Ethics [December 16, 2nd period]

[sith_happened]

"Unlike some of the other teachers here, I still expect you to complete a final examination this week," Anakin said as he shut the door and began passing out paperwork. "I will provide you with a series of scenarios. You write down which option you would pick, and why. Since this is Ethics, there are no black and white absolutely correct answers to anything. What matters to me is that you have some sort of reason for your choice. If your logic is faulty or snide or clearly half-assed, that's when I will become...unhappy."

And when he was unhappy, final grades reflected it. He'd come a long way--he used to kill people when he was unhappy...

Comments

Sign in [12/16]

[sith_happened]

Like you still have a ton of holiday shopping left to do.

Scenario #1

[sith_happened]

You arrive home after an extended period away to discover your mother has been kidnapped. She's presumed dead. What do you do and why?

a) Mourn and move on.
b) Brood about it constantly. Perhaps write poetry.
c) Ignore the idea that she might be dead and go after her yourself. Upon finding her remains, torch the village she was in.
d) None of the above.

Scenario #2

[sith_happened]

You're an excellent swimmer out for a walk in your new outfit. You hear the screams of a teenager crying for help from the water. There is no danger to yourself if you attempt a rescue. What do you do?

a) Rescue the kid.
b) Keep on walking. There is no moral imperative to save people and no legal obligation to try.
c) Try to find someone else to help.
d) None of the above.

Scenario #3

[sith_happened]

An insane rebel who has threatened to explode several bombs in crowded areas has been caught. Unfortunately, she has already planted the bombs and they are scheduled to go off in a short time. It is possible that hundreds of people may die. The authorities cannot make her divulge the location of the bombs by conventional methods. In exasperation, some high level official suggests torture. This would be illegal, of course, but the official thinks that it is nevertheless the right thing to do in this desperate situation. What do you do and why?

a) Torture her to get the information. There's no time left to be reasonable.
b) Torture her and her family to get the information. If you're going to do something illegal, might as well be really, really thorough.
c) Continue working through the the legal structure of the judicial system and hope for the best.
d) None of the above. Perhaps your dimension works differently?

Scenario #4

[sith_happened]

As a "special honor", the authorities who have captured you and your children will let you choose one of them not to die immediately. You will never see the other one again, as the two of you remaining will be sent to languish in the spice mines of Kessel, which are not known for their low mortality rates. Do you choose your older son or your younger daughter? And how do you deal with the guilt?

a) You choose to let your son live. He's older and might survive the intense labor in the spice mines.
b) You choose to let your daughter live. She's younger--perhaps one of the other prisoners will take pity on her and assist her.
c) None of the above.

Talk to Anakin [12/16]

[sith_happened]

After the exam is over, of course.

OOC

[sith_happened]

Thanks for a fun class!