Ethics and Chinese Thought

Aim

How do you know what is "right" and "wrong" behavior? Where do we get our sense of ethics?

Student Performance Objectives

• determine the characteristics of "right" and "wrong"
• examine the sources of their ethical behavior
• evaluate how ethics impacts on their daily lives

Upon entering room, teacher announces, "From now on, we are going to change some of the procedures in this class. We will no longer bother with any rules. Feel free to do whatever you want whenever you want. Each of you may express yourself in any way you deem appropriate."

Allow students a few minutes to "play" with these changes and then ask if any student feels uncomfortable or disturbed about this change.

Procedure

Teacher places the term "ethics" on the board. Debrief the class: "How did you feel with no structure when anything goes?"

What is considered "right" in our society?

What is considered "wrong" in our society?

How do you know these things are "right" and "wrong"?

This is called "ethics."

Ask for definition of ethics.

Write your own personal "code of ethics." What are the rules a "good person" should live by?

Proceed to the next activity.

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