Dilemma 1:
Egoism: The Poisoned Baby Formula Dilemma
The Plot
You are a 3-year employee of a corporation that makes baby formula. One day at work, you notice a memo on your boss' desk that says quality control testing has shown a random sampling of formula has been contaminated with a chemical that can cause serious illness or death.
Your boss returns to her office and sees you looking at the memo. You have a friendly relationship with her and so you ask about the contamination. She tells you that everything is under control and you should forget you saw it. When you attempt to question her further, she grows serious and tells you that the entire company could be in jeopardy from multimillion–dollar lawsuits if the information went public. She also insinuates you will be fired with prejudice, making it very difficult for you to find a job in the future if you went forward. This would be a huge hardship as you are the only member of your family who earns an income.
The Question
Using what you know about Ethical Egoism, explain what you would do. Be sure to illustrate a thorough knowledge of Ethical Egoism in your essay, as that will be a significant part of your grade.
Dilemma 2:
Relativism: The Right to Religious Laws
The Plot
In Saudi Arabia, women wear a certain style of dress around male non-family members for religious reasons. Advocates say they are a symbol of modesty and privacy. Because of this policy, police stopped fire fighters from entering a building where female students were not dressed appropriately, resulting in the deaths of 15 students. Read the following link to learn more.
“Saudi Police ‘Stopped’ Fire Rescue.” BBC News. 15 March 2002. (Links to an external site.)
The Question
Using what you know about cultural relativism, defend or criticize their decision. Be sure to illustrate a thorough knowledge of cultural relativism in your essay, as that will be a significant part of your grade.
Dilemma 3:
Relativism: The Right to Deny Service
The Plot
Private business owners argue that they have the right to deny services to people to whom they object based on religious beliefs. Read the following link to learn more.
“Freedom or Oppression? That’s the Question for Arizona’s SB1062.” CNN.com. 26 February 2014. (Links to an external site.)
The Question
Using what you know about cultural relativism, defend or criticize their position. Be sure to illustrate a thorough knowledge of cultural relativism in your essay, as that will be a significant part of your grade.
