary ethical dilemmas, ensuring considerations are logical, coherent, and equitable.
Perfectionism, as another philosophical idea, ties the concept of well-being to the notion of self-betterment. For persons like Aquinas and Spinoza, human flourishing involves the pursuit of one's highest good, which is often understood as becoming a better version of oneself through ethical actions and character development.