The ethically questionable nature of war is a topic that societies have struggled with for centuries. Is violence against a group of people cause for physical action against the group persecuting others? This is a question that many have sought to answer. Many specific instances of ethically questionable leadership and scenarios can be found in the film “Saving Private Ryan” which chronicles the journey of a unit to save a one Private Ryan. One of the largest ethical questions found in the film is whether the killing of German Soldiers justified given their actions against the Jews. In other words, does killing justify being killed. If so, the question of who is guilty of killing arises. Is it the soldiers pulling the trigger? Is it their
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Throughout this process, Captain Miller and his team are faced with many different ethical dilemmas. Two specific instances stood out. The first was when Captain Miller’s fire team took the beach and breeched the hilltop. After clearing a bunker, two of Captain Miller’s men were clearing the remaining trenches when they came up two German Soldiers. Upon being discovered, the German Soldiers put down their weapons and raised their hands and began shouting indicating their surrender. Captain Miller’s men pretended to not hear the Soldiers and gunned them down anyway. Captain Miller observed this whole situation transpire. The question that presents itself is: was the shooting of these men justified? Most would emphatically state that it was not justified. However, minutes prior to this interaction, those same German Soldiers were shredding apart Captain Miller’s company as the crawled up the beach. Many of the American Soldiers had to crawl through pools of blood and body parts of their own platoon mates. An absolutist would say that Captain Miller should have the two American Soldiers arrested and charged with the murder of prisoners of war. However, a relativist would oppose that view and say the American Soldiers actions were justified given their experience on the
Throughout this process, Captain Miller and his team are faced with many different ethical dilemmas. Two specific instances stood out. The first was when Captain Miller’s fire team took the beach and breeched the hilltop. After clearing a bunker, two of Captain Miller’s men were clearing the remaining trenches when they came up two German Soldiers. Upon being discovered, the German Soldiers put down their weapons and raised their hands and began shouting indicating their surrender. Captain Miller’s men pretended to not hear the Soldiers and gunned them down anyway. Captain Miller observed this whole situation transpire. The question that presents itself is: was the shooting of these men justified? Most would emphatically state that it was not justified. However, minutes prior to this interaction, those same German Soldiers were shredding apart Captain Miller’s company as the crawled up the beach. Many of the American Soldiers had to crawl through pools of blood and body parts of their own platoon mates. An absolutist would say that Captain Miller should have the two American Soldiers arrested and charged with the murder of prisoners of war. However, a relativist would oppose that view and say the American Soldiers actions were justified given their experience on the