BCOR 2303 Quiz 1

Directing the elephant and rider:

-Direct the rider -Motivate the elephant -Shape the path

how do we direct the rider

-Know what we think -Develop tools to make calculated decisions -Give clear direction, reduce mental paralysis

Milgram takeaways

-Obedience is entrenched, but not blind -Person obeying typically conflicted -Those who obey surrender their personal ethics to authority -Authorities in power have an agenda

How do we internalize the cost/ benefit analysis of breaking the rules (Mazar)

-internalizing the moral economy -theory of self-concept -external cost/benefit analysis -Accounts for the impact of an internal reward system on peoples decision-making process

Leeds decision making model:

1. Define the dilemma 2. Identify alternative for responding: 3. Determine options that might right be right: 4. Choose what is right: based on analysis 5. Communicate the decision 6. Reflect on the decision

Normative theory: The big three

1. utilitarianism ethics 2. Deontological ethics 3. virtue ethics

Deontological Ethics objections

does not moral law exist for the sake of human well being? What if doing what is right actually does extraordinary damage?

Descriptive ethics

how do people actually act when faced with a morally ambiguous situation

Moral perfectionism answers the question:

how do you become a better version of yourself through exchange with others who are on the same journey

The big 3 answers the ethical question:

how do you decide what the right decision is when things are morally ambiguous?

Normative Ethics

how should people act when faced with a morally ambiguous situation

Which of the following are NOT things that Ariely found to effectively reduce cheating?

i. Signing an honor pledge ii. Remembering a moral code like the Ten Commandments iii. Being watched iv. Reducing the reward of cheating

1. Which of the following were NOT ideas supported by Dan Ariely's research?

i. The largest economic cost of cheating comes from the 'big cheaters,' often featured in the news, who try to get away with major fraud. ii. Most of us think of ourselves as mostly honest—but end up being frequently dishonest in small ways that we can justify to ourselves. iii. Most of us have a 'personal fudge factor' that defines how much we can bend the rules before we start to feel 'dirty' or as if we've lost our integrity. iv. People cheat in ways that track the rules of 'economic rationality': they cheat more when the reward is bigger and the risk is smaller, less when the reward is smaller and the risk bigger.

Medial frontal lobes and anterior cingulate cortex:

intuition, pre reflective

What does Haidt's research show about the relevance of social signaling (like gossip and reputational factors) to morality?

keeps people inline "Moral community has a set shared norms about how members ought to behave, combined with means for imposing costs in violators and/ or channeling benefits to cooperators.

veil of ignorance

makes people more likely to arrive at a process and decision that does not unfairly disadvantage any particular group

factors that Promote honesty:

pledge, signatures, moral reminders, supervision

objections to emersonian and moral perfectionism

that sounds selfish. Aren't ethical theories supposed to provide guidance about how to treat others?

What does the Rider represent

the conscious, verbal, thinking brain Moral reasoning (Reflective)

Utilitarian Ethics

the moral worth of actions or practices is determined by their consequences (ENDS) Utilitarianism aims to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number- no matter who they are Maximize the benefits to society and minimize harms Good outcomes make actions right

what does the Elephant represent

The automatic, emotional, visceral brain Moral intuition Fast, automatic, and usually affect-laden processes (Pre-reflective)

What are the real costs of small (dis)honesty? Dan ariely

The bigger liars get all the attention But they are not the ones who create the biggest social and organizational costs The bigger costs comes from the many small liars, who bend the truth and steal around the margins

Milgram Experiment

why are so many average people willing to commit ethical atrocities under the right circumstances? Demanding obedience -Majority of people were compliant -A minority rebelled

Prefrontal cortex:

Calculating utilitarian; reflective

Genetics:

Character traits like conscientiousness and agreeableness have some correlation to genes People man be genetically predisposed to psychopathy A milder version of psychopathy can be caused by damage to frontal regions of the brain

how do we motivate the elephant

Find the emotional connection

According to Jonathan Haidt, is ethics about individual decision making or the way that groups form and bond together?

Groups "That morality binds and builds: it constrains individuals and ties them to each other to create groups that are emergent entities with new properties

Haidt identifies five relatively universal 'core values' that shape how morality functions. What are the values?

Harm Fairness Ingroup Authority Purity

Rider and elephant (haidt):

How do we shape human behavior, given our reflective and pre-reflective responses to moral problems?

Kantian Version:

A theory focused on right procedure, not good outcomes Deontological ethics focuses on respecting the rights of others even if that leads to suboptimal outcomes overall

Moral perfectionism

Am i becoming a higher version of myself by helping others do the same

Virtue Theorist

Aristotle, alasdair Maclntyre

deontological ethics

Base their decision about whats right on broad, abstract universal ethical principles or values such as honesty, promise keeping, fairness, loyalty, rights to, justice, compassion, and respect for persons and property. Certain moral principles are binding, regardless of the consequences "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"term-44 rightly intended actions make agents good

reflective (discursive)

Calculating

Rawlsian version:

Imagine that you're setting up the rules of a society from behind a veil of ignorance What kind of society would you create? How would wealth and income be divided?

Which of the following best describes the method of becoming a moral human being, according to virtue ethics?

Imitate an excellent person through habitual practice, which leads to excellent character.

Pre-reflective

Intuition

Virtue ethics objections

Is it really specific character traits that make our actions good? (When being good and acting well does not fit the box of particular virtues) What if the role models in your community aren't virtuous? (Who determines the norms)

How does normative ethics enable us to make moral business decisions in ethically uncertain circumstances?

It gives us reasons for acting when our values are in conflict.

Utilitarian Ethics theorist

Jeremy bentham, john stuart mill, peter singer

Deontological Ethics versions

Kant and Rawlsian

Emersonian Perfectionism (a minority report):

Moral perfectionism helps us to figure out how to live in two different worlds at the same time Living in both worlds as our world: a journey of constant transformation We can only achieve our unattained but attainable self through exchange with others

Morality: Law or grammar?

Morality seems to be more like a grammar than a law:

Utilitarian objections

Often difficult to obtain the information required to evaluate all of the consequences for all stakeholders who may be directly or indirectly affected by an action or decision. Rights of a minority group can easily be sacrificed for the benefit of the majority

Case Study: Chiquitta

Paying off terrorist organizations for safety in fear for their workers being taken

Theory of self-concept maintenance (mazar)

People will act dishonesty enough to benefit themselves- but only up to the point where they still feel good about their integrity Morality & society:internal perception overrides external reward

Values (Business Ethics)

Philosophy helps us account for and coordinate our values

how do we shape the path

Reduce the obstacles, tweak the environment, make the journey go downhill

Social ethics:

Rider and elephant (haidt)

Virtue Ethics Approach

Should developing an excellent human character traits be the excellent role model A theory focused on developing specific, excellent character traits, not just following right procedure or seeking good outcomes Focuses more on the integrity of the moral actor than on the moral act itself Considers primarily the actors character, motivations, and intentions. good actions make good agents, and good agents do good actions

How would an Emersonian perfectionist most likely evaluate this choice?

Transformation into our unattained but attainable self through conversation with others is the goal of ethical living; the first offer might provide more opportunity for this.

T/F: Character traits like conscientiousness and agreeableness have some correlation to genes

True

ethical framework responses to Chiquitta

Utilitarian: Using terrorist organizations may benefit the most people Deontological: Not to use militant groups because its morally wrong. Blood money is unethical Virtue: Developed managers into virtuous people creating a negative view on blood money

Moralization:

We realign our moral judgement with our lifestyles: ex) Sexual harassment Junk food Smoking

Cultural change can lead to the reverse process of demoralization

Weed Divorce Sexuality

logic of moralization

a distinctive mind-set commandeers our thinking This is the mind set that makes us deem actions immoral Rather than merely disagreeable, unfashionable, or imprudent

The Rawlsian term 'Veil of Ignorance' refers to:

a thought-experiment in deontological thinking for removing personal self-interest and prejudice from institutional design.

factors that Increases dishonesty:

ability to rationalize, conflicts of interest, creativity, one immoral act, being depleted, others benefitting from our dishonesty, watching others behave dishonestly, culture that gives examples of dishonesty

No impact on honesty:

amount of money to be gained, probability of being caught