ETHC 445 Principles of Ethics

Week 6

Week 6 Discussion 1

Applying Rand’s Objectivism (Graded)

Ayn Rand’s Objectivist philosophy has been touted by her detractors as the philosophy of self-interested selfishness. 

Her four epistemological principles are:

1. Metaphysics: Objective reality of the world and the objects in it.

2. Epistemology: Reason as the one and only key to understanding.

3. Ethics: Self-interest in what behavior is but also what it should be.

4. Politics: Capitalism through the performance of deeds by individuals who are self-interested.

Week 6 Discussion 2

Working Conflict Resolution Methods (Graded)

Different ways to analyze ethical behaviors and dilemmas exist, and many of them will help direct you to the correct or “best” solution to a problem.As we discussed in week 1 in the “tough choices” .pdf, sometimes right vs. right or wrong vs. wrong decisions have to be made.In the lecture this week, you are given three ethical dilemma resolution models to try out on a dilemma provided there. Please review that interactive before posting to the threads this week, and let’s bring your questions and comments about the “proposed” solutions here to the threads.  We will talk about that through mid-week, and then I will post a new dilemma here where we will, as a group, begin analyzing it using the different methods.

Quiz Week 6

Q. What school of ethics would drive the commanding officer (CO) to follow rules and procedures?

Q. For the CO to think about what is best for all indicates what kind of decision making?

Q. If the CO’s conscience was bothering him while making a decision, reading up on what ethicist would have made him aware of his thinking and deciding?

Q. For the CO to be excessively afraid of upsetting the carrier air group commander displays what about his ethics?

Q. The maxim “I uphold only the ethical view that all rational beings ought uphold” follows _____.  

Q. The CO’s practice of moderation in not taking excessive risks connects him with what concept of ethics?

Q. When the CO seeks the utilitarian solution for his dilemma, his reasoning follows what principle?

Q. If the CO fails to take action for the injured sailor’s welfare because it might damage his professional reputation, what kind of ethics is operating in the situation?

Q. To speculate about “what would the crew want to happen now” engages the CO in what ethics?

Q. A decision to ask the injured seaman what he wants to happen is what kind of ethics?