Case Study Example on Groundwater Pollution

Facts and Key Issues

In the case study, several facts can be outlined as follows: the companies prior management kept a horrifying secret of gallons of oil and chemical toxics that long has been in the ground for several years and now cause pollution to groundwater source and the surrounding soil. Second, the company is located to in area that supplies ground water to Navajo reservation. Third, it is factual that correcting the problem twenty years ago would have been cheaper as compared to current periods since the price of oils have really gone up. Another fact is that the more time the problem remains uncorrected the more the damage it continues to make to the ground water. A low firm that specializes on environmental process has constantly emphasized that the government will not fund the project any time soon.

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Keys issues that can be outlined from the case study are discussed as follows; first, the longevity of time and the extent of damage that the toxic chemicals may poses to the environment. The obligation of role an employee owes to his employer which one might not be willing to disobey. Lack of government funding is also an essential issue.

Stakeholder

In the case study several stakeholders can be outlined for instance the community that depended on the underground water that had been polluted by the. The government is another stakeholder in this case since it is her responsible to ensure citizens are protected from any form of pollution that might rise. The environmental agency that is responsible for such activities is another key stakeholder in this whole situation.

Decision Alternatives

The two alternatives mentioned the case analysis is not enough since they both raise ethical question concerning their procedures to conduct them. The company in its capacity should have explored other useful decision making alternatives that does not bring any conflict of notions among different parties involved. Good decision methods should bind both parties morally, ethically and formally to avert any problems like the one that has come out in this case study.

Real-World Constraints or Limitation

Pollution is not a novel condition in the current situation of the world. It is even more older than some individuals could think about it for is evidenced from early archeologists digging in locations of Paleolithic settlements; these were residential areas of first human that existed between several years ago in the range of forty thousands to tens of thousands years ago and them routinely found large amounts of discarded tools made of stone. Lead pollution from roman country could actually be traced all across Europe. Pollutions caused oils spillage and toxic chemicals escaping to water bodies or underground water meant for domestic purposes has in the recent rose to greater heights. Several examples of real world problems arising from chemical pollution have been mentioned in case study paper. First, in the year 1984, approximately thirty tons of concentrated chemical called methyl isocyanate was channeled to a water body from a plant. Estimated casualties from this incident could sum up to around eight thousand who died immediately. More deaths and other forms of disabilities went on to affect the entire population immensely. Second, Union Carbide factory released toxic chemicals that found its ways to a water body; this resulted to serious among the residents of the town.

Another relevant example of oil pollution to water sources and land was the most fatal Exxon Valdez though not the largest oil spills in the world but considered the as one with serious damage to the environment. The oil tanker spilled over eleven million gallons containing oil into the environment. Due to little containment and lack of clean up tool the fatal incident went on to compound and even several years later that environment was still in the process of recovering from that colossal damage.

In relation to the case study, oils spills and toxic chemical pollution cause could cause a massive damage to the nearest underground water and even the whole soil around. Therefore, the law should have been applied at earlier stages to avert this crisis. The law requires that firms that do handle dangerous chemicals and oil related products to show out total disclosure of their yearly polluting activities, handling activities, storage and any fortuitous release of dangerous chemicals to the ecosystem in an amount over the lay down limit and that all necessary material into the for domestic or area authorities to always swiftly react to incidents of this kind on the various locations. When these kinds of regulations are strictly followed a reduction in toxic chemicals release into the environment will drastically reduce.

Utilitarian Analysis

Utilitarianism is amoralphilosophyprojected by Bentham Jeremy and garrisoned by John Stuart Mill. The philosophystates, that all the actionsoughtto be focusedon the way to the achievement of the utmostcontentment for the highest number of persons. This philosophy is unfeasible and actually very unrealistic since it trashes to emphasize on the peoplesmorals, ethics, and pleasure. Utilitarianism sanctionsendangeringonesexistence for the action of other and actually it plunders such conduct. This philosophyreferences that if the consequence of the one personsdemiseprotectsseveralexistsat that time therefore, it is indebted to do accordingly. This philosophy goes ahead tostatuses that no onesrelationship is furthersignificant than any other relationships. This is makes it become a worry since this is not genuine, in the sagacity it diminishrelations. Moreover, Utilitarianism interpretationsof love and relations as an contributoryworth it views relationship like a solid material and makes severalinappropriatesuppositionconcerningby what means one sees relations.

In the case study, analysis of alternative A is as follows; in the idea of consequences this philosophy comprises of the bad and the good produced by the act. Quitting the job and keeping quiet brings out two scenarios; first I will not get happy because leaving a job I massive pain that one has to undergo especially when that job was the only source of income an individual depended on. Second, the CEO of company seems to be contented with idea since she has made up her mind. Morally, this alternative poses great differences between the parties involved an as a result utilitarians regard this choice between them as a moral issue.Since utilitarianism is an exertion to provide replies to commonly real queries like what ought an individual to do, its answer is a consequence possible.

In alternative B, keep your job but while blowing, this option poses no moral or ethical question since there is no bad issue and the other party seems happy about the measures. Since Some theorists in the Utilitarian custom have documented certain solelyno self-indulgentmorals without losing their Utilitarian identifications.

This philosophy has major drawbacks that its always in the center of critics for example opposition to Utilitarianism occurs due to the elimination or prevention of sorrow should take superiority over other options performance and that would only upsurge the contentment of somebody now pleased. Over the recent period, some Utilitarians have adapted their philosophy to need this emphasis or even to maximumethicalduty to the elimination or prevention of sorrowan opinionbrandedas negative Utilitarianism.

Kantian Ethics Analysis

The philosophy of Kantian ethics says that we are ethically indebted to performance in agreement with a definite established values and rubrics irrespective of result. For instance in religious Kantian ethics, the values developed from celestial directive so that below spiritual rules, we are ethically indebted not to cheat, lie, steal. Therefore, Kantian morals philosophies and obligations have happened for several periods. To enhanceyour understanding of this theory its good to liken it with some other contrastingphilosophy like utilitarianism, which states we have aduty to take the sequence of act that attains the greatestoptimisticconsequence or significance. Regarding the philosophy of utility, the premiumsignificance is happiness, since it is carefuland absolutely good. Consequentialism says we must take into versionof thelastimportance of our deed, even though the act the aforementioned is not ethically good.

In the case analysis the first alternative pose some aspects of morality in the sense that it is like mandatory statements that I have been subjected and others without option B I would be rendered hopeless. Since morality as depicted by the German philosopher; Immanuel Kant that morality must actually be grounded on the categorical imperative since morality is like someone commands you to perform a duty and such that an individual cannot choose out of it or claim that it does not apply to the individual. Kant goes ahead to state that a factual ethical preposition should not be pinned down to any specific decision making process. A moral maxim must be detached from specificphysical niceties covering its preposition and should always be applicable to any lucid being. In fact according to Kant heurges that fist we a perfect duty not to act by maxim that results in logical illogicality.

Second, Kant states that we have flawedresponsibilities, which are still founded on unadulteratedaim but let for clarificationconcerning how they are done. Since these responsibilitieshinge onslackly on the personalpenchants of humans, they are often not as sturdy as faultlessresponsibilities but are however, still ethicallyobligatory. Differentflawlessresponsibilities, do not enticeguilt if especially when they do not ample a defectiveobligation, but they obtainacclaim if they comprehensively approve it, since they have departedpastrudimentaryresponsibility and taken roles upon them. Flawedonuses are incidental that is they cannot sensiblybe in a continuouscondition of executing that role. What clearly distinguishes imperfect and perfect responsibilities is that defectiveresponsibilities are never reallyaccomplished.

The second alternative in the case study embraces the second imperative in the Immanuel Kant philosophy which outlines that acts in such a way that you handlepeople, either in your person or in the capacity of other people, simply never merely as a way to finish but at the similar period as an end. Applying coherentrulingto this formulation to any saying and learnif it is ethicallyaccepted withinthis philosophical e ethics. For instance, the action of gathering flowers from the nativegrounds. The flowers appear very attractive, and somebody may need to take them home. Fundamentally, this needsembracing a saying that provisionsundertakingwhatsoeversomeone needs to do. The principle of categorical imperative, that states that there are ainsufficientillogicalities and flaws coming from the acceptance of such a philosophy as rule. Actually if everybody was to go this way then no single flower could be left on the park by now and the action proposes the initial view of harvesting flowers. One is only left with the option to purchase flower ar plants one for her own.

One of the largest censures of this philosophy is that it markdownsresults as a realissue in assessing the ethics of acts. Based on this philosophy and rule of people, the human life is so holy and sacrosanct, that is people cannot subjugateother a few individuals even if it would make more persons to have a good and better ways of living. Slaying other people to save the lives of many is not accepted in this philosophy.

In addition this philosophy sometimes contradicts the traditional feeling of common sense and if respect the ethical rule and not the intuitions, then we are performingethically. Deontological morals arefeeblerwhen it comes to showing individ...