Part A: Bounded Ethicallity

answer the following questions (approx 200-300 words)

·         Do you think that acting ethically is just a matter of wanting to badly enough? Why or why not?

·         What kinds of situational factors can you think of that might make it difficult for a well-intentioned person to always do the right thing?

·         Can you think of a time when you did not live up to your own ethical standards? What caused you to depart from your own standards?

·         Can you think of an example of a friend who acted unethically? Or someone in the news lately? Without making excuses for them, can you explain why they might have made bad ethical decisions even though they are generally good people?

·         Do you think it’s possible to be completely rational when making ethical decisions? Why or why not?

Part B: Conflict of Interest

answer the following questions (approx 200-300 words)

·         What conflicts of interest have you personally experienced in personal or professional roles?

·         If you perceive a potential conflict for yourself, what are some ways you might ensure that this conflict doesn’t lead to unethical behavior for you and others?

·         When have others’ conflicts of interest impacted how you or those you know were treated?

·         What types of policies can or do organizations implement to try to reduce conflicts of interest or their costs?

Part C: Conformity Bias

Answer the following questions (approx 200-300 words)

·         Can you think of a time when you did something just because everyone else was doing it—even when it didn’t feel quite right to you? Do you regret it now?

 

·         It was recently observed that “cheating is contagious.” Does that sound true to you? Why or why not? If it is true, why might this be the case?

 

·         Loyalty is generally considered a good quality. When a group to which you owe loyalty seems to be making a decision that seems unethical to you, how should you go about trying to balance your loyalty to the group against your own ethical integrity? Have you had an experience like that? If so, how did you resolve it?

 

·         Can you explain how “groupthink” works? Can you think of a time when you have been subject to groupthink?

 

Part D: Ethical Fading

answer the following questions (approx 200-300 words):

•Can you explain the concept of ethical fading and perhaps give an example of when it happened to you?

•Can you think of a situation where you were so intent upon pleasing an authority figure, fitting in with your friends, or achieving a goal that you failed to give an ethical issue your full attention? Did that situation cause you regret?

•Can you think of an example of a friend who might have been the victim of ethical fading? Or a person in the news recently?

 

Part E: Incentive Gaming

answer the following questions (approx 200-300 words):

1. When have you been paid based on your performance, and how did this alter the way you approached your job (for the better and for the worse)?

2. Grades are partly intended to provide incentives for quality work. How do students strategically game grading systems in ways that might pervert this intent?

3. Is gaming unethical, or is it just rationally responding to the incentive system? Whose responsibility is it to stop gaming: the person who designs the incentive system, or the person who exploits it?

4. How do you draw the line between gaming and cheating?

 

Part F: Loss Aversion

answer the following questions (approx 200-300 words):

1. Studies show that people hate losses twice as much as they enjoy gains? Is that consistent with your experience?

2. Have you ever been caught off guard doing something you probably shouldn’t have been doing (eating the last cookie in the cookie jar, peeking in someone’s diary, touching your mother’s jewellery) and when surprised with the question: “What are you doing?”, quickly and almost automatically (and falsely) said: “Nothing!”

3. A recent study found that when people were under time pressure, they were more willing to cheat to avoid losses (“losing the sale”) than to accrue gains (“getting the sale”). Do you think that is how you would react?

4. Can you think of any situations where you or someone you know may have made decisions affected by loss aversion?

5. What steps can people take to minimize the chance that loss aversion will help lead them to act unethically?

 

Pat G: Moral Agent & Moral Subject

answer the following questions (approx 200-300 words):

1. Name some abilities that are essential for someone to be a moral agent.

2. What is necessary for someone to be a subject of moral worth?

3. What is the difference between someone being a subject of moral worth and someone being included in the moral community?

 

Part H: Fundamental Attributions Error

answer the following questions (approx 200-300 words):

1. If you met a famous white-collar criminal, what would you expect him (or, occasionally, her) to be like?

2. Why do you think it is so common to hear white collar criminals described by their neighbours as “the nicest guy,” “a real family man,” etc.?

3. Can you think of things that you have done in the past that you wish you hadn’t and that you do not believe represent your true character?

4. How can we endeavour to judge people’s character more accurately?

 

Conclusion: