Intuition and Ethics

Most people feel they are ethical. They remember what they learned from their parents, the faith tenets, or other critical sources of moral information. What we may fail to understand is that ethical decisions often result from millisecond intuitions. We then use reasoning to justify decisions already made. This session introduces the problem. In particular, Dr. Wildermuth will explain Jonathan Haidt’s moral intuition and reasoning model and discuss a problem called “moral fading” (moral fading means removing the “ethical colors” of an ethical dilemma). The session will further introduce key ethical concepts such as moral dilemmas and Dr. James Rest’s components of moral behavior (sensitivity, reasoning, values, and courage).
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Learning Objectives 

• Discuss the most important roots of our ethical decision-making processes.
• Explain the difference between "rational" and "intuitive" decisions.
• Apply Jonathan Haidt's model to a real or fictional moral dilemma.
• Discuss how "moral fading" can lead to unintentional unethical decisions.
• Connect the lessons learned in this session to the "Circle of Ethics" theory.
• Mini Action Plan.