Introduction
We encounter ethics- and morality-related issues every day whenever we interact either with other people or even the environment. The level of person’s morality is to significant extent dependent on the way he/she manages everyday ethical issues. The most important thing with respect to managing these issues lies in the fact that it is necessary to remember that moral rules should come not from legal acts or indications of other people, but from ourselves. In this assignment we would like to present twenty examples of everyday situations and related ethical issues.
Situation 1
My friend introduces his new girlfriend to me. He looks very happy, and it seems to me that he considers this relationship as a long-term one. In several days I encounter my friend’s girlfriend in a restaurant with another man. From their behaviour it becomes clear to me that they have romantic relationships. I hear my friend calling his girlfriend and asking her where she was. She answered him that she was meeting her former roommates from the university dormitory. The issue: Should I tell my friend that I saw his girlfriend in the restaurant with another man and heard her lying to him? Solution: I should tell my friend about the situation without providing him with any kind of advice, so that he can himself make any decision
Situation 2
Recently I have started receiving money orders to my bank account. The sums are really not significant, but nobody should have transferred me any money. Maybe, somebody transferred it by mistake. The issue: Should I immediately call to my bank and inform about the mistake? Solution: Yes, I should, because it is immoral to take something, which does not belong to you
Situation3
I am tired after the working day and as usually go home by subway, dreaming to read some book. After having entered the coach and sat down, I see a woman standing nearby. She looks really exhausted. Moreover, she holds a heavy bag. However, she does not ask me to let her have a seat. The issue: Should I myself let her have a seat? Solution: Yes, I should, because this woman may just be ashamed to ask me to give her a seat
Situation 4
Recently I have noticed that my son behaves in a strange way. He does not speak to me and my wife, and avoids staying at home in the evening. Furthermore, it seems to me that he steals money from my wallet. Yesterday, when I went to his room, I saw that he forgot to log out from his social net account and read his messages. I got to know that some classmate blackmails my son and makes him steal money and alcohol for him. My son did not want me to know about his problem. The issue: Should I tell my son that I am aware about his problem with the classmate? Solution: Yes, I have to tell my son that I know the issue and offer him some help
Situation 5
I am riding a bike and drinking cola. It will take several minutes for me to find the garbage can, so I can be late for classes. The issue: Should I stop and look for a garbage can? Solution: Yes, because I am not allowed to spoil the environment
Situation 6
A wife of my business partner invited my wife to the party. Recently I got to know that she did it only because my business partner (her husband) made her do so and she herself did not want to see my wife at her birthday party. The issue: Should I advise my wife not to go to the party? Solution: I should inform her about the situation, so that she can make an informed decision
Situation 7
Going along the street, I saw a golden ring, lost by somebody I did not know. It seemed to me that it was impossible to find the owner of the ring. The issue: Should I go to the police and tell about my find? Solution: Yes, I should, because this ring does not belong to me, and its real host may be found
Situation 8
I visited my friend in a hospital and heard the dialogue between two staff members. From the dialogue I got to know that my daughter’s teacher is mentally ill and can sometimes behave in a dangerous way. However, I realized that she was going to hide her illness, so that school’s administration does not dismiss her. The issue: Should I inform school administration about the fact that this teacher is suffering from a mental illness and can behave in a dangerous way? Solution: No, because such a messages infringes privacy of another person
Situation 9
I am an adult, who is actively involved in sports. Going along the street in the evening, I notice three guys undressing a crying young woman, who tries to resist. I realize that if I stand up for the girl, I will not necessarily win. The issue: Should I try to protect a woman? Solution: yes, I should, because she really needs my help
Situation 9
In winter I am going along the street and see a small puppy, which must have been thrown away from the house by his cruel former hosts. My daughter suffers from allergy. The issue: Should I take the puppy home before I do not find new hosts for it? Solution: Yes, I have, but I should employ all the efforts to make the pet safe somewhere else as soon as possible.
Situation 10
My wife knew I was going fishing with my friends on Saturday. I told her about it beforehand and informed her about my eagerness to go there particularly on that Saturday due to the fact that my old friend, whom I had not seen for several years, was coming. However, on Saturday morning my wife asked me to refuse from the trip, because she needed some help with the household. She seemed to be very upset and not willing to stay alone. The issue: Should I stay with my wife? Solution: Yes, I should, because something may be wrong with my wife and I should respect her feelings.
Situation 11
It is late in the evening and snowing heavily. My girlfriend has slight fever. She asks me to get a medicine, but I know that it is almost impossible to do it due to remoteness of our place, bad weather and time. The issue: Should I try to persuade my girlfriend to wait till morning, when I will be able to drive freely? Solution: Yes, I should try to persuade my girlfriend to wait till morning, because driving in such circumstances may be dangerous.
Situation 12
My friend’s son and my son had a quarrel, and my friend’s son stroke my son in his face, so that he needed a doctor. I know that my friend is too strict with respect to bringing up his child and even beats hi if he misbehaves. The issues: Should I tell my friend about the quarrel between our children? Solution: No, I should not, because he may punish his son too sevely. It will be better for me to speak to the children.
Situation 13
My friend showed me her poetry. She was very proud of it and eager to get to know my opinion. Nonetheless, I found her poetry to be hackneyed and technically bad. The issue: Should I tell my friend that I did not like her poetry. Solution: Yes, I should, but I should carefully choose the form of my message.
Situation 14
I know that my brother, who recently lost his job, is of heavy need of money. As I have a good job, I repeatedly offered him some help, but he refused from getting it. Now the situation became even worse as my brother is currently going to pawn some family his wife’s jewels. I also offered some money to his wife, but she refused from taking it. The issue: Should I leave money in their house secretly? Solution: No, because my brother is an adult and he has the right to refuse from help.
Situation 15
I went to casino and lost lots of money. Now I am indebted and need to return the sum as soon as possible. As my wife is currently on holiday, I decided to pawn her golden ring. I know that I will be able to get it back in several days as I will get my salary. So, my wife will know nothing after coming back. The issue: Should I tell my wife that I am going to pawn her golden ring? Soultion: yes, I should, because this ring does not belong to me.
Situation 16
My colleague bought a new dress, which looks awfully cheap and vulgar. She is going to wear it for an informal business meeting with our customer. At this meeting both of us should look in an imposing and attractive way. The issue: Should I report my opinion about her dress to my colleague before the meeting? Solution: yes, because my failure to tell it may result in serious business-related consequences
Situation 17
My boss is going to promote either my close friend or an unmarried mother, who is of desperate need of extra money, and asks me for the advice. The issue: Should I provide him with some advice? Solution: No, because I will not be neutral
Situation 18
Recently I left my old job. Looking through my papers related to this job, I understood that I made an important accounting mistake, which is not going to be discovered before audit. The issue: Should I inform my former boss or new accountant about the mistake? Solution: Yes., because it may have a negative effect on firm’s operation
Situation 19
I know that my car is environment-unfriendly and lack money to buy a new one. The issue: Should I use public transport until I am able to buy a car, which meets basic environment-related requirements? Solution: Yes, because I should respect the environment.
Situation 20
During the boarding time I notice some suspicious object in my neighbor’s hand baggage. When I asked him to show it to me, he says he will not. The object seems to look like a dismantled rifle, so I am afraid that my neighbor will start shooting as soon as he understands that I informed airport staff about the strange object. The issue: Should I report the object I noticed to airport staff? Solution: Yes, I should do it, so that the man does not see it.
