Recently in Ethics Morality Category

Fascinating news! I just read that PBS will air a series based on an edited version of a wildly popular Harvard philosophy class on ethics and morality. The class, called "Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?" is the brainchild of Professor Michael Sandel, who has taught thousands of students over the years. Subjects like affirmative action, social justice, same-sex marriage, religion, and much, much more are frankly discussed -- and the ambiguities that arise from the debates are both unnerving and wondrous. 

I'd have to say... no. 

Ethics:
1.    (philosophy) The study of principles relating to right and wrong conduct.
2.    Morality.
3.    The standards that govern the conduct of a person, especially a member of a profession.


Hillary and I were chatting today about ethics. "So what else is new?" you may ask. Isn't that, um, your job? Well, not necessarily. We discuss whatever dilemma the world has chosen to present us with on that particular day - personally or via CNN.  We discuss our individual responsibility in these matters, and we consider what both our hearts and minds are telling us.

However, when I wrote my post last night on the Savages, a couple who decided to carry a pregnancy to term even though the embryo wasn't theirs, it really struck me how subjective ethical behavior could be. The Savages' actions seemed completely ethical because their moral standard in this situation aligned with my own, and also because I felt that their actions were innately kind.

When I first read the MSNBC headline, "Woman Implanted with Wrong Embryo to Give Birth", I moved straight past it, thinking it sounded a bit too much like a supermarket tabloid to interest me. I'm glad I took a closer look, because I now feel it's a story worthy of the "Moral Monday" title - though also incredibly sad.

According to this account of Mike and Carolyn Savage's TODAY show interview, soon after the couple received the happy news that their in vitro fertilization process was a success, they  learned that Carolyn had been implanted with the wrong embryo. Faced with this shocking reality, the Savages had a choice - aborting the pregnancy, or seeing it through, only to give up the baby in the end.

Their decision to carry the baby to term is not why I applaud them. Or, I suppose, it's not that in particular--their choice is, after all, incredibly brave. However, it's their handling of the pain and disappointment, as well as their kindness and understanding of the emotional toll on everyone involved that particularly touched me. Carolyn told Meredith Viera:

"What we expressed to them is that we know they did not ask for this. They were at home with their family minding their own business. We are not going to impress ourselves into their lives. Of course, we will wonder about this child every day for the rest of our lives. We have hopes for him, but they're his parents, and we'll defer to their judgment on when and if they ever tell him what happened and any contact that's afforded us. We just want to know he's healthy and happy."

The Savages followed their personal code of ethics straight down the line, under the toughest of circumstances. If they hadn't--if they had made the 'other' choice--would we be forced to brand that choice as unethical?

I would be forced to say yes, though ethics don't often account for the state of humanity and all the complex emotions that tag along with it. I suppose it would also depend on whose code of ethics you subscribe to; that of a higher power that states all life is precious, or that which states you have no obligation to anyone other than yourself and the ones you love.

What do you think? Did the Savages make the most ethical of choices, the kindest and most generous of choices, or...both?

Three studies recently released brought a new twist to that age-old competition, man vs. woman--the question of generosity and charitable giving.

The series of studies, published in the August 2009 Journal of Consumer Research, examined how men and women gave to victims of Katrina and the South Asian tsunami, as well as how they gave to victims of terrorism in London and Iraq. The result was a significant difference in the male and female approach to charitable giving.

The authors of the study used the term "moral identity" to describe the extent to which "notions of being moral are central and important to one's self-identity." While men who had a strong moral identity were more inclined to donate to Katrina victims and London terrorism victims, women who identified equally with their moral center were more likely to give to Katrina and tsunami victims, London and Iraqi victims. Women were more likely to focus on communal goals, and men more likely to focus on the self.

Interesting stuff. Personally, I feel fortunate in my friends and family and would consider them equally generous in their charitable giving, bridging the so-called gender gap. However, I've long since wondered about the concept of national boundaries, identification with and empathy for our neighboring countries, and whether there should still exist a place in our hearts and minds for any type of distinction (I don't believe so).

I'd never considered gender to be a factor in these questions, so these studies bring about a new facet to my ruminations.

What do you think? Do you find a distinct difference in charitable giving in your household based on gender?

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Thanks again are due to our Beliefnet Entertainment Editor for this one. She emailed me the other day with the following ethical dilemma. While shopping with her fiance, she saw a well-to-do woman with two preteen daughters 'forget' to pay...

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