Transcript A question of Morality - hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca

A question of
“Moral Values”
Introduction
What is the link between personal and
social morality and the law of a country?
Situation 1
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/2936

You are standing next to a train
track. Suddenly you realize that
a train is heading down the
track towards 5 railroad
workers. You cannot shout to
warn them. The only way that
you can save their lives is to pull
a level that will re-direct the
train down another track. On
this second track there is a
single railroad worker. If you
pull the lever the single railroad
worker will die. If you do not 5
railroad will die. There are no
other choices. What do you do?
Situation 2

The train is heading down
the track. Now there is only
one track. There is a very
big guy standing on a
bridge above the track. The
only way you can save the
men on the track is by
pushing the big guy. You
cannot jump in front of the
track yourself. You cannot
warn the workers. Do you
do it?
The Trolley Dilemma
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in almost every case where this scenario is
tested people tend to choose
overwhelmingly to pull the lever, but
overwhelmingly not to push the big guy.
Actually, about 85% of those questioned
choose to pull the lever, but to not push
the man.
Definitions:
Moral Values or Morality

Personal definition – can be in formal
format or brainstorming web.
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Turn to the person next to you – discuss
add any information you feel relevant.

Make groups of four – discuss and add
any information you feel relevant.
From the dictionary:
Gage Canadian Dictionary for
students:
 “Morality
is the right or wrong of
an action”
From the dictionary:
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy:
The term “morality” can be used either
1.
2.
descriptively to refer to a code of
conduct put forward by a society or a
group (religion….)
normatively to refer to a code of conduct
that, given specified conditions, would
be put forward by all rational persons
Nice Shoes:
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Lets say you just bought yourself a pair of
$200 shoes that your really, really wanted.
You are walking down the street with your
brand new shoes and suddenly you pass a
pond where a baby is drowning.
You can jump in and save the baby, but
you will ruin your $200 shoes (no you
don’t have time to take them off). What
do you do?
Nice Shoes – but…
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How many of you have sent or
donated $200 towards Haiti to save a
child’s life?
100? 50? 25?
Do animals have morals?
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In chimpanzees and other animals, you
see examples of sympathy, empathy,
reciprocity, a willingness to follow social
rules.
Dogs are a good example of animals that
have and obey social rules and will
possibly give up their lives (that's why we
like them so much)
Cats on the other hand?????
Project on “Moral Values”
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Personal Values: you complete alone
Canadian Social Values: alone, or in
groups of 2 or 3.
Rubric