ETHICS IN SCIENCE FICTION A Persuasive Assignment
WHAT ARE ETHICS? From Wikipedia~ Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality that is, concepts such as: good and evil right and wrong virtue and vice justice and crime
WHAT ARE ETHICS? From Dictionary.com~ ETHICS: plural noun 1. (used with a singular or plural verb) a system of moral principles: the ethics of a culture. 2. the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics. 3. moral principles, as of an individual: His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence. 4. (usually used with a singular verb) that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.
WHAT ARE ETHICS? From Santa Clara University, California, Website~ 1. First, ethics refers to well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. Refrain from committing crimes Value honesty, compassion, and loyalty Supports rights, such as the right to freedom from injury, and the right to privacy 2. Secondly, ethics refers to the study and development of one's ethical standards. It is necessary to constantly examine one's standards to ensure that they are reasonable and well-founded. Keep checking that society s standards that are reasonable and solidly-based.
ETHICS VS. MORALS Ethics refers to what SOCIETY accepts as right or wrong. This code of ethics could (and will) be challenged by members of society. Morals are generally considered to be an INDIVIDUAL S perception of right or wrong (which may differ from society s norms).
WHAT ARE ETHICS? Based on the definitions you just read and discussed, now write a definition of ethics in your own words. Write the definition on the Vocabulary Words to Know sheet in your Writing Binder.
TOP TEN QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF WHEN MAKING AN ETHICAL DECISION From Middle Tennessee State University 10. Could the decision become habit forming? 9. Is it legal? 8. Is it safe? If so, don t do it. If it isn t, don t do it. If it isn t, don t do it. 7. Is it the right thing to do? If it isn t, don t do it.
TOP TEN QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF WHEN MAKING AN ETHICAL DECISION 6. Will this stand the test of public scrutiny? If it won t, don t do it. 5. If something terrible were to happen, could I defend my actions? If you can t, don t do it. 4. Is it just, balanced, and fair? If it isn t, don t do it. 3. How will it make me feel about myself? If it s lousy, don t do it.
TOP TEN QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF WHEN MAKING AN ETHICAL DECISION 2. Does this choice lead to the greatest good for the greatest number? If it doesn t, don t do it. 1. Would I do this in front of my mother? If you wouldn t, don t do it.
ETHICAL DILEMMAS There are many ethical dilemmas we face every day. Ethical dilemmas are often phrased as a question. Let s watch as Ethically Challenged Amy, a high school student, faces a couple of ethical dilemmas: Ethically Challenged Amy, Part 1
APPLY ETHICS TO FAHRENHEIT 451 There are many ethical dilemmas to be explored in Bradbury s Fahrenheit 451. ex.: In Fahrenheit 451, a woman refused to leave her house before the firemen set her house and all of her books on fire. Should Montag have done more to save the woman? (pp. 36-40)
APPLY ETHICS TO FAHRENHEIT 451 With your group, discuss and write at least three ethical questions based on the characters and events in Fahrenheit 451. Add your ethical questions to the chart paper on the board.
APPLY ETHICS TO YOUR SCIENCE FICTION STORY Take out the extra copy of your Science Fiction story. Read through your story. Pay close attention to parts of the story where characters were taking certain actions or making important decisions. Make notations on your story to show places where there could be an ethical question raised. Write at least three ethical questions in the margins of your story.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT! Select an action or decision in the plot of your Science Fiction story that represents an ethical dilemma. Turn that dilemma into an ethical question. Explore all the options that were available to the characters. What choices could have been made? Answer the ethical question by writing a persuasive paper in response to the question. Justify why the action the character took was the right or wrong decision.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT! You may choose to write in~ Academic Tone Third person, impersonal, explaining what the character did or should have done, and WHY. First Person As the character, justifying why you took the action that you did in the story. Either way, your job is to justify the actions that you believe are ethical.