Transcript Moral Temptation or Ethical Dilemma?

LTP E 4-2
Making the Better Call
Intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMV-fenGP1g
(4:25 min)
Rev 14 Sep 2015
Ruan70576. (2009). Van Halen-Right now. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMV-fenGP1g
Honor – Duty – Respect
FOR TRAINING USE ONLY
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Training Objective
• Tasks:
– Define Ethics
– Identify and articulate the definition of an Ethical Dilemma
and a Moral Temptation
– Provide an example of an Ethical Dilemma and a Moral
Temptation
• Condition: 50-minute classroom training session
• Standard: Successful completion of Ethics in Action post-test
and required essay
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Factual Information:
What is Ethics?
Divide into groups of 5-6.
In groups, generate
a definition of “ethics.”
Be ready to read your definition aloud.
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Factual Information:
What is Ethics?
“Ethics is the study of standards
of right and wrong behavior”
(Kidder, 2009).
Kidder, R. M. (2009). How good people make tough choices: Resolving the dilemmas of ethical
living. Scranton, PA: HarperCollins Publishers.
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Factual Information:
What is a Moral Temptation?
A Moral Temptation is “a decision
about right versus wrong which is
based clearly on the core values that
each person possesses” (Mercer
University, n.d., p. 1).
Mercer University. (n.d.). Introduction to ethical decision making. Retrieved from
faculty.mercer.edu/hodges_hf/420/Seminar/IntroductiontoEthicalDecisionMaking.08.doc
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Factual Information:
What is an Ethical Dilemma?
An Ethical Dilemma is when two core
values conflict with each other,
requiring a tough choice between a
right decision and a right decision.
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Scenario:
Moral Temptation or Ethical Dilemma?
Cadet Smith is serving weekend duty. Cadet Jones, a classmate,
sends a text asking Smith to allow him (Jones) to take an
unauthorized overnight. Smith knows Jones, and is confident that
Jones will not get into any trouble. As Smith decides what to tell
Jones, is he facing a moral temptation or an ethical dilemma?
Tell Jones “yes”
Tell Jones “no”
Value: friendship; loyalty
Value: rules; duty
Right or wrong?
Right or wrong?
Moral temptation = right vs. wrong; Ethical dilemma = right vs. right
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Scenario:
Moral Temptation or Ethical Dilemma?
Cadet Smith is struggling academically, and because of the stress
of these classes, he has not been taking care of his room properly.
His room is a mess, there’s an MRI tomorrow, and if the company
does poorly on the MRI, they face an unspecified punishment. But
there’s also a major test in one of his classes tomorrow morning.
Smith knows that if he spends his time cleaning rather than
studying, he will get a bad grade on the test – but if he spends his
time studying rather than cleaning, the whole company might
suffer. As Smith decides how to spend his time, is he facing a moral
temptation or an ethical dilemma?
Clean (help company)
Study (improve GPA)
Right or wrong?
Right or wrong?
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Scenrio:
Moral Temptation or Ethical Dilemma?
Cadet Smith is home on Thanksgiving break. Several of his friends
invite him to go out with them, and he agrees. After an evening of
pizza and video games, the group decides to go drinking, and since
Smith is underage, they ask him to be the designated driver. The
problem is that he can’t get into the club without an ID. Somebody
in the group produces a fake ID that looks enough like Smith that it
will probably work. Smith wants to keep hanging out with his
friends, and he wants to keep them safe, but he isn’t sure about
using a fake ID. As Smith decides whether to use the fake ID, is he
facing a moral temptation or an ethical dilemma?
Use fake ID (help friends)
Right or wrong?
Refuse fake ID (obey law)
Right or wrong?
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Activity:
Moral Temptation or Ethical Dilemma?
YOUR TURN
In your group, describe a situation in which you faced a
moral temptation, then describe a second situation in which
you faced an ethical dilemma. You may describe a situation
in the barracks, something related to class, or something
unrelated to school.
In each case, identify the values associated with each choice.
Be ready to share your situations with the whole class.
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Applicability to
Post-Graduation Life
• A moral temptation is NOT an ethical dilemma.
• Doing wrong, even for a good reason, is still
wrong.
– Cheating (which is wrong) to make good grades (which is good) is still
wrong.
– Lying (which is wrong) out of loyalty (which is good) is still wrong.
• Temptation: Do wrong for a good reason?
• Dilemma: Choose between conflicting rights.
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Questions & Comments
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