Ethical Theories Within the Film “Crimes and Misdemeanors” Essay

In the final scene of the movie Crimes and Misdemeanors, I believe the fictional philosopher insect charges message was very similar to philosophy Jean-Paul Sartre and his theory on existentialism. One of Sartres quotes, Man is nothing else only when that which he makes of himself. Levy is trying to convey that we are in control of our choices and we choose our own happiness. In the final scene of the inject Levy states, Were all face throughout our lives with making conscience moral decisions. Some are on a grander scale than others, but we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the center of attention total of our choices. So when Levys reference states, most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying and find joy from open things, this is based on our choices. We decide to be happy or sad. Because we as human beings have the ability to think rationally or ill-rationally, our minds have the expertness to feel emotions, to dream up, or cogn itively entertain, a mind-based reality of happiness.One of the survival tactics as human beings is our ability to strive for happiness and at matchless time a level of happiness is achieved there is always a need for more it is a never ending pursuit of happiness. Our happiness should also be achieved without pain. Ever though we strive for this happiness there is no methodical way to obtain happiness or does the sense of happiness always lead achieved. I believe this viewpoint is heavily reflected throughout the movie, Crimes and Misdemeanors. I think all the characters in the movie are striving and hoping for happiness but I think the only character who truly achieves the ultimate happiness would be Rabbi Ben. The role of GOD in establishing ethical values and whether the world would be valueless if GOD didnt exist is displayed throughout this movie. Rabbi Ben (Sam Waterston) leads a moral life throughout the film and he ends up blind, but he provoke move with his daughter w ith a clear conscience.The irony about this character is he fails to see in the real world yet he has strong weird vision. His detachment from mundane concerns, and emphasize on what is real and meaningful a life devoted to GOD. The ideas that only by blinding oneself to reality can one live a meaningful life devoted to GOD. The symbolism of blindness seems to have a connection to a blind universe indifferent to either sense of justice. In fact all of the religious characters in Crimes and Misdemeanors suffer from impaired vision and are portrayed wearing glasses.This may represent their softness tosee the true nature of reality and the understanding of true happiness. I feel all of the characters in this film reflect the viewpoint of hope and the appetite to achieve happiness without pain it is just the choices, consequences or motive of their natural processs that is misguided. We make consequentialist decisions regarding our actions to separate the morally rightly from wro ng which leads us to our ultimate goal of happiness. exactly what determines if an action is moral right or wrong? Stuart Mill theory on, The Principle of Utility, views the consequences that arise from the action to determine the moral worth of an action the best decisions result in well consequences for the largest number of people. He also believes that happiness equal pleasure the actions are morally right to the extent that they provoke lots of pleasure. Other theorists like Immanuel Kant, who takes a deontology approach on the intention or motive of the action. He believes that our actions are morally right only if we can apply them universally.I feel the character Lester (Alan Alda), displays the theories of Jean Paul Sartre and Friedrich Nietzsche. Hes a successful television producer with a pompous attitude. His character takes charge of his own destiny. He knows what he wants and goes later it. His Will to Power is great and sets no limitations on what he can achieve t hroughout this film. in that respect are a few characters in Crimes and Misdemeanor who strive for the hope of happiness but fall short. The main character, Judah Rosenthal (Martin Landau) this character is a successful eye doctor who achieves short-term happiness in a two year affair with a woman named Dolores (Anjelicia Huston). When Dolores threatens tell his wife of there affair his moral social system is threaten he feels as if his entire universe becomes meaningless. But, by the end of the film Judah make peace with himself and finds that he commits a crime and gets away with it. He is only implicated to his own moral consciousness. In reality, hope is the worst of all evils, because it prolongs the torments of man. FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE, Human, every-too-HumanThe second character that falls short of achieving happiness would be dribletord fag end (Wood Allen) this character is a small-time film maker hired by his brother-in-law Lester to produce a documentary about his li fe and work. Clifford dislikes Lester as well as his marriage to Lesters sisterWendy (Joann Gleason). While filming this documentary Cliff falls in love with Lesters associate producer, Halley Reed (Mia Farrow). However Cliffs efforts to woo Halley fail and in the end Wendy chooses to be with Lester. This gives proof that sound doesnt always prosper over evil. The comment by Halley after learning about Levys death she says, No matter how elaborate a philosophical system you work out, in the end its got to be incomplete. I believe it is the selfish needs, constant change, as well as the desires of human beings that allow people to choose right from wrong and good from bad.It is all about wants over needs. I believe Halley didnt initially want Lester it was his constant appeal to the things that she needed which gave her pleasure that won her over. Not the roses because she was allergic, but the caviar and his make and power. I believe that the universe is in fact indifferent. Howev er, if there is no GOD, there can be no objective standards of right and wrong. All we are confronted with is the bare valueless fact of existence (Jean-Paul Sartre). This is probably what Rabbi Ben meant during the film when he said, Without the law, its all darkness, and, You Judah see the world as abrasive and empty of value and pitiless. Rabbi Ben states, how he couldnt not exist without moral structure-with real meaning-with forgiveness and some kind of higher power. Also during the climax of the film Judah concludes that GOD is a luxury that he cant afford and arranges for Dolores-mistress (Angelica Houston) to be slayed. Afterwards, in a state of despair he visits his childhood sign of the zodiac and recreates in his mind a Passover Seder from his youth. Judahs atheist aunt May (Anna Berger) and religious father Sol, is an exploration of the relationship between theology and GOD and the riddle of morality in a saucy universe.Aunt May takes the position of the atheist and moral relativist in the ensuring debate as she envisions a cruel and godless world with no objectives standards of good and evil and no moral purposes behind human reality. Aunt May believes individuals justify their actions as they wish For those who want morality theres morality. Nothings handed down in stone. Aunt May argues that in a world where everything is permissible, there is nothing to stop an individual from committing murder other than their own conscience. And I say, if he can do it, and get away with it, and chooses not be bothered by the ethics, then hes home free. We live in a universe where our moral ethics between right and wrong are greatlyunbalanced. A world where the good suffer, the bad prosper and no greater power will ever rectify this which is a sad consequence. It is really hard to establish a underlying moral or ethical system for human beings because we are so indifferent of each other. We have for example the Bible or the Koran, but, like Aunt May stat e in the film, For those who want morality theres morality.Also in the final scene of the film Judah draws Cliff into a supposedly supposititious discussion that draws upon his morals. Judah says that with time, any crisis will pass but Cliff morosely claims instead that one is forever fated to bear ones burdens for crimes and misdemeanors Wikipedia. We battle daily for justice. All we can do as human beings is to hope for happiness try to utilize our own moral ideas and meaningful values to again hopeful influence our lives and to reflect upon future generations.ReferencesCrimes and Misdemeanors (Philosophical Films). Crimes and Misdemeanors (Philosophical Films). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. Crimes and Misdemeanors The Final Scene. YouTube. YouTube, 04 Feb. 2009. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. Crimes and Misdemeanors. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Mar. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. Existentialism Is a Humanism Quotes. By Jean-Paul Sartre. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2013.The Journal of godliness and Popular Culture. The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. http//phil.uregina.ca/vancha/Litch-chp6.pdf