Jane Doe is a nursing student at University X. Jane is in week eight of a course entitled: “Introduction to Ethics”.
For the week one discussion, Jane copied work done by her friend John Doe in the same class two months ago (with a different professor). John told Jane it was okay to use his work as John’s professor never checked any work in the class using Turnitin.com. John claimed to have earned an A on the work also.
In week two, Jane went to StudentPapering.com and paid ten dollars for a week two essay done by a student (not John Doe) who took the same course four months ago. StudentPapering promises that all its archived work is of excellent quality and cannot be detected as copied. Jane then uploaded an exact copy of the work for the week two assignment.
In week three, Jane paid a worker at PaperingStudent.com ten dollars to write for Jane a brand new essay after Jane shared with the worker the essay assignment instructions.In week four, Jane relied on her knowledge of Esperanto. She felt pressed for time and found an article by a professor from Esperanto on the week four topic. She translated Esperanto into English using Moogle Translate, and the translated text served as her week four paper.
In week five, Jane was running late again. Jane purposely uploaded a blank paper hoping that she would later claim it was an innocent mistake and not be assessed a late penalty. In a previous course on History, she had done the same (with an earlier paper from the History class rather than simply a blank) and had not seen any late penalty assessed.In week six, Jane took work she did in a nursing course from a year ago and submitted that for her discussion posting in her current class. She simply copied and pasted the work she had labored intensively on a year ago (even though University X forbids this practice as ‘self-plagiarism’). Jane was confident her Nursing instructor never checked that work using Turnitin.com or another method.In week seven, Jane copied work found at ChatGPT for the paper. Jane did not use any quotation marks or other documentation to show the text was from artificial intelligence and not by Jane.
Since Jane’s Ethics professor did not check papers and posting for any issues by using Turnitin.com or another method, the professor graded all of Jane’s work unaware of Jane’s actions throughout the weeks of the class. Jane feels her actions are morally justified both because her economic situation requires her to work too much to devote time to school (although other students are well-off enough to have such time) and her religion forbids cheating, but Jane ignores her religion’s teachings.
Instructions
Now that you have had an opportunity to explore ethics formally, create a reflective assessment of your learning experience and the collaborations you engaged in throughout this session. You will submit both of the following:
- A written reflection
For the written reflection, address Jane Doe’s and respond to the following:
- Articulate again your moral theory from week eight discussion (Ethical Balance – utilitarianism). What two ethical theories best apply to it? Why those two?
Wk 8 DB “My moral way of thinking is established in a mix of uprightness morals and utilitarianism, with an accentuation on compassion and social obligation. To promote the greatest good for individuals and society, I believe in striving for virtuous character traits while considering the overall consequences of actions. This approach recognizes the significance of self-awareness, moral standards, and aggregate prosperity.”
- Apply to Jane Doe’s case your personal moral philosophy as developed in week eight discussion and now. Use it to determine if what Jane Doe did was ethical or unethical per your own moral philosophy.
- Propose a course of social action and a solution by using the ethics of egoism, utilitarianism, the “veil of ignorance” method, deontological principles, and/or a theory of justice to deal with students like Jane. Consider social values such as those concerning ways of life while appraising the interests of diverse populations (for instance, those of differing religions and economic status).
Writing Requirements
- Length: 2-3 pages (not including title page or references page)
- 1-inch margins
- Double spaced
- 12-point Times New Roman font
- Title page
- References page (minimum of 2 scholarly sources)
Expert Solution Preview
Title: Reflective Assessment on Ethical Collaborations
Introduction:
Throughout the weeks of this course, I have had the opportunity to explore ethics and develop my moral philosophy, which is centered on Ethical Balance – utilitarianism. This moral theory prioritizes striving for virtuous character traits while considering the overall consequences of actions, to promote the greatest good for individuals and society. In this reflective assessment, I will apply this personal moral philosophy to evaluate the actions of Jane Doe, a nursing student at University X, as discussed in the given scenario. Additionally, I will propose a course of social action and a solution, considering various ethical principles and addressing the interests of diverse populations.
Answer 1:
Applying my personal moral philosophy of Ethical Balance – utilitarianism, I would evaluate Jane Doe’s actions in order to determine their ethical or unethical nature. Utilitarianism emphasizes the promotion of overall happiness and the maximization of utility for the greatest number of people. In Jane’s case, her actions of copying work, seeking assistance from external sources, and self-plagiarism contradict the principles of honesty, integrity, and fairness.
Utilitarianism would view Jane’s actions as unethical since they undermine the fairness and integrity of the education system. By using previous work, seeking assistance from external sources, and copying without credit, Jane gains an unfair advantage over her peers. Moreover, her actions compromise the trust and integrity that underpin the educational environment. Therefore, within the framework of utilitarianism, Jane Doe’s actions would be deemed unethical.
Answer 2:
To address the issue of students like Jane Doe, who engage in unethical practices, it is important to consider various ethical principles and propose a course of social action. Taking into account the interests and values of diverse populations, the following approaches can be applied:
1. Utilitarianism: This approach focuses on maximizing overall happiness and welfare. In dealing with students like Jane, the educational institution can implement effective plagiarism detection tools and emphasize the importance of academic integrity. By taking strict actions against plagiarism and promoting a culture of honesty, the overall welfare of students will be protected, ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for all.
2. Deontological principles: These principles emphasize the duty or obligation to follow ethical rules and principles. In this context, academic institutions can establish clear policies and guidelines regarding plagiarism and academic misconduct. By enforcing these rules consistently and ensuring transparency, institutions maintain their obligation to provide a fair learning environment and uphold ethical standards.
3. “Veil of ignorance” method: This approach involves making decisions without knowing one’s own position or characteristics. By applying this method, academic institutions can design policies and practices that are fair and just, regardless of a student’s economic background, religious beliefs, or personal circumstances. This ensures that each student is treated equitably, regardless of their individual circumstances.
By adopting these ethical approaches, educational institutions can address the issue of unethical student behavior, promoting a culture of academic integrity and fairness. In doing so, they demonstrate their commitment to social values, diverse populations, and the holistic development of students.
Conclusion:
Throughout this reflective assessment, I have applied my moral theory of Ethical Balance – utilitarianism to evaluate Jane Doe’s actions and have proposed a course of social action to address such behavior in the future. Upholding ethical principles and promoting a culture of academic integrity is essential for providing a fair and conducive learning environment for all students. By incorporating the principles of utilitarianism, deontological principles, and the “veil of ignorance” method, educational institutions can ensure the welfare and interests of diverse populations are respected and protected.
