Jeff Robles Boado

BSSW 2-A
ETHICS

Base on my understanding in the movie Bad Genius it is all about honesty and trust. This
novel also talks about the importance of friendship. Hope, hard work, and optimism are also
reflected in this movie lot. A genius level high school student makes money after developing
elaborate methods to help other students cheat. The movie shows socio-economic inequalities as
Lynn had to fight hard for a scholarship to study abroad while Grace and Pat's rich family could
easily secure their seats overseas. Lynn felt that her life was a fraud from the start so she cheated
without guilt. Lynn is the character who exhibit moral sentiment in the movie. Moral sentiment
is defined as having empathy towards the other that allows us to identify with others. At the
beginning of the movie, Lynn felt the empathy to her friend, Grace, during their library talk
where in Grace told her that she needs higher grade to be able to continue taking part in the
school play. Being Lynn’s only friend, she helped her and even let her copy in the exam.
Although she knew that it is a crime to cheat, she still let Grace copy her answers; out of
friendship and empathy as well. in the movie, the cheating crime shows the utilitarianism
principle. Even though in other principles, the cheating act specially the STIC exam is a crime
and morally wrong, in utilitarianism it is otherwise. In utilitarianism, the cheating crime of
Lynn, Bank, Grace, and Pat can be considered morally right because it is for the benefits of the
numerous students including the four of them. Grace and Pat was able to pass the exam, Bank
and Lynn got the money, and a lot of exam takers, 30 students at least, are able to pass the
exam as well. Because utilitarianism doesn’t take action in consideration and only focuses on
the number of people benefiting on the action; thus the cheating crime can be considered morally
right in this principle. This movie is about two top students, Lynn and Bank who joined and
cheated on International Examination to earn money from people who hired them to send a
leakage from the said exam. Yes, reflecting back to my schooling days, I've cheated during the
exams. I mean, who wouldn't? But cheating does not do any good as I've realized, I can never be
a better person if I rely on cheating. It really feels more rewarding and fulfilling to achieve or
pass examinations through hard work and focus. Intelligence, like wealth, divides people into
different classes: those who are very lucky; those who are just lucky; and those who are unlucky.
Cheating is like prostitution. Some people do it for a living because life always cheats them.