Category: Critical Thinking

During day 7 and 8 of our Critical Thinking life class, we got a chance to explore how we make ethical decisions and justify our actions. The class started with an activity “Taking a stand” . We started by examining various statements with scenarios by ranking them according to our personal morals and ethics. This exercise highlighted how individual values and emotions influence our decisions and revealed how they can sometimes differ from others’ viewpoints.

Secondly we also learned about theories like Moral reasoning , Moral relativism, Self-interest theory, Deontology , Utilitarianism and Rule Utilitarianism. These theories were applied in real-life scenarios and discussing their implications. It was intriguing to observe how many of us tend to make decisions based on self-interest and how our ethical choices shift depending on the situation. There were diverse opinions which fostered deeper understanding rather than disagreement. Listening to different perspectives on the same scenario expanded my thinking and demonstrated how various moral theories apply in different contexts. It reinforced the idea that morality is not always absolute but rather a nuanced and evolving process of reasoning and reflection.

A key insight was that moral reasoning isn’t about selecting a single “correct” theory but about considering different perspectives to make well-informed ethical choices. However emotions come into picture while doing so and humans are influenced by self-interest theory. By challenging our assumptions and using these frameworks, we can approach ethical dilemmas with greater clarity and confidence. A valuable session indeed !

The day began with a quick yet critical recap, allowing us to reconnect with past learnings and establish a foundation for the discussions ahead. This exercise was a great way to jog our memories and see how our understanding had evolved over time.Once we were ready, we faced an intriguing challenge—five statements with ethical dilemmas were displayed on the screen. Our task was to arrange them in order of priority and importance. This required us to make tough choices, guided by our values and perspectives. Just as we started feeling confident in our decisions, the complexity increased. The number of statements doubled from five to ten, making the task even more difficult. This was a true test of our ability to set priorities, revealing how often our emotions influence our critical thinking over logic.Following this, we were divided into groups to research various ethical dilemma theories. We explored their meanings, real-life examples, and their issues. This research deepened our understanding of how different perspectives shape ethical decision-making.To put our learning into practice, we were given different scenarios that presented ethical challenges. We had to reflect on what we would do if we were part of those situations. This was an eye-opening exercise, as it helped us understand the balance between emotions and rational thinking when making decisions.This entire process was not just about learning theories; it was about self-awareness. It helped me realize how I make decisions in my personal life and how important it is to evaluate every scenario carefully before choosing a course of action. Ethical dilemmas are a part of life, and today’s experience gave me the confidence to approach them with a more thoughtful and balanced mindset.

Today’s Life Class was an eye-opening experience as we explored Critical Thinking – Ethical Paradoxes. I had never realized how many factors come into play when making decisions. The session was incredibly engaging, keeping us hooked from start to finish.

One of the most thought-provoking aspects was imagining how our decisions might change when viewed from different perspectives. We explored various ethical paradoxes, and the one that resonated with me the most was Moral Relativism—the idea that morality isn’t universal.

Previously, I assumed that my moral beliefs were commonly shared by those around me. However, I learned that ethical values are deeply influenced by one’s environment and experiences. What feels right to me might not be the same for someone else, and that doesn’t make either of us wrong. Our conditioning shapes our perspectives, making what seems unfamiliar to me completely natural for another.

Reflecting on past experiences, I now realize that I have encountered this paradox multiple times. Moving forward, I will be more mindful when facing such situations. I will respect differing moral values and embrace the idea of agreeing to disagree, depending on the context. The content learned today will sharpen my skills related to decision making and analysing it.

Reflection on the Life Session on Moral Dilemmas and Ethical Theories

Attending the life session on moral dilemmas and ethical theories was an eye-opening experience. We explored different moral perspectives, including self-interest theory, utilitarianism, and Kant’s approach, applying them to real-life scenarios and discussing their implications.

The session was highly interactive, encouraging us to think critically and justify our moral decisions. One of the most engaging aspects was applying these theories to dilemmas where no clear right or wrong answer existed. For instance, we debated whether it would be justifiable to lie to protect someone, weighing it from a utilitarian perspective (maximizing overall happiness) versus Kant’s deontological stance (where lying is inherently wrong, regardless of the consequences).

Another thought-provoking exercise involved prioritizing moral scenarios based on our values. This exercise helped us understand how our personal principles influence our decision-making. Some of us leaned towards pragmatism, prioritizing outcomes, while others held steadfast to absolute moral rules.

The best part of the session was the open, respectful discussion, where differing opinions led to deeper understanding rather than conflict. Hearing varied perspectives on the same dilemma broadened my thinking, showing how different moral theories apply in different circumstances. It reinforced the idea that morality isn’t always black and white but a nuanced, ever-evolving process of reasoning and reflection.

Overall, this session was a great learning experience, equipping me with a more structured approach to ethical decision-making and helping me appreciate the complexity of moral reasoning in everyday life.

This session was about how we make ethical decisions and justify our actions. The session introduced key ethical theories that shape our perspectives on right and wrong, helping us navigate difficult choices in both personal and professional life.

One of the central discussions revolved around Moral Relativism, which suggests that morality is subjective and varies across cultures and individuals. This challenged us to question whether universal moral principles exist or if ethics depend on societal norms.It was also eye opening in the sense that my ethics can be exact opposite from someone else ,and I should be open about it and should understand there perspective leading to the conclusion that moral ethics might not be universal and that is ok.

We also explored Self-Interest Theory (Egoism), which argues that individuals act in ways that benefit themselves. While this may seem selfish, it raised interesting debates about whether acting in self-interest can sometimes lead to overall good.

On the other hand, Deontology, founded by Immanuel Kant, asserts that moral duties and rules should guide our actions, regardless of the outcomes. This theory contrasts with Utilitarianism, which emphasises the greatest good for the greatest number. The debate between Rule Utilitarianism (which follows general rules that maximize happiness) and Act Utilitarianism (which evaluates each situation separately) highlighted the challenge of balancing fairness and consequences.

It was also interesting to note that how most of us make decision on self-interest theory and how our ethics and decision changes based on the situation. Specially after reading the article “The man hired to have sex with children” it came to everyones immediate reaction that this is wrong, but then the question was how come parents are involved in this thing and making their daughter undergo the same. The conditioning was then discussed.

A key takeaway was that moral reasoning is not about choosing the “right” theory but understanding different perspectives to make more informed, ethical decisions. By questioning our assumptions and applying these frameworks, we can navigate ethical dilemmas with clarity and confidence.