Dear Thinkers,
How might we use the ‘ways of knowing,’ or our ‘intuition’ or one of the ‘moral paradigms’ to guide us through the process of determining what is right and what is wrong? How can our approach, lens, or theory shape how we think about ethical issues? And most importantly, are you ethically responsible to act ‘ethically’ upon the knowledge you gain?
Like our art presentations, where we presented unique ideas/examples to further our discussion of art as an area of knowledge, I would like for you to find a ‘real-life’ situation that deals with ethics as an area of knowledge. A ‘real-life situation’ is real; it is not hypothetical, imagined, or fabricated. This is important because we want to engage in thinking about real issues that we can really affect.
1. Find a ‘real-life’ situation dealing with an ethical issues that can be viewed or perceived from two or more perspectives/lenses. There should be no duplicate issues shared, so whomever posts first has the most topics to select from. And, whomever posts last will need to have read all the other comments/replies so that his/her topic is new and has not yet been shared with the class.
2. Briefly summarize the issue (50 words). Include the link to the article/web site/video in your reply so we can read/view the content and comment.
3. Develop a “question about knowledge” using one of the key ToK concepts we have studied, or by linking to the ‘ways of knowing’. Post your summary and knowledge question.
4. Due Wednesday, 27 April
5. Return to this site, read, and comment on at least two of your classmates’ replies by Friday, 29 April.
I suggest that you consider exploring issues that are either international or environmental in nature because they can be viewed from a variety of perspectives. Also, consider searching these sites for your ‘real-life situation.’
Kind Regards,
Coey
p.s. I will post an example of what your reply might look like
Issue: North Korea threatens with nuclear attack.
Summary: any criticism against North Korea’s nuclear weapon program will be considered a declaration of war. If there is any confrontational act such as the issuance of a so-called statement concerning ‘the North’s nuclear issue’ at the Seoul conference, it would constitute an extreme offence.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/world/asia/north-korea-warns-against-criticism-of-nuclear-program.html
Knowledge question: How would North Korea identify a criticism by the use of logic or emotion?
http://theotherpress.ca/man-enters-rehab-for-netflix-addiction/
Richard Hawthorne entered rehab due to his Netflix addiction. He worked full-time for a beer company. Because he was so addicted to Netflix, he became a “Netflix Zombie.” He got fired from his job because he did not show up to work for a month because he was busy watching Netflix. Because of his absence, they called a police. The police founded him “wearing an adult diaper, re-watching Community and laughing like a maniac.” Now he is no longer a “Netflix Zombie.”
Knowledge Questions:
After reading the experiences of Richard Hawthorne, what should society do about Netflix?
Netflix is easy to use, enjoyable, and not expensive. Will it be wrong to ignore Richard Hawthorne’s situation and continue watching Netflix? How will society determine what is wrong or right about Netflix?
Issue: Diminishing Ray of Hope
Summary: Manta rays have never been a target for fishermen because their meats are cheap and they cause damages to the fishermen’s nets. This changed over the years because the gill plates of the manta rays are used for Chinese medicines. The medicines made from the manta ray’s gill plates were used for cleaning human blood of toxins.
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/2013/03/201332715299451455.html
Knowledge Question: Is it ethical for humans to kill animals in order to save themselves? (self-interest theory)
I like your knowledge question. It can be applied to many situations. Are you raising this question be you believe it is our ethical responsibly to protect wildlife?
This is interesting. But is killing animals the right thing to do if it means to help another to survive if they are put in a life-or-death situation?
In this article, a doctor is quoted as saying that the manta ray product has no medicinal value. People believe that it will help them with their ailments. Now we know about the power of belief, the placebo effect, which is measurable. Still, at what point do we decide that our beliefs or behavior is immoral?
Issue: Guantanamo Bay prisoners denied drinking water.
Summary: In the midst of a prisoner lead hunger strike in protest of mistreatment by gaurds there are claims that prisoners are being denied water. The gaurds of the prison deny the allegations but the general health of the prisoners is declining quickly.The ethical dilemma in this situation is if the Prison officials have a right to deny water or food regardless if the prisoners are willing to accept it.
http://rt.com/news/gitmo-hunger-strike-mistreatment-972/
Knowledge Question: How much of what we consider “morally correct” is dictated by our emotions?
I like your topic. It really allows me to think about how prisoners are treated. Is it morally right to torture prisoners, murderers, robbers and other bad people just because they’ve done something bad?
I understand the issue but how can the protest of the prisoners change the situation if they make it worse? And are those guards doing this to for their own interest of seeing the prisoners suffer or for the greater good for all?
http://www83.homepage.villanova.edu/richard.jacobs/MPA%208300/theories/situationism.html
After reading this, it makes me wonder if all we need is love. Some people might want something else besides love. People have their own ways of thinking. Not all people have the same thought. Love might be everything for me, but for you love might be nothing at all.
Knowledge Question: What is so good about love anyways and why does it makes us go crazy?
lol what are you defining “make us go crazy” as? Making irrational decisons?
its hard to say because love is undefined .. even though we don’t know what is so good about it, we just want to feel loved because it feels right . and
its funny because talking about this reminds me of the song “All you need is love” correct me if I’m wrong but i believe its by John Lennon ? and you asked “whats so good about love?” and this song has a simple message saying that love is everything.
Your topic makes me wonder, what are the morals in love? Is there morals in “love”?
If love is an abstract idea, then how can we (human beings) know the true meaning of love? And what is crazy?
What is love anyway? Is it a self-serving emotion? Or is it about empathy and sacrifice? It seems to me that the term ‘love’ is still ambiguous and perhaps we don’t know exactly what we mean when we use the term.
For me, I don’t really see love as being undefined. More like love is defined in many ways. Love between a girlfriend and a boyfriend. Family love: mother to daughter. But I’m still curious about this quote (Yes it’s kinda off topic) : “Money cannot buy love”. I feel like this is implying that love is more important. So is love more important than money? Or are we just using this quote to be romantic? Would we really choose love over money?
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/05/26/ym-blodget-geffner-facebook-ipo-mess.cnn
After watching the CNN video about Facebook is ethnical or illegal, it made me wonder if the two men answering the host’s questions make decisions that will benefit for all people or to be empathic about the policy about the security system for business companies. Also, how does the business benefit the money that will be going to the Facebook IPO mess? And how does these men break down Facebook’s stock debut?
Knowledge question: To what extent does the business benefit the ideas of ethics around the Facebook’s IPO mess?
I believe that the business benefits the ideas of ethics around the facebook’s IPO mess to a certain extent because it could be promoting good publicity that will allow it to be accepted or it could promote bad publicity that will make it have a horrible image.
In business, how are we to equate ethics? Is it profit taking ethical or immoral? How can a company’s loss be considered ‘wrong’ in the eyes of the shareholders?
Issue: In Cairo in the wake of a police strike and in the absence of government control, Egyptian society has been shaken recently by vigilante violence – setting off alarm bells for civilians, pundits and analysts who fear for the country’s future. With Egypt’s General Prosecutor recently issuing a statement encouraging citizens to take the law into their own hands, and an extremist Islamic group calling for “popular committees,” or vigilante groups, to help enforce law and order, many fear there is more violence to come. Abu Saada fears recent calls by some Islamists for “popular committees,” or vigilante groups, to help enforce law and order. http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/27/17488057-egyptians-fear-wave-of-vigilantism?lite
Knowledge Question: Are these vigilante groups basing their opinion of how the government should be ran off of their own religious beliefs (Religious Theory) only to provide themselves with comfort and stability (Self Interest Theory)?
idk if this is going off topic but this reminds me of Batman because he is a vigilante. he takes matters into his own hands. but do you think that this could be part of utilitarianism ? because as the vigilante groups help enforce the law, could be helping a great amount of people ? just like Batman haha
Nice connection, Stanley.
Why are extremist Islamic groups calling for “popular committees” and who are these “popular committees”?
How might popular consent become equated with moral reasoning?
There has been a new trend, in which people are trying to sell a kidney. Many of these people want to donate in order to receive money due to the economical crisis we are going through.Many believe it should be an unpaid act. http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/focusareas/medical/kidney-sale.html
Knowledge question:
Should a donor’s ability to save a life come with the right of having hidden benefits? and Why should we see this act as a duty rather than a right or vice versa?
issue: Bomb explodes near Acropolis in central Athens
A bomb has reportedly exploded near the ancient Acropolis building in the center of Greece’s capital, Athens. No one was injured. The target was a ship owner’s house near the Acropolis. His identity remains unknown. Police were able to evacuate two people from the targeted building. they also were able to save Athen’s most famous monument. no one has stepped up and to take full responsibility for the attack. http://rt.com/news/bomb-central-athens-acropolis-949/
knowledge question: did this unknown person bombed the ship owner for him self (self interest theory) or was it to help find happiness for a greater amount of people? (utilitarianism)
Stanley,
I like this question you have raised. It reminds me of whether or not it might be ethical to steal bread for your starving family. Is it even possible to include bombing the public as a means of positively affecting a great number of people? Isn’t this the same argument that Al Qaeda uses to justify fighting against the American military? Is it logical to say you must do evil to achieve some good in the world? I wonder if this would lead to ‘an eye for an eye’ mentality.
Thanks Stanley!
Coey
I beleive that this unknown person bombed the ship owner as a way of protesting against the government. This issue could be looked upon as him trying to help others because he is being the voice of those that are not willing to retaliate.
Why did he want to bomb the ship for the first place, is it because he wants revenge or something?
Issue: Drone Strikes in Pakistan
Summary: The United States Air Forces uses unmanned ‘drones’ to conduct surveillance and to fire missiles at presumed enemies. The ethical dilemma centers around whether or not this type of warfare is ethical given that the practice saves American lives. Yet, as this video shows, not all of the missiles are striking the intended targets. http://www.warcosts.com/child_deaths_drones_video
Knowledge Question: How might our ability to observe (sense perception) through film or pictures (evidence) shape our understanding and beliefs in ways that language can not?
This is an interesting tpoic, Mr. Coey. I like your knowledge question. So, what are the purpose of the drones and do they benefit for the better all or self-interest for the Americans?
I like your response, Chingmeng. Is it possible that we can become more morally aware IF we can see images and hear eye-witness accounts? If so, wouldn’t this make us responsible for being well-informed from a variety of perspectives?