Phil 133 ("Ethics in Science")

Spring 2005

CASES FOR THE FINAL EXAM

Attached are the four cases that will appear on the final exam. For each of them, you may be asked about the main issues we have been considering in our discussions of the case studies this term, namely:

1. Ethical issues/points of conflict
2. Interested parties
3. Possible consequences (good or bad) of different courses of action
4. Moral obligations of the protagonist

Remember that it is important to be clear and thorough, and to give reasons that support your claims. It is not important that you recommend a course of action I agree with!

On the exam, you will be asked to deal with only one of these four issues for each case. However, you won't know which one you'll be asked about for a particular case until you see the exam. So, as a matter of strategy, you should prepare all four issues for all four cases.

You don't have to prepare alone! In our Blackboard Discussion area, there are topics devoted to each of the four cases. Discussing the cases online may be an effective (and even entertaining) way to prepare the cases for the exam.

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Bebeau's "Developing a Well-Reasoned Response to a Moral Problem in Scientific Research" gives the following advice that bears repeating:

"When you develop your response, focus on the reasons the protagonist should or should not do something. Do not just pronounce an act as ethical or unethical; tell why you think so. In considering why an action is acceptable or unacceptable, it may be helpful to consider:

• Who has a stake in the action?
• What might the consequences of the action be?
• What obligations might the protagonist have?
• What professional norms and values give rise to those obligations?

Note that each problem usually contains two or more issues; you should try to describe all of them." (p. 3)