How to ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING (PART 1)

How do good people make tough choices?  Rushworth M. Kidder considers the answer.  He shows the difference between ethical problems and moral problems.  A moral problem is between a right and wrong choice, good and evil.  The issue is temptation.  But an ethical problem is when there are two right choices, a choice between one right option and another right options.  The choice to be faithful to my wife or commit adultery is a moral choice.  But the choice between an unmarried man dating one good woman who is his friend and another good woman who is also his friend is ethical.

 

 

Kidder discusses three approaches to ethical decisions:

1.       End  base thinking:  “Do whatever produces the greatest good for the greatest number.”

2.       Rule-based thinking:  “If everyone in the world followed the rule of actions I am following, would that create the greatest good .”

3.       Care-based thinking: The Golden Rule—“Do to others what you would like them to do to you.”   

 

 

Kidder uses an example of a librarian who receives a phone call from a man who is researching rape.  A police officer over hears the conversation and asks the Librarian to give the name of the caller.  According to the policies of the library, she is not supposed to disclose that information.  But if she doesn’t, a rapist may go free. 

 

 

What should she do? 

Does she “do whatever produces the greatest good for the greatest number,” and give the officer the name?

Does she “follow only the principle that you want every librarian to follow,” and stick to the policy, no matter what?

Does she “treat the caller like she wants to be treated?”  After all, what if he’s innocent?

 

 

Or what if he’s not?  How should SHE feel if SHE were raped and SHE knew a librarian like her could have stopped the rapist by simply giving an officer a phone number?

What if the rapist is a serial rapist?  The greatest number of women could be protected, even if it meant the inconvenience of one.  (Whether the caller is guilty or not.)

 

 

Following the library’s rule could be “the right thing to do.”

Telling the police officer the name could be “the right thing to do.”

 

 

This is an ethical problem.

 

 

But there is a FOURTH alternative to ethical decision making that will give us the ability to ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING! (Click HERE for part 2)