June 2007 - Sec 2 - LR - Q7

Video Transcript:

0:06
Question 7 - Ethicist: The most advanced kind of moral motivation is
0:13
based solely on abstract principles. This form of motivation is in contrast with
0:18
calculated self interest or the desire to adhere to societal norms and conventions.
0:24
So argument or facts: And here we just have a statement of facts. So we proceed
0:31
to the question stem and the questions stem tells us; the actions of which one of the
0:35
following individuals exhibit the most advanced kind of moral motivation as
0:41
described by the ethecist. So okay, let's go back to the passage here. What was the
0:46
most advanced kind of moral motivation?
0:49
Well the first sentence told us that it was based on abstract principles. So again
0:55
it's the type based solely on abstract principles. This is in contrast with
1:02
calculated self interest or the desire to adhere to societal norms and conventions.
1:07
So you notice this is what we call an illustration question. Trying to find the person
1:16
in the answer choices that most closely conforms to this idea of the most
1:22
advanced kind of moral motivation that is based solely on abstract principles. So
1:28
let's take a look at (A). Bobby contributed money to a local charity during a
1:32
charity drive at work because he worried that not doing so would make him look stingy. It was
1:37
worried that not doing so would make him look stingy. That is clearly out of self
1:45
interest. That is not based on some abstract principle. So (A) does not follow. (B)
1:54
Wes contributed money to a local charity during a charity drive out work because
1:59
he believed that doing so would improve his employers opinion of him. And again you
2:05
notice that is calculated self-interest. He had hoped it would improve his employer's opinion of him.
2:12
So clearly self-interest not abstract principles. So (B) is out.
2:19
(C) Donna's employers engaged in an illegal but profitable practice that caused
2:23
serious damage to the environment.
2:26
Donna did not report this practice to authorities out of fear that her employers would
2:30
retaliate against her. Out of fear that her employers would retaliate against her. Again
2:39
calculated self-interest. That is not an abstract principle so (C) would be
2:44
eliminated.
2:46
(D) Jadine's employers engaged in illegal but profitable practice that caused damage to
2:51
the environment.
2:52
Jadine reported this practice to authorities out of a belief that
2:56
protecting the environment is always more important in monetary profit. So you
3:03
notice she did because she believes that protecting the environment is
3:09
always more important than monetary profit. And you notice that is clearly an abstract
3:14
principle. So (D) would be the correct answer. But just making sure checking (E). Leigh's
3:28
employers engaged in an illegal but profitable practice that caused serious damage to
3:33
the environment.
3:35
Leight reported this practice to authorities only because several colleagues had been
3:40
pressuring her to do so. And you notice that is adherence to societal norms and
3:46
conventions but not based on some abstract principle. So (E) is eliminated.