VALUES & CHARACTER EDUCATION
ETHICAL DILEMMA
PEDAGOGY WORKSHOP
School of Education
PRESENTER:
DR LILY TAYLOR
What would YOU do if a
voice told you to prepare for an impending catastrophe?
Noah:
•“took precautionary steps
•built the “Arc”
•had no facts
•he had faith!
•ensured pre-damage control
•applied the ‘Better-Safe-Than- Sorry!-Principle’!”
Noah’s Arc…
What would YOU do if 97% of climate researchers told you to prepare for an impending,
environmental catastrophe?
• take precautionary steps?
• build an “Arc”?
• have faith?
• wait for others to make a decision?
One thing we could do..
Is to apply the
• Precautionary Principle
The Precautionary Principle
•“The emergence of increasingly unpredictable, uncertain, and
unquantifiable but possibly catastrophic risks (e.g., GMOs, Climate Change, etc.) has confronted societies with the need to develop a model to protect humans and the environment against uncertain risks of human action (p. 7)”
•Source: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001395/139578e.pdf
UNESCO (2005)
“You go first!”…
• Dutch economist Reyer Gerlagh: “…much of the responsibility for change falls on developing economies!”
• (Source: The Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/un-calls-for-drastic-action-to- stop-climate-change-20140413-36lbc.html)
• historically, developed nations have
contributed the lion-share of emissions.
John Broome (Oxford University):
• “…policymakers need to be reminded that (climate change) is doing major harm to other people. It is a moral or ethical problem.”
• (Source: The Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/un-calls-for-drastic-action- to-stop-climate-change-20140413-36lbc.html)
Ethical decision-making is important?
• somebody (often
politicians) has to make ethical decisions
Ethical decisions…
• whenever we have a choice or decisions to make that potentially affect others
• ethical dilemma
• ethical dilemmas - no clear “right” or “wrong”
answer
Sustainability
• many issues relating to sustainability present ethical dilemmas for us
• Can you think of an example how living more sustainably can create an ethical dilemma?
The
Western Swamp Tortoise The most critically
endangered reptile
in Australia:
2 swamps in Ellenbrook in WA
1 to 5 eggs per year
takes 8 to 15 years to reach breeding age
some of the present
population of tortoises are 70+ years old aestivates
in hollow logs or
under leaf litter
Threats
Captive Breeding Program @
SUCCESS
Translocation - Where to?
• Do you think it is a good idea to have WSTs – or any endangered animal - as PETS?
1. Think about your decision by yourself first.
2. Record it together with your reasons.
3. Compare & discuss your decision and reasons in PAIRS.
Is it a ‘good’ decision to translocate WST to habitats where they have not existed
previously?
• Consider previous ‘mistakes’ of European settlers in Australia – e.g., rabbits, foxes, cane toads, cats and dogs, etc.!
1. Think about your decision by yourself first 2. Record it together with your reasons.
3. Compare & discuss your decision in groups of 3.
• ‘the fittest’ will survive and the less
adaptable species are just not meant to!
• climate change may be part of the Earth’s long term changes and so the tortoises’
habitat may be doomed to dry out no
matter what humans do!
• If the WST is such an endangered animal and basically
‘doomed’ – why are we wasting our time, money and energy by protecting this animal in particular?
• Should we instead accept that its fate is a form of natural selection?
• What about feral cats, cane toads, foxes and rabbits - aren’t they ‘valuable’ creatures too?
• How do you decide what is a ‘valuable’ vs a
‘dispensable’ creature?
Ethical Dilemma Thinking
• reflective thinking
• AND critical thinking
• values-clarification
• consensual decision making
Ethical Dilemma Pedagogy
• climate change and sustainability force us to make many ethical decisions about
• use of resources
• protection of the natural environment
• how we treat other living beings
• what we eat
• how we dress
• what cosmetics to use
• how, why, where and when we spend our money
• how we treat not only bio-diversity but also cultural diversity
• etc...
At a very basic level…
Ethical decisions should be guided by principles:
What is Ethics?
“What SHOULD I do?”
• making ethical decisions
• ethical frameworks
• values
• ethical frameworks – 3 examples
• a great website to learn more about ethics – St James Ethics Centre:
http://www.ethics.org.au/about/what- is-ethics
Virtue Ethics in a…
• “good character”
• ‘virtues’ are habits of good character
• use our rationality to make
‘good’ decisions (Rowan & Zinaich, 2003)
What does it mean to live a “Good Life”?
Utilitarianism in a …
• “The end justifies the means…”
(Consequentialism)
• If the consequences of an action are deemed good/useful then an action should be
pursued (Rowan & Zinaich, 2003) Jeremy Bentham
Back
• avoid any actions which are likely to be harmful!
• applies to all living beings - not just humans!
• All beings have a right to their lives and that right should be respected!
• Source: http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/budethics.htm
Buddhist Ethics in a…
In the Indonesian context -
• moral frameworks in Islam?
• how can you build ethical dilemma pedagogy into Character Education ?
• brainstorm and discuss in your groups…
Thank you!
References
• Rowan, J. & Zinaich, S. (2003). Ethics for the Professions.
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
• ABC 7.30 Report –Herbert, B. (2013). Tiny Turtles on the March. Screened 3 April 2013
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2013/s3729273.htm
• St James Ethics Centre:
• http://www.ethics.org.au/about/what-is-ethics
• http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/budethics.htm
• Photos: Perth Zoo and www.neotommy.com; www.mytwoleftfeet.wordpress.com; www.imbd.com;
www.seawayblog.blogspot.com; www.pr-squared.com; www.nargaque.com; www.guatadopt.com;
www.donoharm.us; www.balancedlifeskills.com; www.islamicrenaissance.co.uk;
www.lambfood.blogspot.com; www.wikihow.com; www.socialmarketing.blogs.com;
www.mohawknationnews.com; www.fin6.com; www.foxwhisperfarm.com; www.animalcontrolphx.com;
www.ozanimals.com; www.dvfplumbing.net; www.realfeel.com.au; www.au.news.yahoo.com;
www.nrm.gov.au; www.goodzoos.com; www.expedition360.com;
www.agwaterconservation.colostate.edu;
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