In the summer of 2017, I went to Mexico for 3 days on a humanitarian trip. The purpose of the trip was to build a new home for a mother and her two daughters, who were living in a rundown shack that animals could wonder in and out of freely. 3 weeks prior to that, I was listening to a friend give a speech requesting funding for the trip. While listening, I realized that I wanted to help in anyway that I could. After the speech, I asked him what I could do. The trip was going to cost $500 + travel. At that time, spring semester was ending and I was pretty light on cash (college isn’t cheap…), but all I knew was that I had to help. I ended up getting my first credit card (I believed that if you couldn’t pay for something in whole, then you shouldn’t buy it.) and just about maxed it out. The house did end up getting built. We weren’t construction workers; we were working with some and if you put enough nails in something, it’ll stay together.
That experience was incredibly enlightening for me, but what was most surprising was my impulsivity and desire to help. Almost everything that I do, I rationalize and make sure that it’s a good decision. In this case, I was set on doing it from the moment I’d heard about it. Kant believed that their goodness depends on the will that makes use of them (Shaw 2017). With most everything we do, there is self interest. However, during this trip, I was never concerned about anything other than to help. After everything, my bank account was pretty negative (rent, the trip, and other payments all hit at the same time), but I eventually paid it all off. In the end, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. In this scenario, I believe I expressed good will.
Shaw, William H.. Business Ethics: A Textbook with Cases (Page 57). Cengage Learning. Kindle Edition.
1 Comment for “M2 – Chris McClure”
Kim Duffield
says:I agree that your situation was one of the most selfless actions that one can make and fulfills what goes into Kant’s ethics. I also believe you followed the second part of the categorical imperative very closely by treated the individuals and humanity as an ends and not as a means. You were able to base your action not on the result of it, but instead the good will of it. You acted out of duty which according to Kant is acting out of good will. I would also like to commend you a wonderful act you made! I wholeheartedly believe if you invest into something worthwhile, it will in return come back around and it sounds like it did as far as having a eye opening trip and eventually paying off expenses.