Students delve into scenarios to ask 'what is ethical?'
James Madison
University students numbering 115 and a few faculty members considered seven
complex scenarios during an ethical reasoning workshop hosted by the university's
Virginia Gamma chapter of Phi Sigma Tau, the International Honor Society in
Philosophy on March 16.
The Madison
Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action, JMU's Quality Enhancement Plan, was
the basis of the workshop held in the Allegheny Room of the Festival Conference
and Student Center.
Development of
the QEP, which began in 2010, is required of JMU for its reaffirmation of
accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – Commission
On Colleges.
Dr. Michael
Davis, assistant professor of communication studies and advisor to the JMU
Debate Team, outlined the Eight Key Questions that guide The Madison
Collaborative before the assembly convened in 14 smaller groups. Members of the
debate team joined in groups to offer oral argumentation advice.
Outcomes – What
are the short-term and long-term outcomes of possible actions?
Fairness – How
can I act equitably and balance all interests?
Authority – What
do legitimate authorities (e.g., experts, law, my god[s]) expect of me?
Liberty – What
principles of freedom and personal autonomy apply?
Rights – What
rights (e.g., innate, legal, social) apply?
Responsibilities
– What duties and obligations apply?
Empathy – How
would I respond if I cared deeply about those involved?
Character – What
actions will help me become my ideal self?
"The
questions help you determine for yourself what is ethical," Davis said as
he set the stage for the groups to consider the scenarios. "There's not
one answer that tells us how to act ethically," he cautioned.
The scenarios
were:
- Joe
knows that in this economy, finding a job can be tough. He wasn't having any
luck finding work since employers thought his Ph.D. over qualified him. So, he
started applying for jobs without listing his doctorate degree. He now has a
fantastic job offer from a Fortune 500 company. If Joe takes the job, he would
start on an excellent career path and he could start repaying his student
loans. However, he would also be starting his work relationship on a lie that
could hurt him down the road. Should Joe take the job?
- An
organization provides annual grant money to charity project proposals. This
year, two excellent projects are competing. One and only one of these projects
must be chosen. The first proposal, from the World Peace Project, has the
potential to moderately assist millions of people. Yet, this project also sets
the stage for future improvement. The second proposal, from the Better Earth
Initiative will drastically improve the quality of life of thousands
immediately. Which project should the organization choose?
- The
year is 2075 and artificial intelligence (robots) now has fully developed
autonomy, including full-scale emotional capacity. The number of sentient
artificial beings now rivals the human population. Some believe these
artificial beings deserve the same rights extended to humans. Others contend
that there is no way to know whether artificial intelligence can be hacked or
easily coerced. Should beings of artificial humans receive the same rights as
biological humans?
- A
local group wants to hold a protest rally through a quiet, religious
development. The group received permission from the local government. However,
the residents have repeatedly asked the group not to protest through their
neighborhood and deem the protest "hate speech." Should the group be
allowed to protest?
- A
professor at a major university is grading final term in-class essays. He has
graded all of the papers except one from his best student. However, his dog at
the entire essay! His best student has over a 100 percent grade in the class,
and it is impossible for her to get any less than an A+ in the course. The
professor is considering entering an arbitrary grade for the assignment since
grades are due in 15 minutes. Is it okay if the professor enters a final grade
for the student? Or, should the professor make the student re-take the exam?
- Panem
just broke out in civil war. Over 1.5 million refugees have flocked to a
neighboring country, Genovia. Until the war is over, the refugees are
considered enemies of Panem. Genovia has a longstanding treaty with Panem to
not aid its enemies. However, if Genovia refuses to take in and provide aid for
the refugees, they will almost assuredly develop illnesses and starve. Should
Genovia assist the refugees of Panem?
- A
low-income community recently found 200 kittens in an abandoned warehouse.
There is no animal shelter in the community. Unless all residents donate $100
each, the kittens will have to be put down. Many residents in the neighborhood
make much less than $100 a day. Should the residents provide the money needed
to save the kittens?
Workshop
participant Sidney Lawrence, a junior majoring in cultural anthropology, said
of her experience, "It was interesting to see other peoples' points of
view because what I find morally sound might not be exactly what another person
thinks. Hearing different and opposing opinions definitely makes me think."
"This
program showed me that it (The Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in
Action) can be successful," said Kevin McCall, a junior majoring in
biology. "When I first heard about the QEP, I was a little doubtful that
people would be interested. But based on the discussion, everyone talked and
what they said was well thought out and showed that they were engaged with the
questions. It makes me optimistic that the QEP is something that can be
successful."
The ethical
reasoning workshop is part of the semester-long program, "Rhetoric and
Reasoning in the Liberal Arts," which is supported by a $5,000 grant from
the Student Government Association. The program is also supported by the
College of Arts and Letters, Department of Philosophy and Religion and Logic
and Reasoning Institute.
# # #
March 19, 2013
