Do Now Now: Grab your novels 15 minutes of silent reading FYI: Reading Response sheets for Cycle 4 are due on Thursday/Friday, February 9th/10th. You may turn them in anytime between now and then. Better early than never! Then: 10 minutes of vocabulary.com Please see your “assignments” link for this week’s list. This list is due Monday, February 13th.

Moral Dilemmas and Conflict What would you do when faced with a difficult moral choice?

First Things First Morality is to be concerned with right and wrong. A dilemma is a situation where there is no clear “best choice” between two or more alternatives. Dilemmas help us to focus our moral intuitions (awareness or consciousness) and test our moral theories (philosophies or ideas).

Conflict Conflict = Problem External Conflict Internal Conflict A struggle between a person (character) and an outside force. Internal Conflict A struggle that takes place in a person’s (character's) heart or mind. (i.e. having to decide between right and wrong or between two solutions to a problem)

Four Types of Conflict

Man vs. Person When a person (character) experiences conflict with another person (character in a story). {external}

Man vs. Self When a person (character) experiences conflict in his/her heart or mind. {internal}

Man vs. Nature When a person (character) experiences conflict with aspects of nature (such as weather, animals, etc.) {external}

Man vs. Society When a person (character) experiences conflict with aspects in society out of his control (such as the law, rules set in society, etc.) {external}

It is a genuine moral dilemma only if… Some things are deemed morally better than others. This will vary based on individual beliefs and views. It is unclear which choice is the morally best one. There is a likely chance that you or another party will be hurt or offended as a result of your decision. You more than likely question your choice after it is made.

Is this a moral dilemma? Why or why not?

The “Trolley Problem” Imagine that you are an employee working for the train company as a switch operator. One day you see a train speeding down the track, its driver is in obvious distress. You realize that the train has had a malfunction and is unable to stop. You look ahead of the train and see five workers working on the track. If you allow the train to go ahead, it will surely kill all five. However, you could divert the train by switching tracks. On the alternate track, there is one worker, working alone. If you switch the train, you cause the death of one worker. If you do nothing, five will die. What will you do?

Sophie’s Choice A classic, real-life example is provided by the story of Sophie’s Choice (based on a true story): In this story, Sophie is detained at a Nazi concentration camp. She has two young children. One day, she is confronted by a Nazi soldier who offers her the following choice: He says, “I am going to shoot one or both of your children. You tell me which one to shoot, or I will shoot them both.” What do you do?

Should you take this job? You are offered a job that will require you to do things that you find morally questionable. If you don’t take it, someone else will. Maybe you can work for good from the inside. With the money you can take care of your family and even give back to charities.

Should you always tell the truth Should you always tell the truth? Choose one and discuss what you would do. A murderer is at the door looking for your friend who is hiding in your house. It’s either your life or your friend’s life that will be taken. Your co-worker is cheating on her time-sheet. You will possibly lose your job if the boss finds out you knew and said nothing. You witness a parking-lot accident. You usually don’t like to get involved, but someone was hurt.

Are there laws that are acceptable to break Are there laws that are acceptable to break? Choose three and explain why it could be reasonable to break them. Underground railroad. A poor man stealing medicine for his dying wife. A struggling single mother shoplifting food for her children. Tax laws. Speed Limits. 21 year-old drinking age. Recreational drug use.

What moral dilemmas have you encountered in everyday life?

Survey Time Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5PKJ7B9 Take this poll to see how your answers to these moral dilemmas compare to everyone else’s. NOTE: Some of the subject matter is a little dark, but that’s what makes these problems so challenging.

For the remainder of the class period… Continue working on this week’s vocabulary list. Drop your Moral Dilemma packet into the inboxes when you have answered everything completely, thoughtfully, and thoroughly.