Ethical decision to be made: What would you sacrifice in the situations below?
Background:
At various times in your life you may confront a situation where you may need to sacrifice something for the good of another. Would you do it? Let's look at three cases:
- Someone needs a kidney: What if you learned someone needed a kidney or they would die? What if they asked directly? Who would you give your kidney to?
- Your safety: You see a person starting to drown in a lake. Would you jump in to save them? You only have a few seconds to choose.
- $200: You find out a person needs $200 for something important and not frivolous. Would you give it to them? You were saving the $200 for a new game and wireless earbuds!
Ethical decision-making process:
- What are the ethical issues? What does not feel right?
- What are the relevant facts? Is anything missing or distorted?
- Who are the stakeholders? What are their influence on the situation?
- What are the situational factors?
- What are the values in conflict?
- How do the ethical frameworks apply? Is anyone/any group not acting with virtue? Are any ethical rules being violated? How would the most benefit to the largest number of people be achieved? Should only people be considered?
- What are possible solutions? What are the consequences? What must be monitored in the future?
- What was your final solution and justification?
Implement your solution:
- What would you sacrifice? Complete the table below. Justify your answers.
Person |
Would you sacrifice or risk? |
||
|
a kidney |
your safety |
$200 |
Parent |
|
|
|
brother/sister |
|
|
|
daughter/son |
|
|
|
cousin |
|
|
|
friend |
|
|
|
acquaintance |
|
|
|
someone you did not know |
|
|
|
a child you did not know |
|
|
|
an older person you did not know |
|
|
|
someone who hurt you |
|
|
|
enemy |
|
|
|
Optional classroom discussion:
Students can share their answers to the class or in small groups. Students can reflect on their discussion:
- Does it feel uncomfortable admitting you may not help certain people?
- If someone in the class disagrees with your responses, what values were in conflict?
- Did you change your mind after hearing someone else's opinion? Why?
- If you still disagree with the other person, do you respect them the same? More? Less? Why?
Word 2007 document, 246.5 KB