As humans, we
are constantly faced with decisions. Some decisions are easier than others and these
decisions carried little to no consequences; however, there are some decisions
that can effect a population and may have negative results the culture of an
organization. Deciding between two option is what its called decision making. These
decisions are able to be made through either an intuitive (knowing without much information)
or reasoning process (using
current knowledge to make a decision), or a combination of the two (Decision Making, 2016). Additionally, ethics, morals and values guide and
influence our decision making process. Ethics are formal and are incorporated in
organizations and society by rules. Take for example medical ethics, they are
codified in a system that are rooted to prevent unethical behaviors. Similarly,
morals are the ideas that are based on right and wrong. Finally, values are imbedded
in a person’s belief or their emotional perspectives (Values, morals and
ethics. 2016).). When making decisions these behavioral rule made be a guidance
force that leaders should consider when making time critical decisions. Consider
an ethical dilemma that is filled with consequences which will effect your personal
moral, ethical, and value. Imaging the following scenarios and consider what
your decision would be if you have to choose:
First Scenario: A train is hurtling down the track where five children
are standing. You are the switch-person. By throwing the switch, you can put
the train on a side track where one child is standing. Will you throw the
switch? (Source: Thomas Anderson, Case Western Reserve University)
This scenario contradicts ethical values and puts the decision maker in a
hard place. In this situation I think
back to World War II, where the attack on Pearl Harbor caused indescribable
loss to life. I once read an article where a ship was sinking and in order to
save hundreds of people they had to seal a compartment that still had people in
it. This decision saved countless life; however, it carried long lasting psychological
effects to the individuals. If I was faced with the train scenario and I had no
other choice but to either save one child or five, I would choose to save the
five. As humans, is our ethical duty to save as many lives as possible in any
given situation. In contrast, the value of life is immeasurable and it’s not up
to us to decided whether one person lives or die.
Second Scenario: Same scenario except: You are standing next to an elderly man. If you
push him in front of the train it will stop the train and all the children will
be saved. Will you push him?
Once again there is no right or wrong answer and this situation will go
against my moral and ethical belief and in my view this would be murder. If my
resources are exhausted and the only way to save the children is by sacrificing
the elderly man, then the unethical answer is to push the elderly to save the
children. This is extremely alarming and there is no supporting reason behind
the decision, except the age difference. Ethically, all human life is sacred
regardless of age, gender, race, or social standing. However, qualitatively
speaking saving someone who is 5 years old makes more sense than someone that
is 90 years old. Morally, it would be
hard to live knowing the fate of the five children, but, in the other way,
knowing that I push someone to their death would be hard to live with.
Third Scenario: Same scenario except: The one child on the side track is
your child.
Will you throw the switch to save the five children?
These scenarios get more complex and unethical. The last scenario brings
another factor in play, your own family. I will always choose to save the life
of my kids and I would gladly give up my life to save the life of my children
the other five children if I had the choice. My moral compass always steers me
toward saving my children no matter the situation. However, in this scenario
there is no apparent right or wrong answer. Putting a parent in this scenario
is unethical, it’s like asking someone if they would choose to save one child
over the other.
The scenarios presented are very complex and hard to fathom. In the past
we have seemed these types of unethical decision made for the better of
society. During WWII the US dropped two atomic bombs that killed thousands of
innocent people. Would of we won the war without making this decision? Or do
you think the enemy would have done the same to the US? War is a scary thing
and it comes with many ethical and moral dilemmas. I would only hope no one would
ever have to go through these types of situations.
Reference
Decision Making. (2016). Retrieved March 27, 2016, from http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/decision-making.html
Values, morals and ethics. (2016). Retrieved March 27, 2016, from
http://changingminds.org/explanations/values/values_morals_ethics.htm
