Midterm Exam Reviewer PDF

Ethics Overview: Ethics is the study of moral values and rules, determining right and wrong within a community. Example Scenario: A student faces a decision about whether to help a friend cheat on a test and reflects on the school's code of ethic...

Ethics Overview: Ethics is the study of moral values and rules, determining right and wrong within a community. Example Scenario: A student faces a decision about whether to help a friend cheat on a test and reflects on the school's code of ethics that emphasizes integrity. Major Areas of Ethics Metaethics: Analyzes the nature of moral judgments. Example Scenario: A class discussion on whether honesty is an absolute value or varies by context. Normative Ethics: Establishes moral standards. Example Scenario: The school implements a policy requiring students to report bullying, establishing a standard for behavior. Ethics of Religion: Explores how religious beliefs influence morality. Example Scenario: A school invites speakers from different faiths to discuss how their beliefs shape their ethical views. Major Theories of Normative Ethics Consequentialism: Morality is based on outcomes; an act is right if it leads to good consequences.  Example Scenario: A student weighs the benefits of helping organize a charity event against the time it takes away from studying. Deontological Ethics: Focuses on duties and rules; actions are morally right if they adhere to established rules. Example Scenario: A student refuses to participate in a group project that involves plagiarism, adhering to academic integrity rules. Virtue Ethics: Emphasizes character over specific actions; virtues like honesty and courage are central. Example Scenario: A student strives to be compassionate by helping classmates who struggle with their studies. Moral Dilemma Definition: A situation where conflicting moral choices make it difficult to determine the right action. Example Scenario: A student discovers that their best friend is cheating during an exam and must decide whether to report them or remain silent. Moral and Non-moral Standards Moral Standards: Concerned with right and wrong (e.g., honesty). Example Scenario: A student chooses not to share answers during a test, adhering to the principle of fairness. Non-moral Standards: Relate to preferences or social norms (e.g., dress codes). Example Scenario: A school has a policy requiring students to wear uniforms, which is a non-moral standard. Levels of Moral Dilemma Individual Dilemma Definition: Conflicts that arise when an individual must choose between two important values or obligations, often resulting in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. Example Scenario: A student discovers that their friend is cheating on an exam. The student feels torn between reporting the friend to the teacher (upholding academic integrity) and remaining loyal to their friend (preserving the friendship). Organizational Dilemma Definition: Conflicts that occur within an organization where the interests of the organization may conflict with the welfare of individual members.  Example Scenario: A school principal must decide whether to cut funding for a popular after-school program to allocate resources to a new standardized testing initiative. This decision could benefit overall school performance but harm students who rely on the program for enrichment and social support. Structural Dilemma Definition: Dilemmas faced by groups or individuals due to structural relationships within a system, often involving larger societal or institutional frameworks. Example Scenario: A student council is tasked with addressing the needs of all students but faces pushback from certain groups who feel their voices are not being heard. The council must navigate between representing the majority's interests while ensuring that minority voices are included in decision-making processes. Ethics and Culture Characteristics of Culture: Shared beliefs, values, norms within a group. Example Scenario: Students learn about different cultures through presentations, fostering respect for diversity. Cultural Views: Ethnocentrism: Belief in one’s own culture's superiority. Example Scenario: A student dismisses another's cultural practices as inferior without understanding them. Xenocentrism: Preference for other cultures over one’s own. Example Scenario: A student only participates in clubs that celebrate foreign cultures while ignoring local traditions. Organizational Culture: Shared values within a school shaping its ethical climate. Example Scenario: The school promotes teamwork and respect through collaborative projects. Attributes of Human Uniqueness Personhood: Recognition of individuals as moral agents with rights. Example Scenario: Students engage in discussions about individual rights during civics lessons. Family: The role of family in shaping ethical perspectives. Example Scenario: Students share stories about family traditions that emphasize honesty and respect. Culture: Influence of cultural context on ethical beliefs.  Example Scenario: Students explore how different culture’s view education and its ethical implications. Cultural Relativism Strengths: Promotes understanding and tolerance for diverse practices; highlights morality's variability across cultures. Example Scenario: Students participate in cultural exchange programs, learning about different ethical practices firsthand. Problems: Can lead to moral nihilism where no action can be universally condemned; harmful practices may be justified as culturally acceptable. Example Scenario: Students debate whether certain cultural practices should be challenged when they conflict with universal human rights.