The Circle, 2017

May, 2023 | ROBBY SCAROLA

The 2017 film “The Circle” by James Ponsoldt follows the story of Mae Holland, a lady who lands a job at the powerful technology company called The Circle. The company is led by CEO Eamon Bailey, who promotes a culture of transparency and constant surveillance through innovative technology. As Mae becomes more involved with the Circle, she starts to question the implications of the company’s activities and the erosion of personal privacy. The film explores themes of technology, surveillance, and the potential consequences of an increasingly connected world.

Throughout this movie, at the Circle, they are able to view everybody’s personal life that they may not show to others. This can be an invasion of privacy and cause questions on what the Circle is doing right?  I will look into this question from the point of view of Utilitarianism and Virtue Ethics. 

Utilitarianism is one of the most powerful approaches in the history of philosophy.  It was created by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. They both identified the good with pleasure. They also said we must maximize the good and how the greatest amount of good as it applies also the greatest number of people. Bentham also argued that morality's purpose is to promote the greatest happiness. He believed that pleasure and pain are factors that determine whether an action is either right or wrong. This theory also minimizes the total amount of suffering or pain for all those that have been affected by the action. John Stuart Mill’s main goal was to promote happiness  as well.

There are two main types of utilitarianism. Act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism. Act utilitarianism focuses on the consequences of individual actions and the overall happiness they produce. The main meaning of this type is an act can be right only if the results are much overall well-being that anybody can perform. Another way to explain is if you act rightly, then you maximize well-being, while wrongly if you do not. The second type is Rule utilitarianism. This type focuses on the consequences of certain rules of behavior, and judges them based on the overall happiness they produce over a certain amount of time. While utilitarianism has been influential in many types of areas of social policy, it has also been subject to criticism. Some argue that this theory is too focused on aggregate happiness while it neglects individual rights and justice. Others argue that it is difficult to measure and compare diverse types of happiness, and that it can lead to many problematic sacrifices of certain behaviors for the greater good.

Throughout the movie, Utilitarianism is used several times in several key factors. The Circle promotes a utilitarian perspective. It argues that increased transparency and connectivity will ultimately benefit their society as a whole. The company believes that by collecting and sharing all personal information, they can improve the quality of life and make better decisions for the majority. They promote the idea that increased connectivity will lead to greater overall happiness and benefit society. CEO Eamon Bailey, advocates for a world where all information is shared openly and believes that this will eliminate corruption and create a more equitable society. The Circle’s actions align with utilitarian principles as they prioritize the overall well-being and happiness of the majority over individual privacy. The company argues that by collecting and analyzing vast amounts of personal data, they can solve problems more efficiently and create a world that is fair and equal for all.

However, the utilitarian approach presented in the movie raises ethical questions. It challenges the notion of personal privacy and the right to control one’s own information. The Circle’s push for total transparency disregards the potential negative consequences, such as loss of personal freedom, and the erosion of privacy boundaries. The movie also highlights the potential dangers of oppression and infringing on individual rights. As the company’s influence and powers grow, it becomes clear that the pursuit of the greatest good for the greatest number can result in the loss of personal agency and the exploitation of individuals for the benefit of the collective population.

Virtue Ethics is the oldest ethical theory in the world. This theory defines good actions that display and embody character traits such as wisdom, loyalty, and courage. This theory was developed by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. Ethics was key in Aristotle’s life. It taught him that virtue is different from vices. In Aristotle’s eyes, these two are acquired by repetition. Virtue Ethics can show and remind us of the importance of our own role models. The way to show a person and to teach them to learn ethics, you will need to show them an ethical person. Virtues are habits or dispositions that enable us to act in several ways that promote the well-being of ourselves and others. Virtue ethics also emphasizes the importance of practical wisdom, which is applying moral principles to real-life situations. There are many different approaches to defining virtues and character traits. Some focus on cultivating individual virtues, while others emphasize the importance of cultivating a character that embodies a wide range of virtues.

There are elements of virtue ethics throughout the film. Virtue Ethics emphasizes the development of moral character and the cultivation of virtuous qualities. In the film, Mae undergoes a transformation as she becomes more deeply involved with The Circle. At first, she is portrayed as a naive and eager employee. As the film goes on, Mae’s actions and decisions start to reflect a shift in her character. As Mae rises within The Circle, she becomes more conscious of the ethical implications of the company’s practices. She begins to question the impact of constant surveillance and the invasion of privacy on individuals. Her growing unease and her desire to expose the company’s secrets can be seen as a reflection of her developing moral character. Mae’s transformation can be interpreted as a journey towards virtue ethics, where she gradually develops virtues such as courage, integrity, and a sense of responsibility. She starts to realize the importance of personal autonomy and the value of protecting individual privacy.

We can use these two theories, Utilitarianism and Virtue Ethics, to have a better understanding of the movie The Circle. The use of Utilitarianism is shown by The Circle wanting a more well-rounded life and happiness with everyone when they did not get that from spying on people's personal lives. Virtue Ethics is exemplified by Mae who shows how someone's perspective of something can change over time. To round this off, The uses of Utilitarianism and Virtue Ethics help provide a more in-depth understanding of this movie.