Ethics and Authenticity Discussion Notes
Ends Justify the Means?
- The outcome shouldn't justify actions, especially if it involves violating moral principles.
Trolley Problem & Organ Donation
- Choosing to sacrifice one person to save others can be viewed as maximizing overall well-being (utilitarianism).
- Using a person's body, even in death, to benefit others is seen as a necessary and potentially valuable act.
- Explored whether authentic conformity to peer pressure is possible.
- Discussed the nature of the "self" and what it means to be true to oneself.
- Rational vs. emotional self.
- Internal vs. relational self.
- Addressed the compatibility of authenticity with long-term commitments.
- People change, and commitments may need to be broken to stay authentic.
- People may have multiple "selves" (e.g., feeling, thinking, choosing).
