A young boy is having trouble fighting with his sister. His parents get angry and offer him a deal. If he will go for some period of time without fighting and even being nice to his sister then they will take him to Disneyland. However, if he continues to fight and is not nice then he will have to spend that same weekend at home with a babysitter.
The boy considers where his best interests are and chooses to stop fighting and be nice to his sister.
QUESTION - Is this an example of ethical or moral behavior?
2007-03-16 17:05:11 · 14 answers · asked by Alan 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
On the parents part, it is an attempt to change a pattern that has developed. If it works, then they get what they want and the boy gets a chance to break a habit and see what it is like to behave differently.
On the boy's part, this is something akin to commerce. It is ethical behavior, but from an immature morality. (Behaving morally for the reward.) The sister was no longer getting assaulted by her older brother, so I'm certain that she was grateful.
If your question is in relationship to the reward of heaven for ethical behavior, your point is well taken. Christian morality is often based on the lowest, least mature form of ethical decision making.
2007-03-16 17:16:41 · answer #1 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it is. The parents aren't getting to the root of the problem. Why does the boy always fight with his sister? Does she start it or is it a fifty-fifty thing or just him? Also, if the boy is young, they are setting a goal/prize that is probably too far away. If they really want to use that method, he should get a sticker or candy for not fighting with her for a day. Then if he goes a whole week, something like a treat out (ice-cream, happy meal). If he continues the good behavior like that, then maybe go to Disneyland. Hopefully at this point, being nice to his sister will have become a habit.
2007-03-16 17:13:58 · answer #2 · answered by Purdey EP 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Initially it is neither moral nor ethical behavior on the part of the boy. Perhaps he is wiser than the person who decides to keep on fighting. Perhaps he will even come to realize that it is better to live a peaceful, moral, ethical rewarding life, than a violent, immoral, guilt-ridden rebellious life. Though the trip to Disneyland, he might even bond with his sister moreso and start anew in their relationship. The boy might become so wise that he declares it stupid to be rebellious against his parents, when all they are offering is life.
While this question was meant to be an analogy of Christians accepting God for gain not morality, it actually back-fired.
2007-03-16 17:18:19 · answer #3 · answered by ignoramus_the_great 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i agree with the first post as far as the boys behavior is concerned.
i don't really see anything unethical or immoral about the parents behavior either. they are protecting their daughter from someone who obviously has some boundary issues and is quite self-centered (guessing the disneyland ultimatum isn't the first thing they have tried.) i am not a huge fan of the reward system as a workable way to handle bad behavior. for people with that type personality, it seems to encourage future bad behavior in effort to elicit grander and more elaborate rewards for good behavior. regardless, the parents motives are pure, making the behavior both moral and ethical in my opinion.
2007-03-16 17:19:49 · answer #4 · answered by mommynow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The boy did not exhibit ethical or moral behavior. I would never have done that as a parent because he didn't learn, he bought. The day they get back from Disneyland, she's going down. They can use it as a teaching tool later though.
2007-03-16 17:17:00 · answer #5 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A little positive reinforcement never hurt anyone. After all if I play nice and work hard I may get a raise at work. if I don't than I will be out of a job. Actions have consequences. Good and bad.
Answer - ethical not necessarily moral.
2007-03-16 18:04:37 · answer #6 · answered by kairos 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no; rewarding devious behavior with materialism isn't effective - a) it's short-term - once the deal is fulfilled, the brother will revert into old habits (ie fighting with his sister) and when threatened will expect a reward for a positive change in behavior. b) kids should be raised with respect, compassion and honesty for all others. Pretending - Acting- Lying...for a prize? Sounds like a reinforcement of negative behavior.
2007-03-16 17:15:52 · answer #7 · answered by sunnchildd 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
For the boy? It is neither ethical nor unethical. It is doing what he must do to get what he wants.
The parents? That is wrong! To take the family to Disneyland and leave the boy at home, is to make him bitter and really hate his sister. It's WRONG!!!!
2007-03-16 17:10:04 · answer #8 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is an example of TEACHING moral behavior to a child... it depends on the child how that reward would work. I have met children who, if offered that reward, would not believe their lying parents and would not behave well in response to the offer.
Ultimately, it is our goal to teach children to internalize moral and positive behavior based on "natural" consequences...
Moral behavior is not adequately taught by threat of "hell" or by offer of Disneyland. Moral behavior is taught by example and smaller rewards and consequences that are more natural.
2007-03-16 17:10:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's an example of the boy acting out of enlightened self-interest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightened_self-interest
Which is indeed a form of ethics. ;-) It's not altruism, though, that's for sure.
2007-03-16 17:08:34 · answer #10 · answered by prairiecrow 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋