This week we will visit our own critical thinking and reasoning with the Virtual Philosopher.
1. Click the link below which will take you to an interactive exercise called Virtual Philosopher developed by Dr. Wade Maki from the Philosophy department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Virtual Philosopher Link (must have updated FLASH to play correctly): http://web.uncg.edu/dcl/courses/vicecrime/vp/vp.html
2. Comment on your critical thinking reasoning that led to your decisions for all three scenarios: the friend's problem, the lifeboat problem, the liver problem.
3. Explain where your critical thinking gave way to your values, ethics, and beliefs. Comment on the differences you perceive between "ethical" and "critical" reasoning and what kinds of problems it caused in doing or reflecting on this exercise and even in your academic experiences.
4. Comment on how the Virtual Philosopher scored your response. From the comments you received about your responses, what insight have you gained about your own critical thinking and reasoning?
For the friend problem it was not to hard for me to imagine myself in that situation, because I have been there many times. It is never a fun situation to be in, and the last thing that you want to do is to hurt your friend during that time, and that it what I was thinking about when I was trying to make my decision. But, it is also very important to be honest with them too. If they are odd maybe they should be embracing that, or if they have a problem that they can fix maybe you should make them aware of that, and help them with it. By not telling them the truth you are only hurting them, so I opted that I would tell her the truth.
ReplyDeleteFor the second problem involving the lifeboat and a 400 hundred pound man I said I would not push him overboard. I do not think that it would be my decision to make, and you never know what could happen later on. He may be the person who has all of the survivor skills, and he could end up saving everyones lives.
The last problem I had more difficulty with. From the beginning I did not think that the homeless man should get the transplant, because he was an alcoholic, so he would just destroy it anyway. I did not think that the wealthy man should get it either, because he was rich enough that he would eventually be able to buy himself one at some point in time. I had a lot of difficulty between the mother of six, the Nobel prize winner, and the child. In a since the mother of six and the child were about the same, because either way you were dealing with children. Then for the Nobel prize winner, she could save millions of lives by coming up with a cure for AID's and she has dedicated her life to helping people. But, in the end it was the fact that the child needed it now. All the other people could wait for another liver, but he needed it now or he would die.
It is hard to make decisions when it concerns other peoples lives, because you are put into a very critical situations. I think that often times that is when your emotions start to take over. That is when I think that you need to look at the situation from a ethical point of view. Take a step back and remember your values, because I think that sometimes critical can be too emotional. Emotions can be very tricky, and it can make any decision in life difficult from not cheating on a test to not pushing a 400 hundred pound man over board to save your own life.
So that is what lead me to my decision. It is hard to be honest sometimes, but in the end I believe that it will be the most beneficial. All of my scores came out consistent as well, so I guess I tend to be more honest then emotional.
For the friend's dilemma is was an easy decision because I've done it before. I told my friend that they were indeed odd but to embrace it. Rather than criticize someone's characteristics or lie about them, I encourage them to recognize that many people are odd in some way or another. I feel that even a "white lie" for the sake of someone's feelings in not ethical. From a Christian stand point, by lovingly explaining someone's oddities as a blessing that makes them a unique and interesting person, you can encourage them and build them up rather than lie and cover up something that may cause a problem down the line.
ReplyDeleteFor the lifeboat problem I chose not to push anyone out of the boat. In actuality I would choose an option not provided , I would continue to seek a solution for the sinking problem (as usually weight limits are underestimates). If all else fails I would ask for volunteers to jump out of the boat to save the lives of others. I would never ask such a thing without my offering myself as a sacrifice. Who am I to assume my life is more valuable than another's? In complete honesty, I truly do not know how I would respond. You never really know how you will react in a situation until you have been placed in it. I can only hope that I will maintain my calm and reason and that God will guide me through it.
The liver problem is a tricky situation. I hate having that kind of control over someone's life because emotions come into play very heavily. I ultimately choose the single mother because of her children. I realize that the young child was the most ill and possibly has the most to live for but I believe that the well being of the six children was more important than the one. Ultimately I would be unhappy with any decision I would make.
I feel like in every situation I combined my critical thinking with my values, ethics and beliefs. My values and beliefs have a very strong influence in everything I do. Especially in difficult situations like the one's presented I try to think "how will the decision I make glorify God." Good decision making cannot rely solely on critical thinking, values, ethics or beliefs but it must include all these traits in a proper balance. That is what I aim to do.
My first two responses were consistent but the liver problem was inconsistent. However as F. Scott Fitzgerald once said: "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still have the ability to act." I believe that ethics, emotion, critical thinking, and values, for me, all change depending on the situation and the possible outcomes.
Heather,
ReplyDeleteI admire your concern for honesty. I approached the three questions just the same as you - but in the final question - suppose the man with $100 million dollars could help fund expansion of the hospital, this too would go for the greater good. It was a real tough one, especially with children concerned. I call that a real test to ethics!
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to tie your responses to a Christian standpoint – I also considered what you said about reacting to a situation. You are so right, sometimes you don’t know how you are going to react in a situation until you are placed in it physically – that is what also makes these questions a little bit tricky. You have a strong handle on your ability to see things from both angles. That is a great sign of critical thinking! Being inconsistent is crucial sometimes – you can’t always go with the current!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Heather!
ReplyDeleteI remember doing this exercise in my Cornerstone class and I chose exactly the same as you. These are very hard decisions, but the way you approached them was great! You thought about different circumstances which stems from your interdisciplinary background.
Hi Kevin!
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right when you say values and ethics may change depending on the situation. Some situations I'm encountered with on a daily basis forces me to think with my head, and others I must think with my heart. We all know deep inside what is the right thing to do and what element we should focus on to make the right decision.
Also, your post reminded me of a quote I heard a long time ago but can't seem to remember from where, "People spend their whole life up through college trying to be normal and fit in; until after graduating they find themselves striving to be anything but normal." I love this quote because it truly does describe the average person. After we enter the "real" world we realize that what others are looking for is someone different and embraces those differences.
Hi Kevin
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. I too feel like it is unethical from a Christian standpoint to tell a white lie even to spare someone's feeling. I had a very hard time with the last question too, and I almost decided to choose the single mother, but I went with the boy instead. It is hard to tell what would be the right choice when it comes to things like that. also, like you said you never really know how you would respond until you are in that situation.
The friend situation was quite easy for me to answer because I believe that sometimes people need to hear about how they are portraying themselves to others. I found this situation to be one of those times. Hopefully, the friend will benefit and make the appropriate changes within herself to have a lasting relationship the next time around. The lifeboat was for me the most difficult of all. Honestly, I believe that none of us know what we would do in such an extreme situation. I do know, that I would not feel worthy of being saved from the boat after killing a man. I also would not fel worthy praying for god's help after killing him as well. The liver was a very sad situation to think about. I believe that we are all equal to an extent but I believe as well that some people just should be given priority over others, myself included. The liver situation really put that to test. I believe that children have priority over us all. I do however, believe that the woman with the 6 children falls into this as well. Her having 6 young children, I believe put her at a priority over the other adults.
ReplyDeleteI found through this exercise that my belief's, values, and ethic's do not contradict one another. These were some very tough choices to make. The difference in "ethical" and "critical" reasoning is that ethics are sometimes the right thing to do such as not to kill the man in the boat and critical thinking is thinking how if he did die it would save 10 other lives.
I was not suprised that the virtual philosopher said that all of my areas supported each other. It gave me insight that if ever faced with these kinds of decisions, I will use my critical thinking skills, but my ethical reasoning will be what I base my actions upon.
In terms of the friend problem I would definitely tell her the truth. To me if a friend is that close to you, you shouldn't be afraid to express yourself honestly. The lifeboat problem I chose to throw the 400 pound man overboard as bad as it sounds I was being honest with myself. Its better for 10 to live than 11 die which I know is a horrible to even admit but I feel like put in the situation everybody would be thinking the same. For the liver problem I chose to keep the child alive regardless of the other achieve and probability of life that everyone would have. I chose the child because he is the youngest and I feel he deserves a shot at having a life the next youngest person was in her 20s and regardless of her having children she lived and life and experienced the joy of giving life and loving. A fair chance at life is something I feel everybody deserves.
ReplyDeleteFor the friend problem I was thinking both ethically and critically. Telling your friend the truth but in a way she can understand without getting her feeling hurt I feel is important. For the lifeboat problem I was thinking critically mainly because it was a life or death situation. For the liver problem I was thinking ethically that the child should have the best chance of life.
Definitely the Virtual Philosopher score on my responses opened my eyes to see how situation are more complicated then they appear. Especially for the liver problem even though I didn't change my response it made me question if I really was choosing what I felt was right in my mind.
Some good responses so far. I wish I could go into some depth, but I don't want to speak on religion, and don't tell it is fair for others to hear my views.
ReplyDeleteHi Marie
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that these are very difficult questions to answer. I also agree with you that it is hard to know exactly how you would answer, because more then likely you have never been in these situation. All of my answers were consistent also like yours were
@Heather
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the friend. It's much better to tell the truth than to spare someone's feelings in the long run. As for the transplant, too found it difficult. However, I want to warn you not to discredit your emotions too much, otherwise you may become too methodical, detached and robot-like.
@Christi
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have a good grasp on who you are and I think that's good. Its brave to admit that you would throw the 400 pound man overboard. There is some honor is choosing to save 10 lives over 1