Day 68: The rightness and wrongness of actions

1.  How can the rightness or wrongess of an action be determined? discussion
2.  How do you solve a problem like Maria?
3.  No, really ... how can you solve a problem? list
4.  Wrongness and Boomfist to 6:34
5.  An introduction: reading
6.  OERB:  All right to lie?
7.  Santa Claus case study
8.  Case studies: in groups.

• read your part of the text
• identify the ethical question/dilemma
• identify and explain the philosopher/theory/vocabulary that outlines the argument

ex:
Ethical question/dilemma:
Is lying, stealing or cheating morally wrong always?  Or only in some instances?

Kant: categorical imperative: a moral rule that is absolute
- he would say it is AWLAYS wrong, or ALWAYS right (no grey area or fence-sitting for him!)

Bok:
- lying, cheating, stealing usually wrong BUT must look at situation
- if safety is a concern, if you are avoiding hurting or embarrassing someone, or if you are trying to gain advantage for yourself,  these actions can be done with little or no moral consequence
- some reasons to consider these actions morally wrong include when you reduce someone's trust, violate justice (ex: on the witness stand)

Slippery Slope: an expression that means once someone starts to do something (ex: lying) more and more people will do the same (sliding down the slope towards disaster)
ex: conspiracy theories