You, the Jury: principled decisions

By cookiejar

Life has some hard choices. What's the right choice? You, the Jury makes a game of making the right choices. You will learn about values-based decision-making in the process, resolve a wide range of dilemmas, and sort out which principles are valuable to you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: cookiejar
• Release date: Feb 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224254699

Book preview

How It Works

Each case has a situation and four options.

Figure out which option each jury member will choose.

Then, read which options they chose.

Decide which option you’d choose.

Let’s try it—first, the situation.

It’s freezing cold outside the door. The snow is falling fast. The sky is dark and silvery; this snowfall’s going to last.

A wintry blanket was foretold, but maybe more, I fear. My shovel will be cursed upon before the driveway’s clear.

The pups are curled on comfy beds. I’ve cocoa in my mug. Should I go out and shovel now? My sweetheart gives a shrug.

So we play with a jigsaw puzzle, watching flakes swirl and blow. Song fills the house with melody, but outside is the show.

Next, the options.

You could:

shovel the driveway

stay warm inside while it snows

hire a snow-removal service

wait for someone to clear the driveway

Wait! Before you go on, match each jury member to an option. For example: Keri—stay, Milo—hire …

Keri: Stay warm inside while it snows. Keri’s principles of respect (K1) and integrity (K2) would guide you to prioritize personal well-being and safety over the immediate need to clear the driveway, emphasizing the importance of self-care during harsh weather conditions.

Milo: Hire a snow removal service. From Milo’s utilitarian perspective, the action that leads to the greatest happiness for the greatest number involves ensuring your safety and comfort while also providing employment or income to someone who offers snow removal services (M1). This approach benefits both parties and ensures the driveway will be cleared efficiently.

Nico: Shovel the driveway. Nico’s virtue ethics would focus on the virtues of diligence and responsibility (V1). Taking the initiative to clear the driveway reflects a commitment to maintaining your property and ensuring safety for yourself and others who might need to use the driveway.

Zuri: Stay warm inside while it snows. Zuri’s care ethics prioritize empathy (C1) and interdependence (C3). By staying inside, you demonstrate care for your well-being and that of your partner, fostering a cozy and nurturing environment as you enjoy the snowfall together.

Damien: Wait for someone to clear the driveway. Damien’s self-centred and inconsistent rules (D1, D2) might lead you to prioritize convenience and personal comfort over taking action, focusing on the hope that someone else will take care of the task without considering the ethical implications.

Eliana: Hire a snow removal service. Eliana’s principles of responsibility (be accountable for what you say and do) and beneficence (prevent harm and promote well-being) would guide you to take a proactive approach that ensures safety and accessibility while also supporting local businesses or individuals who provide such services. This approach balances personal well-being with community support.

Finally, which option do you choose? Keri, Milo and the others are six jury members. You are the 7th.

The Cases

AbandonedBand

AnxiousInterview

BalancingBenefit

Bitty’sKitty

BuriedSources

CanineClause

CastawayIsland

ClaudeBottom

CloseClinic

ComposingCompassion

CousinsAdrift

Cows-metic

CulturalCrossroads

DarkWhispers

DiscountDruggist

Dr. FeelFine

Except on Ice

FarmSale

FauxFashion

FistFight

FriendZoned

GirlsOnly

GuardDisregard

Gyro’sSpell

HesitantHero

HiddenGambits

Homework for Hire

IncarcerationInjection

InsideJob

LabourLoss

LovelyLunch

NatureClub

Neighbour in Need

Noble or NoBull

OceanAcross

OddCouple

OnlineAttitude

PastaHaste

PigeonPrison

PubFare

PuffedPrices

RecyclingReality

ReunionRedemption

RowdyParty

ScrappedYard

SeaSurprise

SecretLeverage

ShockingExperiment

SmellsLikeMoney

SpiderCider

SplittingAssets

Stand for Safety

StarfishAshore

ThirstyThinking

TripleTies

UnrestRising

UnwantedAdvances

VariableWoods

Who to Please

Willy’sJeep

Abandoned Band

There was a time we were one tribe, a nation proud and free. The nation split by earth plate drift, casting us half to sea.

Our mainland band migrated south, beyond the rain forests. And so it stayed for centuries, until they came to find us.

Their government has a plan for cultural assimilation. Schools for our young to eat and speak, and dress like other children.

Beliefs once shared they now call myths, but insist we are one people. Their symbols are the phone and jet: ours, the wind and the eagle.

The island nation could:

abandon their culture

insist the mainland leave their culture

affirm that they are a sovereign nation

urge integration, not assimilation

Keri: Affirm that they are a sovereign nation. This aligns with my principles of liberty (K5), freedom (K8), and recognition (K9). Keri would argue that respecting the sovereignty of the island nation is essential, as it acknowledges their inherent value and right to self-determination.

Milo: Urge integration, not assimilation. The goal should be to maximize happiness for the most significant number (M1). Integration allows for cultural exchange and mutual benefit without erasing the unique identity of the island nation, potentially leading to a happier, more harmonious society.

Nico: Insist the mainland leave their culture. Nico’s virtue ethics emphasize the importance of integrity (V2) and justice (V8). Maintaining cultural integrity and standing up for what is just, including preserving one’s culture and traditions, reflects good character.

Zuri: Urge integration, not assimilation. Zuri’s care ethics prioritize empathy (C1) and interdependence (C3). By advocating for integration, Zuri would emphasize the importance of caring for each other’s cultural identities and fostering a community that values diversity and mutual support.

Damien: Abandon their culture. Damien’s self-centred and inconsistent rules (D1, D2) would lead him to advise the most beneficial action for himself, disregarding the broader implications for the island nation. If Damien perceived abandoning their culture as advantageous in a short-sighted manner (D5), that’s what he would suggest.

Eliana: Urge integration, not assimilation. Eliana’s rules of advocacy (support just causes), autonomy (let each person make their own decisions), and respect (treat everyone with dignity) would guide her to support a solution that respects the island nation’s right to maintain its culture while also engaging in meaningful dialogue and cooperation with the mainland. In this context, integration would preserve cultural identities while promoting understanding and unity.

Anxious Interview

The candidate was interviewed, in an intense campaign. The news station, not on his side, let him have his say.

What he said was confusing and he made many mistakes. The interview, while nerve-racking, offered him to do retakes.

Told the false starts would not be shown, the candidate signed off. Still, the station put it on air, broadcast in whole. Uncut.

The candidate lost the election, but thinks he’ll run again. He’s looking for a new beginning, others say this is the end.

The news station could:

move on in the news cycle

offer a public apology

offer a private apology

claim victory for their candidate

Keri: Offer a public apology. This aligns with Keri’s principles of integrity (K2), justice (K6), and recognition (K9). By publicly acknowledging the mistake, the news station would be upholding its duty to be truthful and fair, respecting the candidate’s inherent value and right to be treated justly.

Milo: Offer a public apology. According to Milo’s utilitarian perspective, the goal should be to maximize happiness and minimize harm (M1). A public apology could help mitigate the negative consequences of the station’s actions, potentially restoring trust and happiness among the affected parties and the public.

Nico: Offer a public apology. Nico’s virtue ethics emphasize the importance of integrity (V2) and justice (V8). Making a public apology is an act of honesty and taking responsibility for one’s actions, reflecting good character and a commitment to doing what is right.

Zuri: Offer a public apology. Zuri’s care ethics prioritize empathy (C1) and mindfulness (C7). A public apology demonstrates empathy towards the candidate and acknowledges the impact of the station’s actions, fostering a culture of care and responsibility.

Damien: Claim victory for their candidate. Damien’s self-centred and inconsistent rules (D1, D2, D6) would lead him to advise the most beneficial action for himself or his preferred outcome, disregarding ethical considerations or the broader implications of such a stance.

Eliana: Offer a public apology. Eliana’s rules of integrity (be honest and transparent in all you do), responsibility (be accountable for what you say and do), and respect (treat everyone with dignity and due regard) would guide her to support a solution that acknowledges the mistake and takes responsibility. A public apology respects the candidate’s dignity and demonstrates accountability and transparency, aligning with Eliana’s ethical principles.

Balancing Benefit

The priority of town council is to administer the budget. Given the sorry state of affairs, raising revenue is urgent.

A new stadium will attract tourists and their discretionary dollars. But construction means cutting funds, from a wide range of areas.

Social programs is a likely target, helping the underprivileged. Sometimes it takes big city thinking, sometimes it takes a village.

Without a long term flow of cash, all programs are in jeopardy. The stadium means cutbacks now, for a long-term remedy.

The council could:

give a green light to construction

forego the stadium

build a stadium that includes low-rent housing

introduce gradual construction

Keri: Introduce gradual construction. This aligns with Keri’s principles of stewardship (K7), justice (K6), and liberty (K5). By gradually constructing the stadium, the council can balance the need for economic development with the immediate needs of the underprivileged, ensuring that all actions are fair and considerate of the community’s long-term well-being.

Milo: Build a stadium that includes low-rent housing. According to Milo’s utilitarian perspective, the goal should be to maximize happiness and utility for the greatest number (M1). A stadium that also provides low-rent housing addresses the immediate needs of the underprivileged while still pursuing the long-term economic benefits of the stadium, thereby maximizing overall happiness.

Nico: Forego the stadium. Nico’s virtue ethics emphasize the importance of virtuousness (V1), integrity (V2), and justice (V8). Prioritizing social programs that help the underprivileged over economic development reflects a commitment to virtues like compassion and justice, demonstrating good character and a focus on what truly matters for human flourishing.

Zuri: Build a stadium that includes low-rent housing. Zuri’s care ethics prioritize empathy (C1), interdependence (C3), and mindfulness (C7). A solution that addresses both the economic goals and the needs of the underprivileged through inclusive planning shows care and consideration for all members of the community, fostering a sense of belonging and support.

Damien: Give a green light to construction. Damien’s self-centred and inconsistent rules (D1, D2) would lead him to prioritize actions that he perceives as most beneficial to himself or his interests, potentially disregarding the broader implications for the underprivileged or the community’s long-term well-being.

Eliana: Build a stadium that includes low-rent housing. Eliana’s rules of beneficence (prevent harm and promote well-being), stewardship (take care of wildlife and the environment), and cooperation (encourage and contribute to team effort) would guide her to support a solution that both advances economic development and addresses social needs. Incorporating low-rent housing into the stadium project demonstrates a commitment to social responsibility, equity, and community welfare.

Bitty’s Kitty

Mike Itty’s seen as a shy pre-teen, with a lot going on ‘cause he’s nice, not mean. Not even to Ms Bitty next door. Ramshackle house. Cats by the score.

A fire one day—the cause, can’t say—but Bitty and kitty got trapped halfway. By cursory glance the alley entrance, might be enough. Might give a chance.