So What?

Why do ethics even matter? What is the point to them? Aren't they just subjective? These are a few questions I have formed through out this semester in relation to our question of what is right and which form of ethics are the correct way to live ones life. There are so many different ways people can live their lives, so there are so many different forms of right. One action may be wrong to one group of people, but could be completely acceptable to another, so what's the point? Why are we trying to decide what type of morality is right and what type is wrong?

Through out this semester I have really taken the time to think about things through a different perspective. For instance, just today I overheard a conversation between two students talking about their living situation for next semester. One of the students was saying that his group of friends were wanting to live in Belmont Commons together in a 4 bedroom apartment, however only 3 of them were able to get into the same place and that the 4th student, who wasn't in their group, was refusing to switch out so that the main group could include their 4th person. They were really upset and were calling the other student "stubborn" and "A d-bag" for not wanting to move out. At first I agreed with them, I thought that it was selfish of that student to not give up his spot so the four of them could live together. However, immediately after I thought that the 4th student was not selfish at all, he was just wanting to secure his spot in the on-campus housing for next semester. When I checked the housing lists the day before, Belmont Commons was completely full. Perhaps this student had been planning on living in Commons for a while and so he signed up when there were still rooms available. There is no where he could switch to in Commons because every room is full. This made me think that the group of 4 were actually the ones in the wrong. They assumed that they would all be able to live together next semester and that if someone took one of their spots that the new person would just leave. The student who wasn't in the group has all the right to stay in that apartment. He signed up at his given sign-up time, the other kid was out of luck because he probably had a later sign up time.

I got into a discussion with my roommate about it and he sided with the group of 4. When I asked him why he told me "While I see your point, I don't know why this kid would want to live in an apartment with a 3 other people who didn't want him there in the first place." Is this really a justifiable reason for someone to leave? Is that right? While I believe the outsider student was in the right, my roommate believed the group was in the right. This just proves that there are different types of morality and different views on what is right and what is wrong. So what? Why do we argue over what is right and wrong when it is so subjective. The outsider student saw that he would be out of a nice house if he succumbed to the groups pressure and left, so he is deciding to stay, which shows he makes his decisions based on consequences. The other group based their belief of what was right based on virtues. They assumed that the 4th guy would see their dilemma and do "the right thing" and give up his spot.