Ethics assignment, question one.

1.     Warren and Brandeis claim that the individual has a right "to be let alone."  What does this mean?  Do you agree?  Defend your answer.

Before I get into answering the question, it seems like this piece was way before its time. I’m not sure how the newspapers (media in general) were in the late 1800s when this was written, but this feels like it certainly could have been written very recently, especially in this age of Facebook, Twitter, TMZ, camera phones, and all other types of media.

The authors claiming that the individual has a right “to be let alone” means that people have a right to keep their private lives private and they shouldn’t be bothered by outsiders. They are saying a person should be able to live his or her life on his or her own terms, as long as it is legally acceptable and not a matter of public or general interest (page 3). “Later, there came a recognition of man's spiritual nature, of his feelings and his intellect. Gradually the scope of these legal rights broadened; and now the right to life has come to mean the right to enjoy life.” (Warren, Brandeis, Page 1)

I do agree with the authors on this issue. What we do behind closed doors, in the privacy of our own home, or even in public as long as we are not harming others or causing a public disturbance should be of no concern to anyone else. The authors also discuss the right of a person’s writings and that if a person wishes for something he or she has written to remain private, then it should remain private. “The design of the law must be to protect those persons with whose affairs the community has no legitimate concern, from being dragged into an undesirable and undesired publicity and to protect all persons, whatsoever; their position or station, from having matters which they may properly prefer to keep private, made public against their will.” (Warren, Brandeis, Page 3)

In society today, many athletes, celebrities, and political figures have photos and/or videos taken of them, and a lot of people think it is our right as the public to know everything we can about certain people. I try to not follow that type of stuff. I’m a big sports fan. I try to keep my like or dislike of a player to what happens on the field or court because I don’t believe I have a right to know what these people do in their private lives. If a person, an athlete, celebrity, political figure, or otherwise, chooses to share information (on Facebook, Twitter, etc.), that is their business and any fallout or criticism that stems from that is on them.

Agent Orange