Introduction To Philosophy Of Religion For Constitutional Protection: A Discussion On Providing Health Care And Social Benefits To Illegal Immigrants

Key ethical theories in favor of or against Dwyer’s conclusion on providing social benefits to illegal immigrants

In most host nations there have been questions and arguments on whether to or not provide health care coverage and other social benefits to the illegal immigrants. The individuals who are against their nation providing the benefits suggest that illegal immigrants should not be given or have access to public benefits. This essay therefore  discuss four question in the context of  social justice to illegal immigrants according to the four ethical theory of illegal immigration in favor of or against Dwyer’s conclusion on his essay of illegal immigrants, health care and social responsibility. Where he argued that, as a matter of social justice, illegal immigrants should be provided with health care and other social benefits by the host nations. First the essay discusses argument based on the chosen ethical theory on whether the host nation should or should not provide health and other social benefits to illegal immigrants. Secondly, the paper develops an objection for the primary argument on the first question using a different ethical theory. In the third question the essay defend the primary argument by refusing the objection developed and in the last section the paper illustrate and motivate the agreement. (Dwyer, James pp 34) 

The ethical theory of virtue ethics shows people which laws they should follow that will help them develop character traits like kindness and generosity which are good and important in life. The good characters and behavior help people make right decisions throughout their life. Virtue ethics teaches individuals the importance of learning ways on how they can avoid bad behaviors and characters traits which are poor such as selfishness. It also makes an important impact to our understanding of morality. One needs to act in specific inspiration for one to be considered to have act in a moral way. Therefore, for a person to have the right morals which must have correct motives, they should have specific virtues.

To some philosophers, an individual does not need to be holy to be considered virtuous while some think that ethics involves following correctly the given set of laws of good behavior. As a result, to make sure that virtue ethics actually work one need to suggest a set of characteristics that can be seen to be moral. People are considered moral if they possess the moral characteristics such as kindness and generosity which will guide them to act with good morals and behavior. These are character traits that everyone needs in order to live well. According to history, this theory is one of the oldest traditions followed by philosophies in the west with its roots generating from Greek. It puts more emphasis on four character traits including; understanding, courage, self-control and fairness. In addition, for one to show good habits of character, researchers on theory of virtue ethics insist that people should get rid of acquiring character traits which are bad. Therefore, acting in the right or wrong way can be seen through ones actions whereby an action can be considered to be right if only individuals with good character makes same decision in same given situation. (Dwyer, James pp 34)

Virtue ethics

For instance, immigrants’ right to health has recently gained more influence and is increasingly being deployed in a diverse way. Various fieldwork researches have been carried out by organizations that support rights of illegal immigrants and other target groups. They eventually use their findings from the research to support their argument in the context of which rights should illegal immigrants also need to be provided with.  Right to healthcare especially to the unauthorized immigrants improves status of a nation which in turn helps enlighten scholars from different fields and eventually help improve living standards of illegal immigrants. In addition, it provides a clear understanding of how human rights, social justice for health care and humanitarianism relates. The virtue ethics theory emphasizes on kindness and generosity in treating others, once one is treated with kindness they will definitely be happy and in turn lead them to good life. Despite the illegal immigrants getting into the country without legal documentation, they still have right to good life and happiness as stressed by the virtue ethics. Therefore I will argue that, based on virtue ethics theory, host nations should provide healthcare and other social benefits to illegal immigrants. 

Although virtue ethics theory leads me to conclude that host nations should provide health care and other social benefit to illegal immigrants, deontology theory would disagree because it’s an ethical stance that judges an action’s rightness or wrongness according to the action’s conformance to set of rules given. For instance, in this case the illegal immigrants disobeyed the rules of getting in to the host nation without using the right procedure but instead did it illegally. Therefore, they are not supposed to be given any right to healthcare and other social benefits. Deontology frequently emphasizes on the reasons why specific choices are made. One needs the right reason in order to follow the right moral obligations. Having the right reason to follow the right moral obligations makes someone moral even if that person broke the given moral set of rules. So if a person does not have the character of lying, then telling lies is considered wrong by such an individual. However, responsibilities and actions must be resolved empirically and with no questions which definitely should not be subjective. (Almutairi, Jabr pp691)  

While deontology theory raises an important challenge to my thesis, my argument holds because deontology theory mainly focuses on action being more substantial than the consequences it causes. For example in this context, the theory does not look at the consequences which will be brought about if healthcare and social benefits is not provided to immigrants even if they disobeyed the laws and get into the country illegally. Instead they focus more on the wrong side of the illegal immigrants. Where as on the other hand, virtual theory which portraits good character and focuses on ensuring good life and happiness for every individual supports provision of social justice, benefits and good health care to all citizens regardless of their background. My argument therefore holds because every individual has right to health care, social benefits and social justice which automatically leads to happy life that virtual theory stresses on. Virtual theory also stresses that every person should be treated with kindness and generosity. In this case, the illegal immigrants are supposed to be treated with these virtues since not only are they in the host nation illegally but they also contribute to the countries economic development by working in various sectors. (Kirdar, Murat G. pp 453-486) 

Deontology

No law requires the Canadian or United States government to provide healthcare and social benefits to illegal immigrates. Excluding illegal immigrants from the coverage of benefits available to citizens and legal residence do not necessarily represent best public policy. As opposed in my argument above, in virtue ethics theory every individual have right to good life and happiness which is contributed by every person being provided with good health care and given access to other social benefits. Many philosophers believe morality involves following specifically set rules of good conduct. Most likely, nations learn about these rules and then put in to action and make sure that every action they take follows the rules. Virtue ethics theory emphasizes more on the need to have good character like generosity and kindness. Once this character is acquired, one will eventually act in a generous way and show kindness to all. (Glen,1)

Although no illegal immigrant has the right to stay in Canada or the United States illegal immigrants also right to legal protection and constitutional protection in the two countries. However, correct rights of the Canadian law are included in the rights and freedoms charter of Canada. The charter guarantees equal protection to all citizens who have right to security, right to liberty and right to life .United states are analogous in issuing of its constitutional principles compared to those in Canadian charter. Aliens physically present in the United States are only entitled to limited constitutional protection and other benefits while aliens outside the United States are not entitled to any protection and other social benefits. This has made many immigrants move out of the United States. In the mid 20th century philosophers gave special attention to virtue theory in which they believed that more ethical theories were misguided due to putting more focus on rules and actions instead of considering the virtuous character traits. (VÄYRYNEN, PEKKA PP 291-304).

However, the argument of whether health care and other social benefits should be provided to illegal immigrants will continue to be argued by persons involved in the various host nations for the coming future. The political climate which changes every time especially in the United States, the law makers are seen to not likely provide funds to cater for health care and social benefits to illegal immigrants. The essay has argued that providing such benefits shows fairness to all people and ensures they all have a happy life.

References

Almutairi, Jabr. “Problems Immigrants Face In Host Countries”. International Business & Economics Research Journal (IBER), vol 14, no. 4, 2015, p. 691. Clute Institute.

Dwyer, James. “Illegal Immigrants, Health Care, And Social Responsibility”. The Hastings Center Report, vol 34, no. 1, 2004, p. 34. JSTOR, doi:10.2307/3528249.

Kirdar, Murat G. “ESTIMATING THE IMPACT OF IMMIGRANTS ON THE HOST COUNTRY SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM WHEN RETURN MIGRATION IS AN ENDOGENOUS CHOICE*”. International Economic Review, vol 53, no. 2, 2012, pp. 453-486. Wiley-Blackwell, doi:10.1111/j.1468-2354.2012.00688.x.

VÄYRYNEN, PEKKA. “Ethical Theories And Moral Guidance”. Utilitas, vol 18, no. 03, 2006, pp. 291-309. Cambridge University Press (CUP), doi:10.1017/s0953820806002056.