1. Dennis Cooley North Dakota State University Northern Plains Ethics Institute

2.  What kind of life do you want for yourself?  What kind of life do you want for your loved ones?  What kind of life do you want for your friends?  What kind of life do you want for your community?  A FLOURISHING LIFE?

3.  The way people ought to think about ethics is sometimes very different from the way they actually think about ethics.  Theory versus the Practical.

4.  In order to discuss certain issues, it is beneficial to know how ordinary people make their ethical decisions.  Are there any general ideas or principles most people incorporate in their practical moral codes?

6.  You are the conductor of a trolley.  On the tracks before you, you see 5 kids.  If the trolley stays on the track, then the trolley will hit the 5 kids.  There is a track you can switch to, but 1 kid is on that track.  You will hit the 1 kid if you switch tracks.  You cannot stop the trolley from hitting at least 1 kid.

7.  You are standing on a bridge watching a run- away trolley.  There are 5 kids who are on the track.  They will be hit if the trolley is not stopped.  Leaning precariously over the rail next to you is a very fat man.  If the fat man is falls in front of the trolley, then it will kill him but save the 5 kids.

8.  Necessary components:  Justice.  Beneficence and Non-Maleficence  Consequentialism.  Autonomy/respect for the rights of people. James Rachels and Gary Comstock

9.  Questions of meaning come before questions of truth.  Principle of Charity  In order to discuss ethical issues and find some sort of consensus or compromise, it is vital to know the practical moral codes in play.  As long as the result is ethical, it does not matter what rules people use to get there.

10.  A step by step procedure for making ethical decisions is a pipe dream.  Ethical decisions are not made the same way each time.  Procedure is often interpreted as a rigid list that must be accomplished in order.  Although the feeling of completing a check list is gratifying, it can lead to some really bad decisions.

11.  Caveat:  The following can be useful, but does not take the place of common sense ethical reasoning.

12.  Use the “questions of meaning come before questions of truth” principle.  It might be the issue is too large to address at once. Try breaking it into smaller components.  Knowing the issue allows you to find evidence.

13.  Evaluate the evidence.  Is the information legitimate?  For example, is it a study that has too few people, is biased, or has some other defect?  Is it information from a reputable source?  Are there contradictions in the evidence?  Your result might send you back to Step 1 to reframe the issue or question.

14.  Given the question, RPU, QCI, and the evidence, what are reasonable solutions?

15.  Now that you have formulated reasonable solutions and know what to look for, do you have to go look for more evidence?

16.  Given the evidence and solutions, what do the relevant moral principles tell you to do?  Which solutions are selected by both RPU and QCI?

17.  After considering Step 5, do you need to find more evidence? (Are you reasonably comfortable that you have done due diligence in collecting evidence?)  If yes, then go back to Step 2.  If no, then go to Step 7.

18.  Using your reason, which solution is best supported and why?  Using your emotions or “gut” reaction which solution is best supported and why?  If the answers above are different, then control your emotions with your reason and control your reason with your emotions.  What is the best solution now, and why?

19.  Sometimes, we rationalize our decision rather than make our decision rational.

20.  Crop-hail insurance.  Small farmer – 1,000 acres.  Loyal customer for years.  Has a family, including small children and spouse.  Has to work off the farm to generate enough revenue for the family.  Has the insurance but cannot afford multi-peril crop insurance.

21. Drought hits the area after a good planting season. Small farmer cannot irrigate his 1,000 acres sufficiently. Crop is not in good shape. Not covered for this disaster.

22.  Freak hail storm comes through the area.  Farmers in the area suffer great damage to their irrigated crops.  Finishes off your small famer’s crop.  If the loss is exaggerated a bit, then the small farmer will survive.  If the actual loss is given, then the small farmer will have to sell up.

23.  Assume you, individually, are making the decision about how to report the loss.  What would you do next?

24.  Elect a spokesperson for your group.  Discuss your decision within your group.  Come to a consensus judgment on what should be done

25.  Each spokesperson reports on what the group thinks is the correct decision.  General discussion of what is the right solution, and strengths and weaknesses of it.

26.  Would more information be needed?  What do you need to know?

27.  Within your group, re-think your position.  Given the new information, make any changes you deem appropriate.  Generate a new consensus judgment or defend the old judgment.

28.  Is there a change?  Why or why not?

29.  Thank you for your participation.  Photos from www.turbophoto.com