Antigone CaseEssay Preview: Antigone CaseReport this essayThe conflict between public policy and individual conscience exists though out the world and history. People are constantly faced with the decision of whether to adhere to their personal moral views, or to the laws and statutes set forth by the society they live in. This struggle forms the main conflict in Antigone, written by the great playwright, Sophocles. In this Greek tragedy, Antigone fulfills her moral obligation to her deceased brother, while Creon fulfills his responsibility of upholding his states governing law. Both Creon and Antigone demonstrate logical reasoning behind their arguments, but societys law must be put before ones personal beliefs in order to maintain an orderly state.
Antigone CaseEssay Preview: Antigone CaseReport this essay The central theme of this analysis is ethics. Ethics is the pursuit of ethical action, which is that of fulfilling our own moral obligation. Ethics is not just a statement of a truth, but a means for achieving a moral goal or purpose. This does not mean that we should ignore or distort the facts surrounding the ethical practices of the individual. The truth-provoking actions of an individual are not necessarily harmful to a community or society, because the actions of others are still valid or legitimate. This means we must be aware of the moral consequences of every individual’s actions, and follow the laws and regulations to ensure we make a responsible and honest living. This means we must maintain an ethical community. To do this we must be aware of the history and principles of personal ethics. If we do not, the individual who has committed the violation of these laws is a person that has been rejected by the community they live in. Thus, any individual in such a community who is no longer a valued citizen, has his freedom severely limited. But if there was a time when it was deemed not possible to follow a law or to maintain laws that are based on self-actualized social value, then such behavior had to face an obligation to pursue this truth and to fulfill it fully. Antigone is designed to offer an ethical view of self that is based around this ethical principle. As such, Antigone focuses on the principles of personal ethics instead of law. This approach does not argue for individual freedoms or political views from all sides, it focuses on the ethical principle of individual freedom. It is that same principle that has been most affected by law enforcement and legal actions like the Ferguson, Missouri and Black Lives Matter protests since the mid-90s. Antigone is also designed to offer human rights law, as an alternative approach to moralism and “the law and the individual.” If true, such law and individual rights law should not be considered the antithesis of ethical law, but rather should be considered as more or less the opposite. We have seen that law-based ethics will be most effective when applied to an individual, in these contexts. The problem presented by the “law of ethics” for example is how to apply it to ethical behavior of the individual. The human rights principle is the most common concern for ethical behavior in its context; this is because human rights are the means by which humans are allowed or prohibited to achieve their own ethical aspirations. Law-based ethics seeks to provide humans with a set of moral principles in which they can be judged as “good” and “bad”. As such, human rights are meant to provide human rights-based legal regimes to implement ethical principles such as the right to live as they see fit (for the sake of justice, for safety, and for the benefit of others). Therefore, these moral principles are also used as tools to support human rights-based policies:
Antigone CaseEssay Preview: Antigone CaseReport this essay The central theme of this analysis is ethics. Ethics is the pursuit of ethical action, which is that of fulfilling our own moral obligation. Ethics is not just a statement of a truth, but a means for achieving a moral goal or purpose. This does not mean that we should ignore or distort the facts surrounding the ethical practices of the individual. The truth-provoking actions of an individual are not necessarily harmful to a community or society, because the actions of others are still valid or legitimate. This means we must be aware of the moral consequences of every individual’s actions, and follow the laws and regulations to ensure we make a responsible and honest living. This means we must maintain an ethical community. To do this we must be aware of the history and principles of personal ethics. If we do not, the individual who has committed the violation of these laws is a person that has been rejected by the community they live in. Thus, any individual in such a community who is no longer a valued citizen, has his freedom severely limited. But if there was a time when it was deemed not possible to follow a law or to maintain laws that are based on self-actualized social value, then such behavior had to face an obligation to pursue this truth and to fulfill it fully. Antigone is designed to offer an ethical view of self that is based around this ethical principle. As such, Antigone focuses on the principles of personal ethics instead of law. This approach does not argue for individual freedoms or political views from all sides, it focuses on the ethical principle of individual freedom. It is that same principle that has been most affected by law enforcement and legal actions like the Ferguson, Missouri and Black Lives Matter protests since the mid-90s. Antigone is also designed to offer human rights law, as an alternative approach to moralism and “the law and the individual.” If true, such law and individual rights law should not be considered the antithesis of ethical law, but rather should be considered as more or less the opposite. We have seen that law-based ethics will be most effective when applied to an individual, in these contexts. The problem presented by the “law of ethics” for example is how to apply it to ethical behavior of the individual. The human rights principle is the most common concern for ethical behavior in its context; this is because human rights are the means by which humans are allowed or prohibited to achieve their own ethical aspirations. Law-based ethics seeks to provide humans with a set of moral principles in which they can be judged as “good” and “bad”. As such, human rights are meant to provide human rights-based legal regimes to implement ethical principles such as the right to live as they see fit (for the sake of justice, for safety, and for the benefit of others). Therefore, these moral principles are also used as tools to support human rights-based policies:
In the opening scene of the play, two sisters, Antigone and Ismene, debate whether they should bury their brother, Polynices, who was slain during battle. Creon, the King of Thebes, orders that Polynices not be given a proper burial because he “spilled the blood of his blood and sold his own people into slavery” (Sophocles, line 1308). He also mandates that anyone caught trying to bury the fallen warrior would be executed. Antigone, who shows great loyalty to her family, contemplates the repercussions and decides to give Polynices a proper burial. These actions show that she put her moral duty before the laws of her state. She truly believed that what she was doing was right, and was willing to give up her life. The sentry later describes her fearless and accepting demeanor when he reports to Creon; “She was not afraid she denied nothing” (Sophocles, line 1304).
Creon, although harsh, is not wrong in his actions. As the King, he is responsible for the safety and order of Thebes and its citizens. After issuing an official order, he must punish those who disobey it. Although some of his actions may be contributed to his strong hubris, the punishment of Antigone was necessary. Precedence must be established, and Antigones fellow citizens must be aware that disobeying the direct orders of the government will not be tolerated. Antigone dictates her belief that “divine” or moral law over rules the law of man by stating, “I did not believe you proclamation had such power to enable one who will someday die to override Gods ordinances, unwritten and secure” (Sophocles, lines 496-499). Views on what divine or moral law is can vary greatly from person to person, religion-to-religion, and culture-to-culture. Because of this, a set law must be established by society that is to be followed by everyone in order to ensure a safe and orderly community for all. An individual or group can choose to reside elsewhere if they disagree with the lands official law strongly enough.
Disagreement between the views of the people and government in regards to a states law is a very common occurrence. Citizens who take legal actions to influence their states