Prompts for Everyday Ethics Reflection - Fall 2020

The assumption behind "everyday ethics" prompts is that it is useful to introspect (and with others) to see how we operate in everyday ethical situations. Sometimes we can uncover some of the rules we follow automatically or by habit. Other times, we can notice how much of a difference context matters. Formulating principles based on our behavior might also lead us to be critical of our own principles.

• Describe a situation in which you decided to trust someone and you were right to do so. What made you decide to trust the person? Alternately, describe things you would do if you were trying to get someone to trust you.

• Have you ever declined a favor or benefit from someone because you were not sure you would want to reciprocate? Why is it hard to accept a benefit when you have no intention of reciprocating?

• Have you ever been in the company of people telling racist or sexist jokes? Have you sometimes not said anything and regretted it or sometimes said something and regretted it?

• Assuming it is sometimes ok to gossip about people (roughly, talk about them or listen to others talk about them in ways you would not want them to hear), why is it sometimes not ok?