final philosophy essay
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Indian River State College *
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Course
1020
Subject
Arts Humanities
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
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6
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Anisha 1
Farhana Anisha
Professor Joseph Palencik
Intro to humanities
November 18, 2023
U.S. Military Spending
In particular, the MIC's involvement in supplying weapons for conflicts the author believes to
be unjust is criticized in the article, which examines the moral consequences of the US military-
industrial complex (MIC). The counterargument, in contrast, asserts that the MIC fulfills
essential roles in maintaining historical continuity, economic stability, and national security. The
MIC's contribution to maintaining national security is one of the main arguments in favor of it.
Proponents contend that preserving public safety and thwarting any threats require a strong
defense sector. The text recognizes the MIC's social benefits, such as employment and money,
but contends that these are insufficient explanations for its morally dubious goal of funding
military projects. Nonetheless, they contend that, particularly in an increasingly complicated
geopolitical environment, having a strong defense capability is essential to safeguarding
individuals and maintaining national sovereignty.
The article also discusses about past concerns about the moral ramifications of
disproportionate war revenues. The article notes that legislative limitations on certain enterprises
are frequently connected to harm to employees, clients, or financial harm. Nevertheless, business
ethicists seldom proclaim whole businesses to be immoral. It highlights how the defense business
and political agendas are entwined, particularly during and after World War II, when the sector
purposefully dispersed military personnel and manufacturing across congressional districts.
Turning now to the modern setting, the section talks about how federal defense funding has
standardized business-sustaining contracts, making it harder to distinguish between the public
Anisha 2
and private sectors. The assertion made by the author that taking on this duty without holding a
public discussion departs from the conventional wisdom that holds that the morality of going to
war must be discussed by the general public is contested. The discussion also covers the
historical opposition to excessive war profits, with certain politicians enacting legislation to
restrict earnings from the sale of items used in warfare. The section highlights the politically
wrong nature of the subject by asking whether other justifications are sufficient to preserve ethics
for the military-industrial complex. The author makes the case in later parts that the U.S.
Military-Industrial Complex is immoral in its current objectives and actions and that it seeks
imperial hegemony in the benefit of businesses.
Although the counterargument acknowledges that U.S. public opinion rejects such profits, it
highlights how military industry policies have evolved to overcome ethical issues. The
implementation of defense procurement codes of ethics is emphasized as proof of the industry's
dedication to moral behavior, implying that historical lessons have shaped the ethical framework
that currently governs the MIC. Moreover, the economic impact of the defense sector is
emphasized as a key defense for its continued existence. The sector boosts technological
innovation and creates jobs. It discusses how business-sustaining contracts are becoming
common in federal defense budgeting, causing boundaries between the public and private sectors
to become more hazy. The economic benefits of the defense industry are portrayed as vital for
the stability and expansion of the national economy, notwithstanding worries about corporate
exploitation. To sum up, the counterargument casts doubt on the critical viewpoint regarding the
morality of the U.S. Military-Industrial Complex by emphasizing the complex's benefits to
national security, the advancement of moral behavior, and the economy. This nuanced viewpoint
Anisha 3
attempts to give a more impartial assessment of the MIC, taking into account both its alleged
benefits and its down sides.
The article also explores the idea of imperialist amorality and traces its origins back to the
early 1900s Open Door policy. According to the author, the traditional ethical presumption that
legitimate wars are exclusively for national defense has begun to erode as a result of this policy,
which aims to increase the global market access available to American firms. Supporters of this
viewpoint, however, would counter that the United States needs to be present around the world in
order to play the role of a superpower and preserve stability in international affairs, implying that
there are a variety of reasons for such policies. The conversation then turns to a pivotal historical
moment that occurred in the middle of the 1980s: the institutionalization of overpricing by the
Military-Industrial Complex (MIC), which led to penalties and recoveries. They emphasizes the
industry's dedication to resolving ethical issues, even if it acknowledges war profiteering as a
minor concern.
The development of codes of ethics for defense procurement is cited as proof
that the defense sector is subject to ethical scrutiny and is flexible enough to adjust to changing
conditions. This demonstrates how the sector recognizes the value of moral principles even when
pursuing global influence and national security.
The section also looks at those joining the American military in spite of their age's seeming
imperial amorality. It highlights a discrepancy between the goals of those directing war activities
and enlistees. The article argues, however, that people's voluntary recruitment indicates a variety
of causes, such as a need for discipline, financial considerations, and patriotism. This calls into
question the idea that recruits are unintentionally advancing immoral goals as their individual
goals might not align with the more general geopolitical goals of imperialist practices.
Essentially, the elaboration offers a comprehensive understanding of imperialist amorality,
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