Nagel Concludes That "If Results Were the Only Basis for Public

question 22

Essay

Nagel concludes that "if results were the only basis for public morality then it would be possible to justify anything, including torture and massacre, in the service of sufficiently large interests," stating that limiting factors will continue to be constitutional protections and constraints of individual morality. Do you find these protective limits to be sufficient in restraining ruthlessness to such a degree? Why or why not? Explain your answer.

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Definitions:

Direct Materials

Raw materials that can be directly traced to the manufacturing of a product.

Period Cost

Costs that are expensed in the period in which they are incurred, as opposed to being capitalized or included in the cost of goods sold.

Depreciation

The systematic allocation of the cost of a tangible asset over its useful life, reflecting the decrease in value due to wear, tear, or obsolescence.

Product Cost

encompasses all costs incurred to produce a product, including direct materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead.