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Ethical Issues In Saving Private Ryan

Decent Essays

Robert Sconyers
HUMN 330
Module 5: Moral Issues in Film
“Saving Private Ryan”
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
February 08, 2017
Instructor: Dr. Sara Rogers

Saving Private Ryan is a film staged within World War II, during which an incredible mission to locate and bring home Private Ryan is launched in behind enemy lines within Europe. The return of Private Ryan is hoped to increase moral in the homeland and benefit combat efforts. Captain Miller is in charge of the reluctant team tasked with the rescue mission of Private Ryan, not knowing where he is at or if he is even alive. The company finally finds Private Ryan even after several enemy encounters and finding another soldier named “Private Ryan”. Once Private Ryan is located they give him the news that his three brothers were killed while fighting in the war. Private Ryan chooses not to go home and continues to fight in the war. …show more content…

His fear overcame him and he froze up resulting in failing to accomplish his duty as a soldier. Once again, using deontological ethics, if the presence of a good will is what makes an action morally good, regardless of its consequence (Rosenstand 2013, page 284). So, even though the Corporal was not able to engage the enemy due to his fear overcoming him, he is still admirable for attempting to do the right thing. Although the film “Saving Private Ryan” can be viewed through several moral views, overall the film can be best viewed through the deontological ethics. The majority of the film is based off of someone intending to do the right thing even when the consequences were high. The company had duties to uphold as soldiers and they did what they had to in order to fulfill them. According to Kant, humans usually know what they ought to do, and that is almost always the opposite of what they want to do (Rosenstand 2013, page 285).

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