Discussion Questions

  1. Considering Case Studies 1.1 and 1.2, discuss how you think it is possible that law enforcement officers could ever engage in such acts and/or cover it up. Does that type of behavior illustrate the complete lack of morals or ethics?
  2. Describe the tautological dilemma associated with divine command theory.
  3. Define what constitutes an ethical dilemma. Using the steps outlined in the chapter, how would you respond to the following scenario?
  4. A probation officer is in the common area of the office. As she approaches the office secretary to ask about a court date, she sees case files open and being edited on the secretary’s computer. She saw on the news that morning that the probationer was arrested for a violent offense. She knows that it is against office policy for anyone other than the probation officer to edit case files. She also knows that it won’t be long before people start asking questions about the quality of probation supervision that allowed the probationer to commit such a heinous offense.
  5. The Discussion Case highlights legislative changes regarding wearing traditional Muslim clothing in public schools in France and other European countries. How would you have handled this situation from a cultural relativist perspective? How about from an ethical absolutist perspective?  How would natural law say the situation should be addressed?