CS4001: Computing, Society and Professionalism Sauvik Das | Assistant Professor Virtue ethics September 12 th , 2018
Group Activity: Heinz’s dilemma A woman was on her deathbed. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times what the drug cost him to produce. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2,000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman's husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could only get together about $1,000 which is half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said: “No, I discovered the drug and I'm going to make money from it.” So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man's laboratory to steal the drug for his wife. Should Heinz have broken into the laboratory to steal the drug for his wife? Why or why not?
Heinz should not steal the medicine because he Heinz should not steal the medicine because the law u u prohibits stealing, making it illegal. will consequently be put in prison which will mean he is a bad person. Heinz should steal the drug for his wife but also take u the prescribed punishment for the crime and later Heinz should steal the medicine because it is only u pay the druggist what he is owed. Disobeying the law worth $200 and not $2000; Heinz even offered to should have consequences. pay for it and was not stealing anything else. Heinz should steal the medicine because everyone Heinz should steal the medicine because he will be u u has a right to choose life, regardless of the law. much happier if he saves his wife, even if he will have to serve a prison sentence. Heinz should not steal the medicine because the u scientist has a right to fair compensation. Even if his Heinz should not steal the medicine because prison u wife is sick, it does not make his actions right. is an awful place, and he would more likely languish in a jail cell than over his wife's death. Heinz should steal the medicine, because saving a u human life is a more fundamental value than the Heinz should steal the medicine because his wife u property rights of another person. expects it; he wants to be a good husband. Heinz should not steal the medicine, because others Heinz should not steal the drug because stealing is u u may need the medicine just as badly, and their lives bad and he is not a criminal; he tried to do are equally significant. everything he could without breaking the law, so you can’t blame him for his wife’s death.
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development There are 6 distinct developmental stages of moral reasoning, each of which u is more capable of responding to moral dilemmas. 6 stages divided into three groups: pre-conventional, conventional, post- u conventional Used Heinz’s dilemma to figure out someone’s stage of “moral development” u u Decision made doesn’t matter! Only rationale.
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Egocentric understanding of fairness based on individual need u u Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment orientation u Stage 2: Self-interest orientation Shared concept of fairness based in societal agreement u u Stage 3: Interpersonal accord and conformity u Stage 4: Authority and social-order maintenance Free-standing logic of equality and reciprocity u u Stage 5: Social contract orientation u Stage 6: Universal ethical principles What would the different stages say about Heinz’s dilemma?
Stage four (law and order) Stage one (obedience) u u Heinz should not steal the medicine because he Heinz should not steal the medicine because the law u u prohibits stealing, making it illegal. will consequently be put in prison which will mean he is a bad person. Heinz should steal the drug for his wife but also take u the prescribed punishment for the crime and later Heinz should steal the medicine because it is only u pay the druggist what he is owed. Disobeying the law worth $200 and not $2000; Heinz even offered to should have consequences. pay for it and was not stealing anything else. Stage five (human rights) Stage two (self-interest) u u Heinz should steal the medicine because everyone Heinz should steal the medicine because he will be u u has a right to choose life, regardless of the law. much happier if he saves his wife, even if he will have to serve a prison sentence. Heinz should not steal the medicine because the u scientist has a right to fair compensation. Even if his Heinz should not steal the medicine because prison u wife is sick, it does not make his actions right. is an awful place, and he would more likely languish in a jail cell than over his wife's death. Stage six (universal human ethics) u Stage three (conformity) u Heinz should steal the medicine, because saving a u human life is a more fundamental value than the Heinz should steal the medicine because his wife u property rights of another person. expects it; he wants to be a good husband. Heinz should not steal the medicine, because others Heinz should not steal the drug because stealing is u u may need the medicine just as badly, and their lives bad and he is not a criminal; he tried to do are equally significant. everything he could without breaking the law, so you can’t blame him for his wife’s death.
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Egocentric understanding of fairness based on individual need u u Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment orientation u Stage 2: Self-interest orientation Shared concept of fairness based in societal agreement u u Stage 3: Interpersonal accord and conformity u Stage 4: Authority and social-order maintenance Free-standing logic of equality and reciprocity u u Stage 5: Social contract orientation <-- ~ “Social contract theory” u Stage 6: Universal ethical principles <-- ~ “Kantianism”
Class Activity: Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Egocentric understanding of fairness based on individual need u u Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment orientation u Stage 2: Self-interest orientation Shared concept of fairness based in societal agreement u u Stage 3: Interpersonal accord and conformity u Stage 4: Authority and social-order maintenance Free-standing logic of equality and reciprocity u u Stage 5: Social contract orientation <-- ~ “Social contract theory” u Stage 6: Universal ethical principles <-- ~ “Kantianism” Do you agree with this ordering? Does it make sense that Kant is “above” social contract theory?
What does Carol Gilligan have to say about Kohlberg’s theory?
Gilligan reading Kohlberg believed women get “stuck” at Stage 3 u u Focus on detailing how to maintain relationships and promote welfare of family and friends u Men more likely to move on to abstract principles, less concerned with the particulars of who is involved. 11-year olds Jake vs Amy answers to Heinz’s dilemma: u u Jake: Value of life outweighs value of property. u Logical interpretation. u Amy: Can’t we talk to the druggist? If Heinz goes to jail, he can’t help his wife later. u Moral dilemma exists in the context of a web of relationships
Gilligan reading Gilligan argued that Kohlberg’s theory is overly “androcentric” u u Initially developed using only male participants Believed that Kohlberg’s stages over emphasized justice. Developed an u alternative “ethic of care” -- shift from “what is just” to “how to respond?” u Persons have varying degrees of dependence and interdependence on one another. u Those particularly vulnerable to one’s choices deserve extra consideration u Necessary to attend to contextual details of situations in order to safeguard and promote actual specific interests of affected parties.
Class discussion What is significant about the the difference between Kohlberg’s and Gilligan’s perspectives?
Stakeholder analysis Make a list of all the stakeholders involved. u u Try to balance the positive and negative impact on people Not a formal ethical framework, just a useful way of looking at things u Almost, but not quite act utilitarianism – how is it different? u
Virtue Ethics
Virtues A virtue is an excellent trait of character u A virtue is a deep part of your character, and pervades your thoughts and u actions Examples: u u Courage u Honesty u Benevolence u Compassion u Justice
Virtue ethics One of the oldest normative ethical theories that has recently regained u popularity. u Roots in Plato and Aristotle Aristotle believed that the only way to fulfill one’s potential, and achieve u happiness, is to acquire virtues (one cannot be born with virtues). Anyone who attempts to be virtuous because they want their own happiness u has missed the point. Virtue is its own reward .
A virtuous person Once you have become virtuous you will: u u know what the right action is; u perform the right action; u perform the right action because it is the right action.
Rationale behind ethical behavior If it is obvious that someone in need should be helped, u u Utilitarian would say: consequences of doing so will maximize well-being u Kantian would say: helping would be one’s duty / obligation according to the categorical imperative u Virtue ethicist would say: Helping the person is charitable or benevolent
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