ETHICS
SEMIS
How do our emotions affect decision
making?
• When you’re faced with a big decision, do you go with
your gut feeling, or do you make a careful list of pros
and cons?
• Following your intuition can be a great way to tune in
to your true desires. But even when you think your
decisions are based on logic, and common sense,
they are often steered by emotion.
• By understanding how emotions play into our
decision-making process, we can learn to find the
perfect balance between reason, and intuition, to
make choices that serve us in living our best life.
How are decisions affected by
emotion?
• Emotions are created when the brain interprets what’s
going on around us through our memories, thoughts,
and beliefs. This triggers how we feel, and behave. All
our decisions are influenced by this process in some
way.
• For example, if you’re feeling happy, you might decide
to walk home via a sunny park. But if you’d been
chased by a dog as a child, that same sunny park might
trigger feelings of fear, and you’d take the bus instead.
There may be logical arguments to be made either way,
but in the moment, the decision is driven by your
emotional state.
• Different emotions affect decisions in different
ways. If you’re feeling sad, you might be more
willing to settle for things that aren’t in your favor,
such as not putting yourself forward for
promotion, or remaining in an unhealthy
relationship. But sadness can also make you
more generous — research shows that unhappy
people are more likely to be in favor of increasing
benefits to welfare recipients than angry people,
who are lacking in empathy.
• Emotions can affect not just the nature of the
decision, but the speed at which you make it.
Anger can lead to impatience, and rash
decision-making. If you’re excited, you might
make quick decisions without considering the
implications, as you surf the wave of confidence,
and optimism about the future. While if you feel
afraid, your decisions may be clouded by
uncertainty, and caution, and it might take you
longer to choose.
• What this means is that your gut feeling plays a
huge part in our decision making process, but at
times may be steering you wrong — it might lead
to poor judgment, unconscious bias and
recklessness, or risk-aversion. But are there ever
occasions when we should pay attention to our
gut instinct?
Should we always ignore our intuition?
• A visceral response to a situation could actually be a
survival mechanism – the flash of fear felt by early
humans who came face to face with a dangerous
animal motivated them to RUN NOW! They wouldn’t
have survived if they stopped to think.
• Similarly, if you get a ‘bad feeling’ in the pit of your
stomach because of a particular situation or person, it
could be your body’s way of telling you it senses
danger, based on your past experiences, and beliefs.
• Decisions
led by emotion can also be more
compassionate, particularly if they affect other people.
We see this at play in stories of people putting their own
lives at risk to save someone else, or when we choose
how to break difficult news to a friend.
• So sometimes paying attention to our emotions can be
a good thing. If you have a regular mindfulness, or
journaling practice, you probably know yourself well,
and enjoy a high level of self-awareness. You might be
better off listening to your intuition when it comes to
considering whether a romantic partner is right for you,
or whether you should change careers.
• Being in emotional balance, and knowing yourself at
this deeper level means you can trust your instincts.
How can emotional intelligence help us
make better decisions?
• Both emotion, and logic have a role to play in helping us
make positive decisions. If we understand where our
emotions come from, and start to notice how they affect
our thinking and behavior, we can practice managing
our response, and learn to make better choices.
• You can find out more about how to develop your
emotional awareness in our guide to emotional
intelligence. You’ll soon feel confident in knowing when
to listen to your emotions, and when to tune them out.
Moral Emotions
• Emotions – that is to say feelings and intuitions – play a
major role in most of the ethical decisions people make.
Most people do not realize how much their emotions
direct their moral choices. But experts think it is
impossible to make any important moral judgments
without emotions.
• Inner-directed
negative
emotions
like
guilt,
embarrassment, and shame often motivate people to
act ethically.
• Outer-directed negative emotions, on the other hand,
aim to discipline or punish. For example, people often
direct anger, disgust, or contempt at those who have
acted unethically. This discourages others from
behaving the same way.
• Positive emotions like gratitude and admiration, which
people may feel when they see another acting with
compassion or kindness, can prompt people to help
others.
• Emotions evoked by suffering, such as sympathy and
empathy, often lead people to act ethically toward
others. Indeed, empathy is the central moral emotion
that most commonly motivates pro-social activity such
as altruism, cooperation, and generosity.
• So, while we may believe that our moral decisions are
influenced most by our philosophy or religious values, in
truth our emotions play a significant role in our ethical
decision-making.
Stroop
Stroop
Stroop
Stroop test
• In
psychology, the Stroop effect is a
demonstration of interference in the reaction time
of a task. When the name of a color is printed in a
color which is not denoted by the name, naming
the color of the word takes longer and is more
prone to errors than when the color of the ink
matches the name of the color.
Emotional
• The emotional
Stroop effect serves as an information
processing approach to emotions. In an emotional Stroop
task, an individual is given negative emotional words like
"grief," "violence," and "pain" mixed in with more neutral
words like "clock," "door," and "shoe". Just like in the original
Stroop task, the words are colored and the individual is
supposed to name the color. Research has revealed that
individuals that are depressed are more likely to say the
color of a negative word slower than the color of a neutral
word. While both the emotional Stroop and the classic
Stroop involve the need to suppress irrelevant or distracting
information, there are differences between the two. The
emotional Stroop effect emphasizes the conflict between the
emotional relevance to the individual and the word; whereas,
the classic Stroop effect examines the conflict between the
incongruent color and word.
Singular Moral
Judgments
vs.
Moral Principles...
The Death of Socrates
Jacques-Louis David
• Conflicting principles...
So, back to our arguments...
•Premise 1 states the case (the way the
world is)
•Premise 2 appends a moral principle
-----------------------------------------•The conclusion follows from the interplay
Moral arguments are arguments with a
moral judgment as the conclusion
•We describe the case:
the way the world
is
•We append a moral principle
-----------------------------------------•We conclude based on the interplay
1.1 The Problem of Definition
• “Moral philosophy is the attempt to achieve a
systematic understanding of the nature of morality
and what it requires of us…
• Socrates:
We are discussing no small matter,
but how we ought to live
1.2 Baby Theresa.....Anencephaly
1.2
Baby Theresa dilemma...
• Parental
request: allow her organs to be
harvested to benefit other newborns.
• Legal resolution: "Florida law does not allow the
removal of organs until the donor is dead."
Moral arguments are arguments with a
moral judgment as the conclusion
The parents:
● Transplanting Baby Theresa’s organs would benefit
other children without harming her.
● If we can benefit someone, without harming anyone
else, we ought to do so.
-------------------------------------● Therefore, we ought to transplant the organs.
Moral arguments are arguments with a
moral judgment as the conclusion
Anonymous ethicists:
● Transplanting Baby Theresa’s organs would be
using her as means for another’s ends.
● It is wrong to use people as means.
-------------------------------------● Therefore, we ought not transplant the organs.
Moral arguments are arguments with a
moral judgment as the conclusion
One more argument:
• Taking Baby Theresa's organs would be killing
her to save another.
• It is wrong to kill one person to save another.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Therefore, we ought not to take her organs for
transplantation.
On the Baby Theresa dilemma...
Dr. Norman Fost, director of the University of
Wisconsin's medical ethics program:
● “The problem is almost entirely one of a slippery
slope...”
● “We have to be careful who we take
organs from, because there are a lot
more than anencephalic infants out there.”
On the Baby Theresa dilemma...
Dr. John Fletcher, director of the University
of Virginia's Center for Biomedical Ethics:
● “There's a refusal to accept the reality of death at
work in this...
● “...and
an over-vitalistic understanding of
personhood, one dependent on biological
functions."
On the Baby Theresa dilemma...
Dr. John Fletcher, director of the University
of Virginia's Center for Biomedical Ethics:
● “...what makes us human is what goes on upstairs in the
brain, not downstairs in the brain.”
1.3
Conjoined Twins
• Siamese Twins
• Chang and Eng
• Born in 1811
• Travelled with the circus
• Married two sisters
• Fathered 21 children
• Died in 1874
1:3
Jodie and Mary
Jodie and Mary
•Pro-separation:
• Separating the twins will save the one; otherwise both will
die.
• When it's a choice between saving one of two people or
letting both die, we should save the one.
---------------------------------------------------------• :. The twins should be separated.
Jodie and Mary
• Anti-separation:
• Mary is an innocent human being and the
separation will kill her.
• It's wrong to kill an innocent human being.
------------------------------------------• :. The twins shouldn't be separated.
1.4
The Latimer Case
Mercy or Murder?
• 12 year old Tracy
Latimer, killed by
her father in 1993
• Quadriplegic and
severely mentally
disabled, she
functioned at the
level of a
three-month old and
was in constant
pain…
1.4 The Latimer Case
• Argument against Latimer’s action:
• Killing Tracy was discrimination against the
handicapped.
• It is wrong to discriminate against the handicapped.
-------------------------------------• :. Tracy's father did wrong: he shouldn't have killed
her.
1.4 The Latimer
Case
• Rachels’ response:
• Discrimination against the handicapped?
• It’s discrimination only if there is no good reason
for the different treatment....
1.4
The Latimer Case
• Euthanizing Tracy was "opening the doors to other
people to decide who should live and who should die."
• It is wrong to do things which would open the doors...
• -----------------------------------------------------• :. Euthanizing Tracy was wrong and shouldn't have
been done.
1.5
Reason and Impartiality
1.
Moral judgments must be backed by good
reasons.
2.
Morality requires the impartial consideration of
each individual’s interests.
1.5
Reason and Impartiality
• We describe the case: the way the world is
• We append a moral principle
-----------------------------------------• We conclude based on the interplay
Impartiality...and emotion...
Impartiality...and emotion...
Impartiality...and emotion...
Impartiality...and emotion...
The morally right thing to do...
• is always whatever there are the best
reasons for doing...
Jane Addams,
founder of Hull House
• The essence of
immorality is the
tendency to make an
exception of myself.
1.6 The Minimum Conception of
Morality
•The effort to guide
one’s conduct by
reason...to do what
there are the best
reasons for doing...
James Rachels
Suicide and Euthanasia
• What is the difference?
• What good reasons are there in favour?
• What good reasons are there against?
http://exitinternational.net/
Ethics in the news:
• Globe and Mail
Sept. 28, 2011
• Ontario's 'Baby
Joseph' dies at home
after sparking fierce
end-of-life ethical
debate
The 7-Step Moral Reasoning Model
MORAL COURAGE
Defining courage
• Quality of mind which enables one to encounter
danger and difficulties with firmness or without
fear
Physical and moral courage
Physical courage
Moral courage
• Driven by sense of honor
• Principle driven
• Shaped by concern over
• Courage to be moral
reputation
• Moral values
• Honesty
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Fairness
• Compassion
Elements of moral courage
Endurance
Principle
Danger
Seven steps to moral courage
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Assess the situation
Scan for values
Act on conscience
Understand the risks
Endure the hardship
Avoid the inhibitors
Learn moral courage
Assess the situation
•Analyze the
situation
Motives
• Motives
• Inhibitions
• Risks
Inhibitions
•What is the
central concern?
Risks
Scan for values
•What values characterize the situation?
•Lack of values often requires courageous
action
• Pervasiveness
• How does it shape my response?
• Distinguish significant from the trivial
• Can I take on the failings of another?
Act on conscience
Focus on one or two
key values
May be automatic, or
right vs. right
Dismantle right vs.
wrong arguments that
might cause inaction
Recognize that no
higher value ought to
draw us into a different
course
Understand the risks
•Have I adequately
assessed
the
dangers involved?
•Am I clear on the
moral and physical
hazards?
• Ambiguity
• Exposure
• Loss
Endure the hardship
•Confidence to
endure hardship
•Expressing
confidence
improves
trustworthiness
• What do I trust?
• Experience
• Character
• Faith
• Intuition
Avoid the inhibitors
•Inhibitors to avoid
• Overconfident cultures
• Compromises
• Foolhardiness
• Timidity
• Raw courage
• Tepid ethic
• Over reflection
• Bystander apathy
• Group think
• Normalized deviancy
• Altruism
• Cultural differences
Learn moral courage
•Is it nature or
nurture?
•To attain courage
• Discourse and
discussion
• Modeling and
mentoring
• Practice and
persistence
•How to test if it’s
genuine
• Ends-based
risk-benefit test
• Rule-based self
righteousness test
• Care-based innocent
parties test
Underlying issues
•If the norm of organizational conduct is
amoral, should one be reprimanded for
adhering to the trend?
• Would deviancy of moral attitude result in
severe repercussions?
• If so, should one continue doing what is morally
acceptable?
Underlying issues
•When presented with two choices of same
moral value, how does one choose?
•If the risks outweigh benefits significantly,
should one still do the right thing?
• Deontological vs. Teleological
Alternatives
•Rather than focusing on intrinsic moral
values, look at extrinsic gains
•Consider long-term impacts of a decision
• Personal and societal
•Find courage through external means
Choice of Alternatives
•We support Kidder’s perspective
• Provides structured approach to achieving
moral courage
• Highlights importance of standing by personal
values, while considering consequences
• Encourages the practice of moral courage in our
daily lives
Choice of Alternatives
•However
• Being morally courageous does necessarily
mean one is doing “the right thing”
• Kidder’s 7-step guideline can be excessive in
certain situations
Conclusion
•Difference between physical and moral
courage – growing importance of the latter
•Explains the risks that can arise
•Explores why people fail to be morally
courageous
•Forces us to consider difficult moral
dilemmas
• Not everything has a definitive answer
Conclusion
•Moral courage can be practiced by anyone
in any situation
• Greater
confidence in principles than in
personalities
• High tolerance for ambiguity, exposure, and
personal loss
• Independence of thought
• Formidable persistence and determination
Developing Will and Moral Courage:
5 Tips
The following are some tips or suggestions on how to develop
will and moral courage (Mañebog, 2013):
1. Develop and practice self-discipline.
• One way to develop moral courage and will is to develop and
practice self-discipline. The concept self-discipline involves the
rejection of instant gratification in favor of something better.
Ethically applied, it may refer to the giving up of instant
pleasure and satisfaction for a higher and better goal such as
executing a good rational moral decision.
• Developing
will and moral courage involves developing
self-control. It includes nurturing the ability to stick to actions,
thoughts, and behavior, which lead to moral improvement and
success. It encompasses endowing the inner strength to focus
all the energy on a moral goal and persevere until it is
accomplished.
2. Do mental strength training.
• This method is never reserved for a few special people.
One of the most simple and effective methods under this
mental strength training involves declining to satisfy
unimportant and unnecessary desires.
• Everybody is normally confronted and tempted by an
endless stream of cravings and temptations, many of
which are not actually important or desirable. By
practicing to refuse to gratify every one of them, a person
gets courageous and stronger.
• Saying no to useless, harmful or unnecessary desires and deeds,
and behaving contrary to one’s (bad) habits, fortify and refine a
person’s mindset. By persistent practice, one’s inner power grows,
in the same way working out one’s muscles at a gym increases
one’s physical strength. In both cases, when a person needs inner
power or physical strength, they are available at his/her disposal.
• The following are some examples. Some of them are not
necessarily ethically related:
• - Don’t open the internet for a day or two.
• - Drink water or juice, in spite of your desire to have a beer or
liquor.
• - Avoid chatting with your gossipy friend.
• - For a week, go to sleep one hour earlier than usual.
• - Resist the desire to gamble.
• Trainings like these add to the storehouse of
one’s inner strength. By following a methodical
method of training, a person can reach far, have
more control over oneself and one’s life, realize
ethical goals, improve his/her life, and achieve
satisfaction and peace of mind.
3. Draw inspiration from people of great courage.
• People usually admire and respect courageous persons
who have won great success by manifesting
self-discipline and will power. These include people in all
walks of life, who with sheer will power and moral
courage, overcame difficulties and hardships, have
improved their moral life, advanced on the spiritual or
moral path, and became worthy of imitation.
• History is filled with outstanding examples of moral
courage whom we rightly celebrate: Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Aung San Suu Kyi, and
especially Jesus Christ and His apostles. When we see
individuals put their comfort, safety, security, reputation, or
even life on the line for a cause they believe in, or for an
ideal that matters more than personal wellbeing, we
witness moral courage and will in action.
4. Repeatedly do acts that exhibit moral courage
and will.
• Practice makes perfect. If one wishes to nurture
the moral courage and will in him, he must strive
doing the acts that manifest them whenever
opportunity allows it. The following are some
examples (“Moral Courage,” n.d.):
• helping someone push a car (e.g. out of a snow bank), even if it
means being late
• standing up to a bully on the playground
• picking up litter
• doing homework or chores without being reminded
• refusing to listen to or repeat gossip
• practicing what you preach, even when no-one is looking or knows
• turning in a toy or a wallet to the Lost and Found
• (for teens) calling home for a ride from a party where alcohol is
being served
• (for teachers) giving all students an equal voice regardless of race,
socioeconomic status, religion, gender or sexual orientation
• becoming company whistle blower risking job loss, financial cost,
and or legal repercussion
• reporting a crime
• participating in a peaceful protest
5. Avoid deeds that show lack of moral courage and will.
• This involves evading acts that show irresponsibility, cowardice,
apathy, rashness, imprudence, ill will, and wickedness. Here are
some examples (“Moral Courage,” n.d.):
• walking away from someone in need
• taking more than your fair share
• laughing at someone's misfortune or accident
• grabbing the spotlight from someone who has earned it
• placing too much reliance on the letter rather than the spirit of the
law
• remaining silent in the face of wrong-doing or injustice
• rationalizations or justifications for action/lack of action
• being inconsistent or capricious with rules and standards for one’s
children
• choosing sides after seeing which way the wind is blowing
• breaking a promise
• lying or cheating (© 2013 by Jensen DG. Mañebog)