Exam 1: Morality, Ethics, and Human Behavior

We make ethical judgments using rationales derived from traditional and historical ethical systems.

You are a dispatcher for a police station in a small town which has been subject to brutal gang violence. The officers you speak to on the radio are punctilious in their communications with you, but, in an uncharacteristic "hot mic" moment, you hear about plans to "bust some heads." You aren't sure if this is meant metaphorically. It's apparent whatever action they take, if any, will be immanent. What is at stake, ethically and morally? How will you decide what to do?

Analyze what makes ethics specific to humanity and not a province of the animal world. A bat who shares its food is not said to exhibit ethical behavior, but a human toddler who refuses to share a toy cannot be said to be unethical. Why is this?

The term ____________ refers to applied ethics relevant to a particular occupation or profession.

You are a defense attorney in a small college town in northern New England. At a local bar, you overhear some seniors brag about their sexual conquests. A month later, a case arrives on your desk: the men who you overheard have been accused of statutory rape. Because it is a small town, public defenders are few and far between, so denying the case might mean a mistrial. Under what circumstances would you take the case, and under what circumstances would you reject it?