Deontology Theory

Good and Evil

Introduction

I choose the movie High Noon from 1952 with Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly to analyze. In this Western, the villian who is recently released from prison is on his way back to the town that he had terrorized, as well as the person who sent him there. He is returning to seek revenge against the Marshall Will Kane . His gang has also come together to await his return on the noon train. The Marshall who was just married is planning to leave town that day, until he hears that the outlaw is coming back to seek revenge. The Marshall is torn whether to leave town with his new bride as planned, or stay and face the villian. He decides as Marshall he should stay and fight for the principles that he believes in, as well as the duty that stands behind his badge.

How do the characters or scenarios exemplify Good or Evil?

The movie High Noon had the stereotypical good and bad characters. The good Marshall who is the law abiding person sworn by duty to protect the town as well as the people in it, and the outlaw who returns to town after being put away by the Marshall. The outlaw “Miller” returns, driven with rage and the need for revenge.

Kant’s Theory

Deontology Theory is defined as” your duty to do actions which are right and not do those which are wrong. “The most important ethical concept you should consider as you think about how one should live the Good Life is his ethical theory called the Categorical Imperative. It is categorical because it applies to all human beings and it is imperative because there are no exceptions. Moral worth is more important than possess intelligence, humor, strength, or any other talent of the mind or body.” He also believes that both City and state laws establish the duties of citizens. Thus, if we do something because it is our ‘civic’ duty, or our motivation is respect for the code that makes it our duty. Thinking we are duty bound is simply respecting certain laws pertaining to us.” (Kant)

In the movie High Noon, Marshall Kane displays Kant's theory that “ethics should be based on a person's rational and universal duty both to one's self and to others”. According to Kant, “what is singular about motivation by duty is that it consists of bare respect for lawfulness and duties are created by rules or laws of some sort”.(Rachel's & Rachel's, 2012) In this film, the Marshall even though he was relieved of his duties could not allow himself to leave the town because of his “sense of duty”. He felt responsible for this town because in his eyes it was his town whether he was still Marshall or