Joanne Spoganetz

 Professor of social ethics at Harvard Divinity School from 1965 to 2003  Author of the book War and Moral Discourse  Created The Potter Box: a guide for making ethical decisions

1. Definitions/facts 2. Identifying values 3. Identifying principles 4. Choosing loyalties

 18 th century philosopher  April 22, 1724 – February 12, 1804  Known for his work in Metaphysics and Ethics

 Guidelines should be se and abided by  “You do the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do.”  We should act as we expect all humans to act

 20 th century political philosopher  “We are to imagine ourselves in what Rawls calls the Original Position. We are all self-interested rational persons and we stand behind ‘the Veil of Ignorance’”

 People behind the veil of ignorance are unaware of their own race, sex, and social background  They are given the task of choosing principles that shall govern the actual world  According to Rawls, the fairness of this procedure will therefore produce fair principles

 Managing editor  Says that relying on your own values and principles in unavoidable as a journalist.  Agree or Disagree?  Adds that a journalist’s work is very independent. It is up to their own judgment to include and leave out certain aspects of a story.

 Which ethical model might journalists use?  Do you think Rawls’ Veil of Ignorance is possible today?  Have you used any of these models to answer your own ethical dilemma?