Topic: utilitarianism

Trolley Problem Ethics

trolley car

See the Lesson Attachment link above for a PDF of this lesson plan. Stimulus: Introduce Scenario 1:1 1:1: You are a train driver. As you are driving you look ahead and see 5 people trapped on the tracks. There is no way that you will be able to stop the train before running them over Trolley Problem Ethics

“Hey Little Ant” Lesson Plan

In considering whether it is right or wrong to harm or kill a (non-human) animal or even a bug, people may argue for criteria that distinguish between human beings and animals to justify the difference in treatment, like human beings are bigger, stronger, more intelligent, have language, have the ability to reason, or can manipulate “Hey Little Ant” Lesson Plan

Trolley Problem Ethics, Part 2

trolley car

This lesson plan can be used to expand on the thinking undertaken in the “Trolley Problem Ethics” lesson. It is accessible using the Lesson Attachment above.

One Rule Game

Photograph of a circle of students engaged in a lively philosophical discussion

This exercise attempts to give students the opportunity to formulate rules that they themselves would choose to be governed by. It explores the rules that they, as a community, would agree upon. And it tries to implement these rules in the classroom setting so as to test their viability in the crucible of real-world experience. One Rule Game

Moral Spectrum Exploration Exercise

Photograph of a spectrum from good to evil to illustrate the idea of a "Moral Spectrum"

The Moral Spectrum Exercise In this exercise, students are introduced to “the moral spectrum”—seven different perspectives on the right thing to do, seven different questions to ask themselves to determine whether a particular course of action is right or wrong. These questions are drawn from the dominant moral theories in Western philosophy over the past Moral Spectrum Exploration Exercise

How Do We Decide Who Should Decide?

Medical Ethics and the State The role of the state (government) in Medical Ethics can be quite complex.  In these two articles (see links below), two perspectives are explored.  The famous Baby Theresa case involves a situation where the state prevents parents from acting to share their dying daughter’s organs.  The second case concerns a How Do We Decide Who Should Decide?