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Deontological and Teleological Ethical Systems
Deontological and Teleological ethical systems are forms of normative ethics. They both deal with the actions of an individual. The deontological ethical system refers to actions whose morals depend on how best they follow the set rules within the society. Moral values in the society determine the good or the bad behaviour. These values are there in the society. They define the culture as well as identifying the immoral behaviour and the taboos. To determine the deontological ethics one should be aware of what is right according to the rules set. Adherence to these set of rules is a moral aspect (Pollock 47). Through the understanding of the deontological teleological ethical systems, the discussion will explore how the systems portray in the main character of the movie Traitor.
Teleological ethical systems also deal with the actions. The moral value of the action is determined by the end results. If the end results of the action taken are good, then the action is morally upright. Therefore, there need be the evaluation of the consequences of the actions taken. It is also known as the consequential ethical system as it is determined by the consequences of the action was taken (Pojman 214).
In the movie Traitor, the main character is Samir Horn portrayed by Don Cheadle. Samir is a controversial character whom the audience, the Jihadists and the intelligence group do not directly recognize his side. He is a committed Muslim as well as a former Special Forces Engineer Sergeant. History has it that his father was killed by a bomb in a car. However, it is not revealed if it was the jihadist or people who did not support his political ideas. Samir joins a Jihadist group that is aiming at bombing the U.S Army Special Forces. They plan to place suicidal bombers in fifty public vehicles that would kill numerous people.
There are several deontological and teleological ethics portrayed by Samir. Joining the Jihadist was noble. He was an undercover intelligent who was out to sabotage their missions. His aim was not to join them and help in killing innocent people. Therefore, the action of joining the Islamic brotherhood was ethical. However, he had to win their trust by participating through selling them the arms.
Samir portrays another ethical action when he switches the emails of the suicide bombers. The suicide bombers were to board different buses that would end up bombing many people (Pollock 47). He was aware of the plans of the jihadists since he was a member. Therefore, since his aim was to alter their plans, he went ahead and switched the emails. The results were that the suicidal bombers ended up getting in one bus with the unethical deathly intentions. On bombing, they died on their own only killing the driver of their bus. However, he was able to save others who were to be casualties.
Samir recruits other terrorists like Nathir, the one who gave suicide bombers fake visas. The efforts of Samir, through Nathir leads to terrorism as the bombers succeed in killing eleven people. Samir is aware that Omar is a good friend to Nathir. Therefore, he befriends to get closer to Nathir. He ends up working with Omar. He eventually knows the real identity of Nathir and he kills him. That ethical act ends up eliminating one of the top terrorists. The killing is well accepted as he is able to eliminate a security threat (Pojman 214). Clayton, an FBI specialist, realizes the motives of Samir and declares him a hero.
Works Cited
Pollock, Joycelyn M. Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth, 2014. Print.
Pojman, Louis P. How Should We Live: An Introduction to Ethics. Australia: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2009. Print.