Ethics for the Real World - Distinctions and Reasoning (Pages 35-46)

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards covering the key concepts, distinctions, examples, and decision-making tests related to prudential, legal, and ethical dimensions, as well as reasoning vs rationalization and classic thought experiments from pages 8–19.

What are the three dimensions of action (prudential, legal, ethical) discussed in the readings, and what does each pertain to?

Prudential concerns self-interest and practical outcomes; Legal concerns lawfulness and obligations; Ethical concerns right versus wrong behavior.

How can you tell you’re dealing with the prudential dimension of an action?

When you balance pluses and minuses, weigh risks, and decide what the “smart” thing to do based on self-interest or practical outcomes.

How can you tell you’re dealing with the legal dimension of an action?

When the action pertains to the law; it can be illegal or legal, with coercive aspects and legal obligations.

What characterizes the ethical dimension of an action?

Questions of what is right or wrong according to predefined standards of behavior (lying, deceiving, stealing, harming, etc.).

What common mistake do people make about distinguishing prudential and ethical issues?

They often label emotionally charged prudential decisions as ethical, creating false ethical dilemmas.

What is a prudential action?

An action that aligns with self-interest, financial gain, loyalty, thrift, or being “nice.”

What is an ethical dilemma, and how common is it according to the text?

A situation in which two ethical principles conflict; such dilemmas are described as rare in practice.

What did the Enron example illustrate about prudential vs. ethical behavior?

Some actions were prudential (risk/financial considerations) but legally permissible; many were ethically questionable and involved deception.

What lesson does the Nuremberg Trials discussion convey about law and ethics?

Legal obedience does not excuse unethical acts; laws do not override universal ethical standards.

What does the phrase "ethical rock and prudential hard place" refer to?

Most ethical questions arise from conflicts between ethical principles and prudential concerns, not from two ethical principles fighting each other.

What is the difference between negative ethics and positive ethics?

Negative ethics prohibit certain actions (you shall not…), with bright lines; positive ethics require virtuous behavior (you shall…), often with fuzzy lines.

Give an example of negative ethics and positive ethics.

Negative: You shall not kill; Positive: You shall feed the hungry.

Why is it risky to treat positive and negative ethics the same way?

It can erode commitment to ambitious positive ethics and turn them into rigid, overly harsh rules, leading to ethical “willow in the wind.”

What is the "Actions or Consequences" distinction in ethics?

Kantian action-based ethics (duty regardless of outcomes) vs. Bentham/Mill’s consequence-based ethics (greatest good for the greatest number).

Who articulated deontological ethics and what is the core idea?

Immanuel Kant; ethics are based on universalizable maxims and rigid rules (formalist/deontological).

What is utilitarianism (consequence-based ethics)?

Actions are right if they promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number, by considering consequences.

In the plane hijacking thought experiment, how might an action-based thinker respond versus a consequentialist?

An action-based thinker would refuse to shoot due to a rule against killing; a consequentialist might shoot if it would save more lives, depending on predicted outcomes.

What does the hijacking scenario illustrate about ethical decision making?

It shows how the choice depends on whether one prioritizes rules (action-based) or outcomes (consequence-based), and how outcomes are uncertain.

What is rationalization in ethical thinking?

Constructing a justification for a decision that’s flawed, often by blurring right and wrong or using faulty reasoning.

What are some common rationalization phrases the readings warn about?

“If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”; “It’s for the public good”; “If it doesn’t hurt anyone, what does it matter?”; among others.

What is the “five most dangerous words in business” according to Buffett, and why?

“Everyone else is doing it.” It can normalize and legitimize unethical behavior through precedent.

What did Solomon Asch’s experiments demonstrate?

The power of conformity: people often go along with the group’s wrong answers due to social pressure.

What is the "distorting power of context" in ethical decision making?

Situations, surroundings, and things like uniforms or insignia can bias and pressure decision making.

What did the Stanford prison experiment by Philip Zimbardo reveal?

Environment and assigned roles can drastically influence behavior, illustrating the power of situational context.

What is the difference between remorse and regret in ethical action, according to the notes?

Imprudent actions often generate simple regret; unethical actions tend to provoke deeper remorse.

What are the self-check tests to distinguish reasoning from rationalization?

Other-shoe test, Front-page test, Biased-language test, Role-model test, Loved-one test, Mother’s test.

What is the purpose of the Other-shoe test?

To ask how one would feel if the situation were reversed (the shoe were on the other foot).

What is the Front-page test?

To consider whether you’d think the same way if your action were reported on the front page of a major newspaper.

What is the Biased-language test?

To consider whether using neutral language changes your judgment away from value-laden euphemisms or cacophemisms.

What is the Role-model test?

To ask whether you’d act the same if your action set an example for your children.

What are the Loved-one test and the Mother’s test?

Would you change your mind if the recipient were a loved one? What would your mother think?

What does the text mean by the Distorting Power of Context in relation to uniforms and insignia?

People may conflate authority with rightness; uniforms can color thinking and influence decisions.

What are the concrete takeaways about ethical thinking from these pages?

Distinguish prudential, legal, and ethical dimensions; recognize that most ethical issues involve balancing prudence with ethics, not pure ethical dilemmas; beware rationalization; use practical tests to improve ethical decision making.