Introduction to ethics

“Ethics” definition:
The dictionary definition of ethics is: the moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the
conducting of an activity; the branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles. Ethics is a part
of everyday life, but working out what is right and wrong can be difficult and controversial because
life is complex and people have different ways of working out what is right and wrong.”

Using this definiton, the word bank, and your existing knowledge, try to fill in the blanks below:

Word bank: obvious relevant death controversial practical wrong life

morality less complex experience right difficult minor knowledge

1. Ethics is the study of _morality_ , that is, _right_ and _wrong_ .

2. Ethics asks questions like: Is there such a thing as right and wrong? Who decides what’s right and wrong?
What makes something right or wrong?
3. Ethics is extremely _practical_ and _relevant_ to life because every day we are faced with numerous
ethical decisions.
4. Because of this, we all have some _experience_ and _knowledge_ of ethics
5. Some ethical decisions are relatively _minor_ , like whether or not to throw an apple core into the garden.
6. Some ethical decisions are a matter of _life_ and _death_ , like whether or not to go to war.
7. Some ethical decisions might seem _obvious_ , like whether or not to murder someone.
8. Some ethical decisions might seem _less_ obvious, like whether or not to be completely honest.
9. Because of this, ethics and ethical issues can be very _complex_ and _difficult_ .
10. Sooner or later we will all be faced with controversial ethical decisions that will require us to be very
informed about ethics and particular ethical issue.

Ethics in film – The Dark Knight

Watch clip 1.
1. Explain the ethical dilemma.
_To click the button, it would save the boat but destroy the other one
who has been instilled with the same decision._

2. What would you do if you were a civilian? Why?

_I would wait since I knew Batman existed to save us._

3. What would you do if you were a criminal? Why?

_I would wait for the same reason._

Watch clip 2.
4. On each ferry, what decision is made? What action is taken? Why?
_They did not press the button; since it is morally wrong to murder._
Read about “Ethan’s ethical day” and then answer the questions below:
Ethan’s alarm began beeping at 6:20 am. He knew if he got up now he could be ready in time for his dad to drive him to the
bus. He hit snooze and rolled over. It wasn’t until seven that he finally dragged himself into the bathroom where he stood
thinking for 20 minutes under a hot shower. After a frantic rush during which he yelled at his brother, and kissed his mother
goodbye, he got half-way down the driveway to the waiting car, before running back into the house to snatch his iPhone off
his desk. He didn’t want to miss the songs he had downloaded last night from a borrowed CD. On the bus he stood to let an
elderly woman have his seat and this meant he couldn’t finish his homework as he’d intended. On arrival at school, Ethan
tossed his muesli bar wrapper to the ground before abusing Matthew for refusing to be part of the Make Poverty History
campaign at the school. At break, he helped Tom, a blind student, to find his way to the library. On his way out to meet his
friends, Ethan intervened in a situation where a group of Year 8 boys were picking on a Year 7 boy.

1. How many ethical issues—issues of right or wrong—can you spot?

_7_

2. List some of the different ethical areas addressed (e.g. littering relates to environmental ethics):
• _Environmental ethics_
• Personal ethics
• Consequentialism
• Deontology
• Value ethics