Governments and Ethical Responsibility – Your Opinion

A story is described below.  Read this story, then answer the following questions and fulfill all requirements.  Within this assignment, you will identify ethical issues and comment on those issues using your critical thinking skills.

Story:

In 1985, a former Russian KGB agent gave an interview describing how the Russian government goes about brainwashing its own population.  The four phases are demoralization, destabilization, crises, and normalization.  

• In the first phase, the educational system is weakened and the population is fed useless information until it no longer is able to assess the facts.
• Destabilization involves undermining the economy, foreign relations, and the national defense system.
• The crises phase is brought about by a sudden, unexpected, imminent threat.
• In response to the crises, the government puts in place emergency measures after which follows the normalization process, which affirms and institutionalizes the new status quo.

Complete:

Answer the following.

1.  Your first task will be to decide who is ethically responsible to carry out the duties described in the following assignment questions and then explain why.

• Is it the American government’s ethical responsibility to provide for the education — to include developing strong critical thinking skills — of the American people?  Why or why not?
• Is it the American government’s ethical responsibility to ensure the American population has access to full and accurate news and information?  Why or why not?

2.  For this final requirement, be careful not to jump to conclusions.  This assignment challenges students to go beyond using only System-1 thinking.  Use your critical thinking skills and be sure to consider all the possibilities.  Be sure to address the following in your answer: 

• analyze the alternatives
• describe foreseeable consequences
• identify duties and ethical principles that are relevant
• Compare and contrast the Russian KGB agent’s description of how the Russian government might go about brainwashing its population to what you feel is occurring today in America.  Using your answers regarding ethical responsibility from above, describe the similarities and differences between the Russian government’s role in educating and informing its population to what occurs today with the American government’s role in educating and informing its population.

Submit a two-and-a-half (2 1/2) page paper responding to the above.  You must incorporate three quotes and/or paraphrases from our text book, (I can provide quotes and powerpoints from the text book)

 this means your paper will include: a cover sheet, in-text citations, and a reference page.  The cover sheet and Reference Page are not included in the page requirement for this paper.  Proofread your work prior to submission.  Your paper should have a clear introduction, conclusion, and smooth paragraph transitions.  A thesis statement is required. 

© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Chapter 16
Ethical Decision Making

© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Learning Outcomes
Explain ethical imperatives using examples
Distinguish ethical decision making from decision making more broadly understood
Explain how strong critical thinking skills and positive habits of mind assist in deciding what to do when ethical imperatives diverge

Learning Outcomes
The chapter first explains ethical imperatives using examples.
Further it distinguishes ethical decision making from decision making more broadly understood.
Then it explains how strong critical thinking skills and positive habits of mind assist in deciding what to do when ethical imperatives diverge.
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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Chapter Opening Video

Chapter Opening Video
In the video, the duo talk about the challenges of ethical decision making.

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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Ethics
Set of behavioral ideals or moral principles that guide people in determining right and wrong
Source of core ethical values and beliefs is a combination of various factors

Ethics
Set of behavioral ideals or moral principles that guide people in determining right and wrong.
Ethical decision making challenges individuals to be reflective about their core values and ethical opinions by applying critical thinking.
Source of core ethical values and beliefs is a combination of various factors.
Family upbringing.
Standards of peer group.
Social mores.
Organizational culture.
Religious heritage.

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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Ethical Imperatives
Think consequences
Think duties
Think virtues

Ethical Imperatives
Intended to shape or guide behavior by expressing core values and beliefs about what is morally right or wrong.
Express behavioral ideals and moral principles by pointing out what we ought to do or ought to refrain from doing.
Think consequences
Sensible approach to think about the consequences.
Think duties
While considering ethics in terms of duties, motive and intention are significant.
Think virtues
Positive critical thinking is a virtue.
Examples
Keep promises.
Tell the truth.
Live in harmony.
Obey the law.
Act responsibly.
Treat other people the way you want to be treated.
Bring about more good than harm.
Be moderate in all things.
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THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Think Consequences
Due consideration to consequences of choices is a sensible approach
Consideration of consequences in ethical decision making leads to uncertainty
Ethical decision making in real-life contexts extends beyond consequences

Think Consequences
Due consideration to consequences of choices is a sensible approach.
Numerous dimensions exist to the due consideration of consequences.
Consideration of consequences in ethical decision making leads to uncertainty.
Difficult to determine the exact quantity of good consequences over bad consequence in real world.
Ethical decision making in real-life contexts extends beyond consequences.
Includes core values and principles.
Imprecision and uncertainty found when consequences are considered makes people to decide on probable rather than certain.

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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Think Duties
Ethical decision making by reference to duties does not consider consequences
Motive and intention are significant considering ethics in terms of duties
Respect for people is an important ethical duty
Making ethical decisions based on duties is top down thinking

Think Duties
Ethical decision making by reference to duties does not consider consequences.
Duties impose absolute ethical obligation on individuals.
Motive and intention are significant considering ethics in terms of duties.
Respect for people is an important ethical duty.
Duty to abide law is associated with religious duties and traditions in homogenous community.
Making ethical decisions based on duties is top down thinking.
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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Think Virtues
Positive critical thinking habits of mind are virtues
Virtuous people do not make ethical decisions by:
Tabulating consequences
Considering the nature of duties

Think Virtues
Positive critical thinking habits of mind are virtues.
Critical thinking habits and ethical virtues are valuable personal attributes.
Virtuous people do not make ethical decisions by:
Tabulating consequences.
Considering the nature of duties.
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THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Think Virtues
Virtuous person needs a measure of wisdom and balance
Virtuous behavior does not resolve complex dilemmas

Think Virtues
Virtuous person needs a measure of wisdom and balance.
Virtue is measured by a person’s tendency to respond or not when need arises.
Virtuous behavior does not resolve complex dilemmas.
Ethical virtues are desirable, and must be cultivated and practiced.
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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Decision Making and Ethical Decision Making
Reactive and reflective ethical decision making

Decision Making and Ethical Decision Making
Successful decision making requires critical thinking, knowledge, dedication, training, and ethical courage.
Legality influences decision making in professional domains.
Reactive and reflective ethical decision making.
Ethical decision making extends beyond reactions, impulses, or feelings.
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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Discussion Questions
Give an example of when you disagreed with an authority figure about ethical duties or ethical obligations
Describe the situation and the reason(s) you disagreed
How did you resolve the conflict that time?
What would you do next time?

Discussion Questions
Give an example of when you disagreed with an authority figure about ethical duties or ethical obligations.
Describe the situation and the reason(s) you disagreed.
How did you resolve the conflict that time?
What would you do next time?
The aim of the discussion is to analyze students’ reactive and reflective decision making process.
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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Reactive and Reflective Ethical Decision Making
Premature dominance structuring can infect ethical decision making
Precautions in Self-Regulation Critical Thinking Skill Strategies are valuable

Reactive and Reflective Ethical Decision Making
Premature dominance structuring can infect ethical decision making.
Locking on a particular choice makes it difficult to give due consideration to alternative views.
Precautions in Self-Regulation Critical Thinking Skill Strategies are valuable.
Reminds people that making good decisions require due deliberation.
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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Reactive and Reflective Ethical Decision Making
Ethical decision making extends beyond reactions, impulses, or feelings
Informed ethical decision making requires a knowledge base

Reactive and Reflective Ethical Decision Making
Ethical decision making extends beyond reactions, impulses, or feelings.
Involves applying critical thinking skills and positive critical thinking habits.
Informed ethical decision making requires a knowledge base.
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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Thinking Through Diverging Ethical Imperatives
Prioritize, create, and negotiate
Personal consistency and respect for others
Apply the golden rule

Thinking Through Diverging Ethical Imperatives
People encounter day-to-day ethical problems that requires them to decide between choices.
Ethical imperatives of decisions attract people in different directions.
Prioritize, create, and negotiate.
Establish priorities.
Create additional options.
Negotiate based on each party’s interests.
Personal consistency and respect for others.
Valuable in ethical decision making.
Apply the golden rule.
Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Prioritize, Create, and Negotiate
Establish priorities
Create additional options
Negotiate based on each party’s interests

Prioritize, Create, and Negotiate
Establish priorities.
Analyzing the situation and setting priorities provides a path to a reasonable solution.
Create additional options.
Think creatively and identify alternative choices.
Negotiate based on each party’s interests.
Negotiate a resolution that fulfills the important interests of both parties.
Partially fulfilling resolution can be negotiated if the interests cannot be completely fulfilled.
Strong critical thinkers work together, identify each party’s interests and suggest possible resolutions to achieve some or all of their interests.

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THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Personal Consistency and Respect for Others
Consistency is valuable in ethical decision making
People should respect individuals with whom they disagree

Personal Consistency and Respect for Others
Consistency is valuable in ethical decision making.
On encountering inconsistency in applying ethical principles, a person should:
Step back and reconsider their positions.
Sharpen their analyses.
Demand greater precision of thought and expression.
Pay careful attention to the actual facts of the situation.
People should respect individuals with whom they disagree.
Ethical decision making is not about picking and choosing among ethical imperatives.
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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Personal Consistency and Respect for Others
Strong critical thinkers:
Give importance to points of view of opponents
Follow reasons and evidence
Seek to discover the basis of the ethical disagreement

Personal Consistency and Respect for Others
Strong critical thinkers:
Give importance to points of view of opponents.
Follow reasons and evidence.
Seek to discover the basis of the ethical disagreement.
Critical thinkers must look for alternative approach and negotiate a resolution that fulfills the interests of both parties.
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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Apply the Golden Rule
Do unto others as you would have others do unto you
Strategy that provides resolution to the most difficult ethical problems

Apply the Golden Rule
Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
Strategy that provides resolution to the most difficult ethical problems.
Implemented by asking oneself the below questions.
If someone else were in my situation and I was going to be affected by that person’s decision, how would I want that person to behave?
If everyone were to do what I propose to do, how would things come out?
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© 2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
THINK CRITICALLY, FACIONE & GITTENS

Sketchnote Video

Sketchnote Video
The video summarizes ethical decision making, ethical virtues, and strategies applied by strong critical thinkers.
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