Padlan, Pamela Rose C.

2A-MT
The Ethical Systems of Albert Laurent from The Island

In Michael Bays movie, The Island, the theme concentrates on the might-be future of science and
technology wherein anything might be possible. It revolves around clones that are called insurance
policies and products. These clones are communicated in public as in constant vegetative state. The
two main characters, Lincoln Six Echo and Jordan Two Delta, manages to escape the seemingly utopian
society and literally go on their quest to meet their makers.
Albert Laurent, a Burkinabe mercenary, is a specialized agent hired by Merrick to find and return
Lincoln and Jordan to their facility unharmed. He does not show up until the movie reaches its half. In his
first appearances, what he does is just his job; he does not interfere with the decision making of the
facility nor announce any opinion he might have had. His ethical system at this time leans more towards
the extrinsic theory, wherein he abides by the culture set by the surroundings, authority, and influence of
the majority. There is also a hint to Albert to using his intuition after he supposedly captured Lincoln Six
Echo (which was actually the real Tom Lincoln). He catches on after Lincoln knowingly responded to
Alberts statement of him witnessing trade secrets by saying: You mean that they manufacture human
beings who walk, talk and feel? His intuition suggest that there is something wrong here, and that he has
to get to the bottom of it somehow before he makes any other decisions.
Based on my understanding of his body language, during his conversation with Dr. Merrick, he
seemed to be pondering whether he was doing the right thing. He is not thinking about the money that
was being given to him as payment for his exemplary work in capturing Lincoln. This moment captures
Socrates teachings on pausing to reflect and ask questions to achieve self-knowledge and moral
excellence. He opens up about the death of his father during the Burkinabe rebellion, wherein he and his
brother were branded and everyone would know there were less than human. He associated his
experiences to what was happening to Lincoln and the other clones he heard was going to be destroyed
without being given a chance to live. Albert has also confessed that he has seen and done things he wasnt
very proud of, that the rebellion he was in and the war, was actually a business. Connecting to exactly
what Dr. Merrick was doing, he continued by saying So, when did killing become a business for you?
Dr. Merrick stated that these clones are soulless, and that he gives life for he has discovered the
Holy Grail of science. He also emphasized on the possibility of curing leukemia, something no one would
think possible. Albert here now shows that he is a believer of God, as he sarcastically replied I guess just
you and God. Thats the answer youre looking for, isnt it? I could see how his ethics completely
changed to an intrinsic one. He is only influenced by himself and what he thinks is right. He has then

carried out his plans to help the clones destroy the facility and escape from the world that has imprisoned
them.
Alberts character and ethical system changed dramatically as the movie progressed and I can
only say that humans ethical systems have evolved and our curiosity and rational thinking led us to very
different beliefs and principles. Clearly, the movie exposed a very sensitive theme of the movie which is
thought-provoking in itself. It focused on what it meant to be human; and the inhuman selfishness that
people in general exhibit when the situation demands it. We need to adopt Alberts thinking of reflecting
before making any harsh actions that will be the defining moment of our morality.