Essay on The Parable of the Sadhu by Bowen H. McCoy

After reading Bowen H. McCoy’s, â€Å"The Parable of the Sadhu,† I ask myself: Can stress or environmental conditions excuse the actions of Bowen McCoy or anyone in a similar situation? Joseph Badaracco says that â€Å"right-versus-right choices are best understood as defining moments; decisions that reveal, test, and shape.† There is no doubt in my mind that Bowen McCoy’s encounter with the Sadhu was a defining moment, but by not taking a stand and ultimately making sure of the Sadhu’s survival, will the shadow cast forward by Bowen from his decision be one that he can live with; one that his peers could admire. Or will it be one that he and everyone close to him will see and often worry about. What will happen when another â€Å"defining moment†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦What action produces the greatest good for the greatest number is asked by the utilitarianism concept. If Bowen would have done everything he could to help the sadhu, t he only beneficiaries are the sadhu (†¦and possibly his kith and kin) and presumably Bowen for knowing that he did the right thing. This is a double edged sword because by further assisting the sadhu, the sun would have melted the pass over and Bowen would have sealed the fate of his journey and perhaps the others’ as well, had they stayed behind. As a result, utilitarianism would not have been achieved if they had chosen to help the sadhu beyond what had already been done. Kantian duties and obligations asks what rule would Bowen require everyone to follow all the time. Bowen says himself, â€Å"Not every ethical dilemma has a right solution.† What does this mean though- isn’t it crucial that there be clear processes for dealing with dilemmas? If so, why would Bowen and the others hesitate when such a defining moment manifested itself? The truth is that the one rule that Bowen McCoy would require everyone to follow would be to do the right thing. The irony is how anyone could use this rule as guidance in a ‘defining moment’ where only one of two right choices can be made. Social contract theory asks what rules are necessary to maintain stable and harmonious social relations among people. â€Å"What right does an almost naked pilgrim who chooses the wrong trail have to disrupt our lives? Even theShow MoreRelatedThe Parable of the Sadhu by Bowen Mccoy: An Analysis of Ethics967 Words   |  4 PagesThe Parable of the Sadhu by Bowen McCoy Objective The objective of this study is to answer specific questions relating to Bowen McCoys work entitled The Parable of the Sadhu and specifically to examine ethics on both the group and individual level as it is applicable to this situations in McCoys story. Part I The work of McCoy (2009) states that there is a need to identify a specific set of requirements or characteristics to describe the individual that is ethical in the area of leadershipRead MoreParable of the Sadhu775 Words   |  4 PagesThe Parable of the Sadhu Bowen H. McCoy Article Review In the Parable of the Sadhu, a group of climbers from different cultures came across a Sadhu, an Indian holy man, who was frozen and barely alive. The members of the party responded accordingly and each played a role in helping the Sadhu out. Both external and internal forces, however, collectively kept the hikers from devoting their full attention to him. The problem seemed, as McCoy later pointed, that once the Sadhu became too muchRead MoreCase 3-1 The Parable of the Sadhu1637 Words   |  7 PagesCase 3-1 The Parable of the Sadhu The case examines the individual versus corporate ethic. Ethical Issues: How does the individual stay true to her values within a corporate ethic? How can one make changes for the better within an organization? Questions Consider corporate values and ethics as discussed in Chapter 3 and the ethical reasoning methods discussed in Chapters 1 and 2 in answering the following questions: 1. Bowen H. McCoy’s friend Stephen is quoted as saying, â€Å"I feel that