Discussion: ETHC 445 Majority Think

Discussion: ETHC 445 Majority Think

Discussion: ETHC 445 Majority Think

ETHC445
Principles of Ethics

Week 2
Discussion

MAJORITY THINK

American writer Mark Twain warned that
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to
pause and reflect.” This is a common sentiment that we experience at
different points throughout our lives. It is likely that your parents warned
you “not to follow the crowd,” or your school counselors warned you
about “peer pressure.”

The United States utilizes a democratic
republic form of government, which espouses the “majority rule” in
many instances. For example, when passing laws, Congress and state Legislators
use majority voting. When electing our officials, the majority rules. But, is
our government unethical?

This week’s discussion will examine
majority findings or rules:

The great majority of people seem to find
nothing objectionable about the use of commercials in children’s television
programming. Yet a distinguished panel commissioned by the National Science
Foundation found reason to disagree. After reviewing 21 relevant scholarly
studies, they concluded:

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It is clear from the available evidence
that television advertising does influence children. Research has demonstrated
that children attend to and learn from commercials, and that advertising is at
least moderately successful in creating positive attitudes toward and the
desire for products advertised. The variable that emerged most clearly across
numerous studies as a strong determinant of children’s perception of television
advertising is the child’s age. Research clearly establishes that children
become more skilled in evaluating television advertising as they grow older,
and that to treat all children from 2 to 12 as a homogenous group masks
important, perhaps crucial differences.

Do you think the majority view is correct
in this case? What difference would it make that a majority thinks this way?

Do you think the use of commercials in
children’s television programming raises any ethical questions? Explain your
reasoning.

Do you wish to place evidence for what you
say before your classmates?

Be sure to utilize the readings and ethical
theories for this week to highlight key aspects of your responses.