QUESTION 1:
Throughout the movie, we can see the changes in Sheriff and Tony's character. After both of them found out that in order to save Lewis's life is that they have to share the responsibility, Tony wanted to go back to Penang and share the responsibility whereas Sheriff still has doubt on his decision. At the end Sheriff was the one who shared the responsibility while Tony left because he found out that Beth lied by not telling them that she was Lewis's sister and that made Tony lost faith in her and the consequences that could cost him if he stayed and confess at the hearing. The ethical theory that can be applied on this is reward and punishment. At first, Tony thinks that by going back to Penang and confess at the hearing, it can actually reward them with a human life. As if both of them spend another 3 years in jail, Lewis's execution will not be performed. But Sheriff believes that even by doing the right thing, there is no confirmation that things will ended the way we want it. As what Sheriff told Tony in the car, "Doing the right thing doesn't mean there's always a happy ending".
The changes in Sheriff character is the greatest because even though he had to suffer in jail and still have to see his friend, Lewis, being hanged to death with his own eyes, he doesn't have to carry the guilt with him for the rest of his life. Especially knowing that he is the main reason on why they are in this situation because he threw the bicycle that they rent which made the police come over to investigate but instead found a 120gm of hash drug in the trash bin. Why is Sheriff character changes for the better because it shows that he doesn't break his promises, and he owned up to his words. He promised Beth that he will go back to Penang to confess and share the responsibility and he did. This also bring back to the ethical theory reward and punishment. By Sheriff not breaking his promise, the court and judge was astounded by his courage and also because of his bravery, Beth told Sheriff that the attorney of the Malaysian government will release him secretly within six months after the press has died down which is a good reward, from a 6 years sentenced to 6 months.
QUESTION 2:
What the psychological egoist would say about this story is that people do always act in their own self-interest. They would also say that do what is best for yourself and what it will benefit you. In this story, the psychological egoist would say either confessing and own up to their responsibility or just let a man be hanged to death is fine because both action is acting in their own self-interest. If they choose to confess and spent 3 or 6 years of their life in jail in order to not carry the guilt for the rest of their life knowing that they could save one's life, then it is fine. At the end of the day, they still do it because they act in their own self-interest, not because it is the right thing to do. For example, Sheriff, who decided to go back to Penang to confess and share his responsibility because he cares about Lewis and know that if he didn't do what he did, it will haunt him for the rest of his life. Sheriff is not only doing it because he cares for Lewis, but it also benefits him. The beneficial part might not come overnight, but it did in the end.
The psychological egoist would also say if they let a man be hanged to death is fine because they are also acting in their own self-interest. For example, Tony who is engaged and have his whole life planned our perfectly, knowing that he had to put everything on hold because of one man. In the end, He decided to not go to jail and he will continue to live his life the way he have planned out with his fiancé which is fine because he is also acting in his own self-interest. He is doing it because by doing this, it benefits him. He can continue with his life, build a family and not letting her fiancé wait for him.
The ethical egoist would say that they lack respect for one another, because both of them was involved doing that activity. Then, when they both decided to go back to Penang and confess, it just shows how important Lewis life is to both of them and that they do have respect for him. But when Tony decides to leave after finding out about that Beth is actually Lewis's sister, he was being selfish and decides to continue living his life that he had planned with his fiancé.
QUESTION 3:
No, no one in the movie was being altruistic. Everyone was other being selfish or indirectly selfish. Most of the character, they were all selfish. For example, Beth who would do whatever it takes to free his brother, including giving compensation which later on shows that she somehow is 'buying' someone to save his brother life. Tony who backed up thinking about his future family and fiancé and not his friend who have to face death penalty because of his action as well. M.J., who said she wants to write an article about the case in order to raise awareness but is it only to raise awareness or in order for their article to sell? Sheriff who plead he is guilty because he truly cares about Lewis but is it only because of Lewis or because he is also afraid of losing his love interest, which is Beth. None of the character in the movie was actually being altruistic. We think Sheriff was being altruistic, but he also did say in the end that if he didn't do what he did, he wouldn't know what would happen to Beth.
Yes, if a person doesn't have self-interest involved, they will be unselfish. People do a lot of things for a reason and most of the reason is because what it will benefit them in the end, which is not wrong, but it will still be considered as selfish. People who care about their self- interest too much, it can also sometimes lead to selfishness. Therefore, if a person doesn't have self-interest in their life, they can be unselfish because they can think what they do is for the others not for themselves only. A selfless act is possible to achieve if we don't involve self-interest in our decision making.
QUESTION 4
The movie expresses two of the Humanitarian Ethics principle. The first one which is the Value of Life. This principle says that individuals have the right to life and death and that human beings should always value and appreciate life. The movie touches on this principle because the death penalty in this case is somehow violating the value of life principle. For example, even after Sheriff confess to the judge and plead guilty, but the judge insisted to execute Lewis, not because of his actions, but because of an article that was written by someone else. It is also unfair to Beth, because she was not given a chance to defend herself, and the decision was made without her giving her stance. A decision cannot be made over one point of view, it has to be from both perspective. As it is stated earlier, human beings should always revere life. By executing someone because of an article over his actions is certainly violating the principle and it is just unfair to the victim.
Next, the movie also expresses the individual freedom principle. This principle says that individuals must have the freedom to choose how to be moral with the framework of the first four basic principles. The movie touches this principle because the freedom that Tony have to choose whether to go to jail or to continue living his life with his fiancé. Tony have his right on whether to go to jail or stay in Brooklyn because it is his life and he has the right to choose what is best for him. Therefore, no one can blame him for his decision, because the freedom over his life and body is in his hand and no one should make the decision for him.
In this movie, there is a conflict between two principles which is the principle Value of Life and Individual Freedom. As Hamid Karzai once said "Life without liberty is a fate worse than death" This conflict were shown on Lewis's life. The justification for death penalty is supposed to be only for those who is charge for murder. 'An Eye for an Eye'. Lewis did not kill and danger anyone's life, he did not forced drugs on someone else or sell them to others so why should he needs to be executed? It is his own freedom and choice to make. Also, by taking a human life, it is also taking away human rights? All human in this world has their own right, especially the right over their body. It is their body and they have the right to do whatever they want with it. By executing him, they are taking the away the individual freedom from him.