Assassination Justified?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Christian writer and leader, took it upon himself to kill Hitler. History tells us he was not only unsuccessful, but that he himself was executed for this  attempt.  

Questions: Was Bonhoeffer justified in attempting to assassinate Hitler?
Are  extreme anti-abortionists justified in murdering abortionists?
When is murder justified?

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Assistance with an online course

John currently has 27 math credits.  He is taking a 3-credit online  consumer math course so that he can accumulate 30 credits and be certified to teach math  in high school. 

This course has been "duck soup" for John compared to advanced  calculus and differential equations...  

Final exams are due Friday night at midnight.  No late papers are accepted.  As only happens in stories, John's computer catches a virus on Friday morning and he is unable  to complete the exam.   John calls his cousin, Michael, who happens to be a math major and explains his problem:  I'm taking an easy online course just to be accredited to teach math. This way, as I apply for high school teaching jobs, I can apply to teach two subjects instead of one.  Now I am absolutely stuck, as our syllabus says "No late papers accepted."

Michael asks, "How long would it take to complete your exam?"

"No more than 45 minutes" John replies.

"Well, why don't I log on to your course site, read the problems to you, and , and you can tell me what you'd like to submit for answers." Mike sugg4sts.

As John gave Mike the 25 answers, Mike said there was one that he would answer number  18 differently because of the inconsistent market trends...

John cut off Mike before Mike even had a chance to calculate an answer from his theory saying,, "Oh you're absolutely right. How stupid of me!  Let me figure this out. I would have easily caught it if I had the exam in front of me...."

Mike changed the answer for number 18 and emailed the online exam to the prof.

.Questions:

1. Since John is absolutely stuck, is it OK for Michael to  help him out by reading the exam and emailing the test?

2. Should Michael have mentioned he would have approached number 18 differently?

3. Since John came up with the answer himself , was it OK for Mike to revise it?

4. Would the innocent math discussion be considered cheating or simply a discussion?

5. Under these circumstances, was it OK to change the answer?

6. Was the revised answer a more accurate reflection of John's knowledge?

Ann is  enrolled in a mandatory class that is of little interest to you. Ann has struggled to stay interested in the course, yet she finds it of little value.  

The class is scheduled on Monday mornings, at 8A.M.,  and Ann is always so tired then after having worked twelve hour shifts on weekends.

It is the week before finals.  Ann's average is someplace between a C- and D+.  Ann knows she won't get extra credit for class participation because she slept through a few classes.   Ann is feeling particularly stressed, because in addition to not doing well in the course, she has had many problems at home.  To add to this, if she doesn't maintain a C average, she will lose the tuition reimbursement from her employer. 

Ann mentions this to her best friend Betsy.  Betsy , a student worker in the college, says she  saw a copy of the exam in the "To Be Xeroxed" box  adjacent to the faculty office. She says, "Listen, I'm your best friend.  If I don't help you out, what kind of friend am I.  I'll make a copy of the test for you so that you can survive this semester,"

Ann thoughtfully replied, "No, that might be cheating."

Betsy responded, "It's not like I'm getting you the answers.  I'll get a copy tomorrow, and place it in your car.  If you decide to look at it, then at least it will be there."

Ann finally replied, "OK.  I'll think about it between now and then. I'm not sure."

Questions:

1.  Is Betsy showing genuine concern  for her friend's well-being?
2. What values is Betsy showing by her statement?
3.  Is Betsy mature?
4.  Because Ann is experiencing particularly stressful  problems at home and at college, does this change the picture?
5. Should Ann. look at the exam after she finds it in her car?
6. Do you think there are special circumstances when cheating is OK?
7. What should Betsy have done?
8. What should Ann have done?

Genovese, Kitty Story   -ethical  responsibility to call

At 3:20 A.M.   in  a middle-class neighborhood Queens, New York,  Kitty was returning home from work as a bar manager.  She notice a man following her, so she headed to the police call box.

She did not reach the call box in time & was stabbed. Kitty yelled loudly enough to wake 38 people.  One man yelled "Let that girl alone!"  No one else did anything.

The attacker, somewhat taken aback by the yell and by the lights going headed towards his car.. A few minutes later he returned to find kitty staggering toward her apartment and stabbed her again. Kitty yelled, "I'm dying."  The attacker left.

The attacker went to his car & drove away, only to return for the third time.   This time, he finally killed her.

A full half-hour passed from the first to the third attack.  Police were called later and arrived within half-hour.

Questions

What does this true story tell us about the erosion of personal responsibility in our society?

Does morality imply more than just not being cruel, but also helping others in desperate need - at least when this can be done with minimum inconvenience like a phone call?

Ayn Rand argues in The Virtue of Selfishness that society would be better off if each of us were focused on our own self-interests.  If we expended our energy on what we do best, we would become skillful and prosper. Does this theory hold true to you, or might it open doors for people like Kitty or the sickly to be overlooked?

Fidelity in Marriage - a true story

A  man & woman got married in church and pledged to live together for better or for worse. Upon aging, the wife contracted Alzheimer's and had to be committed to an institution.

Her husband visited her each week even though his wife didn't always recognize him.

Eventually the man got to be close friends with another female.  He could have pleased this lady by marrying her, but said, "I made a commitment to my wife, for better or for worse.  I will continue to visit her each week."

Questions

Was this individual absolutely insane for not taking care of his personal needs and that of his new friends?

What values does his commitment to his wife demonstrate?

Gyges and the Invisible Ring

Plato tells a story of Gyges in his Republic.  It concerns a shepherd intrigued by a newly discovered cave, walked in and discovered a bright ring on a skeleton. He steal the ring and soon learns of its magical powers:  it renders the wearer invisible.  With this newfound power, Gyges entered the king's palace, seduced the queen, murdered the king, took over the kingdom and gained great fame and fortune.  

Now let us imagine a poor and hard-working mother, Monica,  found a ring of invisibility.  Her child, Kaitlyn, will celebrate her fifth birthday next week. 

Monica had originally intended to bake a chocolate cake for her daughter and send it to day care.  Now that Monica had the ring of invisibility, she seriously considered having a birthday party at home and  taking a small amount of food and inexpensive party favors from Super Stop& Shop.  Monica also reminded herself of the times the cashiers had over-rung  some items and times when the bottom of the strawberry and blueberry containers contained rotten fruits.   her taking just a few small items from a store that had a surplus would certainly bring great job to her daughter and her daughter's friends.

Questions?

If Monica followed Kant's advice what might she do? (weigh goods)
If Monica were a situation ethicist, what would she do? (most loving thing)
If Monica were Aristotle, what might she do?
And if Monica were Socrates, what might she do?
What should she do? 

Is a virtuous sufferer better off than Gyges?
Should Monica be moral and why?
Why shouldn't Gyges murder the evil king?
Would it make a difference if he were a good king?

Instructor - True to his Word

On the first day of class Professor Stern clearly explained his syllabus and policies to the class:  "I will not accept late assignments.  I hold to this policy because it encourages and supports students efforts to get work in when it is due. In contrast the acceptance of late assignments has the following effects:
Late assignments take away from class participation when discussion issues; 
Late assignments take away from the class morale and standards; 
Late assignments are simply unprofessional and unacceptable in college
Late assignments undermine students' profession development & preparation for real life
Late assignments encourage students to procrastinate."

A major paper is due on December1.  One student, Problema,  emails the professor on November 29, explaining, "My car was broken into today. I've lost all my school materials, from books, to notes, and even my laptop. I've been a good student all along. could you please grant me an extension or an incomplete?"

Professor Stern replied to the email with a curt, "You know my policy."

One day later Professor Stern had a change of heart and  emailed Problema that he would accommodate her since she had been a good student.

And a week later Andrea approaches Professor Stern and says, 'I wasn't going to mention this to you, but I was very sick the last two weeks of November.  This is why I didn't get my paper in. Would you consider giving me an extension, as you did for Problema.   You know I've been a good student and I can get a doctor's note.  I hadn't mentioned it to you earlier because I didn't know you had changed your policy."

Professor Sterns says, "Let me think about it.  I'll get back to you tomorrow.

Questions:

What should Professor Stern do?
Is it right for him to change his policy in view of unforeseen circumstances?
Might more students ask Professor Stern for leniency if he also accommodates Andrea?
Is it fair to students who turned in their assignments on time - to hear that exceptions are being made amongst "favorites"?

Might it be a better life lesson to the students  and to the class if they just accepted a 0 for that assignment - learning that plans should be made for contingencies and work should be done ahead of time in case something like this occurred? 

What are reasonable expectations for the students?

What are reasonable expectations on the part of the professor?

Is the professor within his rights no matter what he does?

Medical School Debate - based on a true story

The professor's eyes swept the classroom demanding silence and full attention.
"Gentlemen and ladies," he began, "you will soon be doctors. Today let us suppose you are confronted with a married couple needing advice. The husband has syphilis and the wife is infected with tuberculosis. They have four living children: 

Question

How would you have voted and why?
This person  was not aborted and grew up to become deaf

Money under the car mat

Summary - full story can be found http://www.oncourseworkshop.com/Responsibility006.htm

Yolanda's wealthy  husband has passed away and Yolanda was left with three "extra" vehicles. She decided to sell them to deserving people.

Vince a family friend offered to help Yolanda sell the three vehicles.  the went to the following individuals:

1. A struggling community college student;
2. A firefighter who volunteered for Habitat for Humanity 
3. A richer person who was a girl scout leader

Eventually Monica told Vince she found money under the mats. Vince said, "Keep it. Yolanda doesn't need the money."

Shortly after he heard the same story from the firefighter & Vince said keep it. so Vince feeling funny about it  donated the money to Habitat for Humanity

Later # 3 found the money and wanted to tell Yolanda.  Vince said if you tell her then the community college student & Vince will look bad.

Questions:

What should the rich person do?
How much money does there need to be before reporting it??

Sex to benefit others

In the movie, "Indecent Proposal," Robert Redford notices a newlywed couple that is poor but very happy. He offers to solve their financial problems:  "Go to bed with me, and I'll give you a million dollars."  
The wife discusses the proposal and decides to go for it.
Was her decision justified?

A husband is falsely accused of leaking sensitive information.   
She is approached by a VIP that says he can clear her husband and will do so if she goes to bed with him.  Is she justified in having one evening of sex so that her husband will be spared years in jail?

Is sex justified to put bread on the table for the family?

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Telling a white lie  (1,  2 & 3)

  (l) Your best friend , a single mother, is an art major. her work isn't selling and she can't really understand why, but blames it on not having an proper "venue."

When she asks you why you think her art isn't selling, do you answer truthfully and say, "Because it really isn't appealing.  Your art doesn't show any talent or promise."

Questions:

Is it permissible to say a lie in this occasion not to hurt your dearest friend?

Should you suggest she find another major so that she can have a decent income to support her two children?

(2)  You've been invited by an acquaintance to go out to dinner.  You really don't want to go.  is it OK to lie and say, "I had made plans to go out with relatives that night. sorry i can't make it"?

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Terrorism and Lies - Does Duress Make OK to lie?

Learning Objective:

• Students will have the ability to apply theoretical and philosophical statements on lying to real life situations by discussing the lies of journalists when tortured by terrorists.

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Case Study - Journalists lie under duress to secure their release:

The Associated Press reported on August 28, 2006  that just prior to the release of two Fox News journalist captives (Olaf Wlig, 36, from New Zealand; and Steve Centanni, 60, from America) they "appeared in a video dressed in traditional Arab robes, ranting against the West and saying they had converted to Islam." (Article Title "Captured journalists freed, Page A3, Norwich Bulletin, August 28, 2006) 

Needless to say, the journalists who were freed on 8/17/06 said these statement under duress after having been in captivity for two week.  Their possessions had been taken away and they were abused.  .

Why did they lie? Steve Centanni told Fox, "It was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns, and we didn't know what the hell was going on." 

As true journalists, their fear is that reporters may be frightened by the prospect of reporting in Gaza.

Question for discussion:

• Is telling the truth an absolute value that one should never deviate from?
• When is it OK to lie? What justifies a lie?
• When is it not OK to lie?
• Were the two journalists, Wlig and Centanni justified in lying?
• On the hierarchy of values, where does lying fit in compared to other values?

Defining Terms

What is  a lie per
something that misleads or deceives

White Lie:
Thiroux quotes Bok when defining white lie: “A falsehood not meant to injure anyone, and of little moral impact.”
Thiroux suggests white lies have little moral impact. 
Other ethicists would disagree

Thomas Sowell comments in his March 30, 2005 editorial, "This must be the golden age of euphemisms. When people deliberately violate our laws by crossing our borders illegally, they are called 'undocumented workers.'  When people steal copyrighted material and exchange it among themselves. that is 'file swapping' instead of fencing stolen goods" ("Why are pedophiles ever freed from jail? Norwich Bulletin, page A5).

Lies of Commission & Omission

Thiroux distinguishes between lies of commission & lies of omission.
A lie of commission is actually telling someone a lie.

A lie of omission is refraining from giving information to give someone the wrong impression.  For example, you may not volunteer the information  that you take drugs or have committed a serious crime, and give people the opposite impression

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Ethical Theories & their views on lying, cheating, breaking promises: & cheating:

Rule nonseconsequentialists:

Do not lie, cheat steal or break promises.
This is the traditional point of view – (Kant, St. Augustine, John  Wesley founder of Methodism)  
Refer to the 10 commandments (Thou shalt not)

 Consequentialists
A consequentialist would look at the result of lying, cheating, stealing & breaking promises.

 Ethical egoists would do what is best for them

Utilitarians would try to figure out what would bring the most good. or the most pleasure

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The Purple Dress (3)

You run across Mary, a casual acquaintance (on the hefty side), in the hallway at Three Rivers.  She says, “In an hour I’ll be going to Yantic River Inn for a luncheon with dear friends I haven’t seen for a couple of months. Oh, by the way, do you like my new dress? 

It’s a purple dress with horizontal red oblongs. 

If you absolutely hate the dress, is it OK to lie and tell Mary you like it? 

___________YES                                   _____________No

Thrown Overboard

On March 13, 1841, the vessel William Brown departed from Liverpool headed for the Americas.  The boat was carrying 65 passengers and 17 crewmen.  The boat was having a difficult time crossing the ocean; with frequent storms occurring, which damaged some of the ship’s equipment.  On April 19 the ship was hit by an iceberg.  The ship was taking on water faster than the crew could pump it out.  The two lifeboats were lowered, and 9 crewmen and 40 passengers were able to make it to the lifeboats.  The captain had the ships head for Newfoundland.  The first mate was in command of the second boat, which was taking on water.  The first mate decided that he needed to lighten the load if the ship was to make it to shore.  The first mate threw 16 passengers overboard, all of which died except for a boy who grabbed hold of the boat under the bow. 

The following morning an American ship, the Crescent, happened upon the lifeboat, and rescued the survivors.  When they landed in Havre, the American and British Consuls could "Not discover any fact capable of drawing down blame upon any one whatever."    The first mate, Alexander Holmes,  was brought to trial in Philadelphia under the charges of “Unlawful Manslaughter on the High Seas.” (Dreadful shipwreck of the William Brown)

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The Window

I received the following Window Story via email.  It reminded me of Plato's cave.
                   "SHARE THIS WITH SOMEONE."


A great note for all to read. It will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking.

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue: There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."

The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on. Do not keep this letter. Do not send money. Just forward it to your friends to whom you wish good luck. You will see that something good happens to you four days from today.

People will forget what you said...

People will forget what you did...

But people will never forget how you made them feel...

Make someone happy, share a kind word today.

Question:  Was it right/ethical  for the blind man to lie? Why