Core Values Exercise
Authenticity
Love
Fame
Peace
Family
Power
Friendship
Status
Happiness
Success
Honesty
Truth
Influence
Wealth
Integrity
Wisdom
Joy
________
Justice
________
Do the exercise outlined on page 64 (A Practical Companion to Ethics 5th). Identify
a hot button issue. Be clear about which side you support and which side you
oppose. But for both sides of the argument, present what each side is right about.
Why do you think it’s so hard for people to recognize valid arguments within
perspectives they oppose?
Each paper must be a minimum of 400 words, two full typed pages in length,
double-spaced, 12-point font.
64 A PRACTICAL COMPANION TO ETHICS
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So let’s practice. Begin by identifying your position on some hot-
button issues, such as the death penalty, eating animals, gun control,
drugs (hint: take some time to define your terms here), affirmative ac-
tion (ditto), welfare (that is, how should society respond to the needs
of the down-and-out?), or stricter environmental protection. Now, for
each, consider the opposite position—the other side or sides. Ask your-
self what the other sides are right about (not wrong, but right, not just
in their own eyes but in yours). Where do you actually agree with them?
What are their strongest and most important points?
Of course, you do not agree with (some of, what you think are) their
conclusions, but it’s very likely that you can still find shared or at least
compatible values. In fact, you may even share most of the other side’s
values, though you might give them somewhat different priorities. Look
for them and write them down. Share your lists.
Thinking about the death penalty, for example, shared or com-
patible values might include life: Both sides insist that life is precious,
which is why murder is considered by both so heinous a crime and why
proponents think murderers deserve death, while for exactly the same
reason opponents think that execution only doubles the crime. Another
is appropriate punishment: Both sides condemn murder and therefore
propose “ultimate punishments,” execution or life in prison. Deterrence
is yet another: serving the social good by preventing future crimes and
murders. And fairness
: Convictions must be fair; the execution of in-
nocent people and racially tainted verdicts are wrong.
Again, it is worth remembering that your challenge here is not just
to describe the other side’s view, however tempting to answer by
just summarizing what you think they think: “They think this; they
think that? That’s helpful, but the task here is to go farther. It is to find
the shared values. What do they think that you think too? What do
you
think they’re right about? Go beyond “I think …” and “They think ..!
to “We think ..? (Like this: We think that life matters. We think that
punishment should fit the crime. We value a sense of security…)
Finally, ask how you can build on the shared values you have identi-
fied. Start looking for ways to balance them, or moral visions that might
unite us beyond the pressing practical issues of the moment. Given the
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