Exploring Ethical Frameworks

Individual Activity
25 points

Name: Tasha Johnson

Case Study Title: A Love Triangle

Directions: Using the ethics case study youve selected or been given, discuss and answer the
following questions to the best of your ability. You will need this worksheet completed and ready
to hand-in by _________________.

Step One: Identify the Issue

1. What is the dilemma/problem to be solved in this case and ultimately, what is the key decision that
must be made? Write this so that a stranger could readily understand the dilemma. Include enough
detail to make sure the dilemma is clearly defined and include the key decision written in the form of a
question.
The dilemma in my case study is basically a friend is put into a difficult situation. Tamara has two good
friends, one is married named Susannah and the other is not who is her best friend named Janine. The
friend Janine, who is the non-married friend, finally meets someone who she thinks is the man of her
dreams. The man of her dreams however is a married man, and just so happens, the married man
belongs to her other friend. Tamara friend comes to her one day informing she thinks her husband is
having an affair and wondering if Tamara heard any rumors in reference to what she was suspecting.
She goes on to say while she is upset she would still like to work on her marriage and save it. Should
Tamara inform her friend that not only is her husband having an affair, but that she knows for a fact he is
having an affair with her best friend?

2.
Who are the stakeholders in this dilemma? (Note: Stakeholders are any individuals, written
about in the case or not, who may be affected by the decisions that are made.)
The stakeholders in this dilemma are basically everyone. Tamara will be affected tremendously from all
angles. Her best friend Janine will be upset with her for telling about the affair and blaming Tamara for
ruining her chances at having real love and happiness in her mind. If Tamara keep quiet about the affair,
when Susannah do find out the details of the affair, because eventually what you do in the dark come to
light, she will be upset and feel betrayed and lied to not only by her husband but by her friend as well.
Janine will be crushed because finally she found love and if the husband decides to work on his marriage
as well and stay with his wife, its over. Susannah will be affected, because even though she wants to
work on her marriage knowing her husband is cheating, she now has to work through getting over the
damage her husband did breaking their wedding vows. She will also be affected on a different level if her

husband decides to leave. She will then have to deal with a divorce, something that is not fun to go
through especially if children are involved. The husband will be affected because he has to deal with two
hurting woman. His mistress and his wife. Especially his wife if he decides to stay as well. He will have
to work very hard with rebuilding trust for breaking her vows/commitment he made to his wife.

Step Two: Outline the Options

3.
Consider as many ways to resolve this dilemma as possible and list them below.
(Note: Question #6 asks that you return to this question to label the frameworks associated with the
possible resolutions.)
Options for Resolving
Dilemma

Ethical Framework
(see Question #6)

Tamara could
completely act blind
to know anything
about the affair

Utilitarian

Tamara could tell

Susannah the truth
about knowing what
she know about the
affair and just risk
losing her best friend
for making the right
choice for both her best
friend and herself

Moral rights

Tamara could tell

Susannah she did hear
something but she does
not want to get in the
middle and stand her
ground about not giving
up the information

Justice

Tamara could get

her best friend and
Susannah husband
together and inform
them that Susannah
is on to them and
they need to make a
decision as to what

practical

they are going to do

Tamara could just talk
to the husband and
inform him what he is
doing is wrong and that
his wife has a feeling he
is having an affair and
he needs to choose
which relationship he
wants to be in

utilitarian

Instead of asking her

friends for information
Susannah could be
completely asking her
husband and if she has
no solid evidence he
cheating, to drop the
subject

utilitarian

Susannah could set

her husband up and
catch him herself. Like
check his phone
records or actual
phone, email, social
networking account or
even follow him when
day

practical

Tamara could just get

everyone together,
Janine, Susannah and
the husband and spill
what she knows

practical

Step Three: Gather Evidence/Interview Others

4.
Using the key dilemma posed in Step One, interview 10 people on how they would resolve the
problem and why. (Note: As interviewer, please do not share your thoughts on how you would resolve
the problem.) Use the table located on page 5 of this worksheet to record their responses.

Step Four: Construct Ethical Arguments

5.
Practice using the four ethical frameworks we have examined in class (utilitarian, moral
rights, justice, and practical) and list one resolution for each framework and explain why it fits

there.
If you follow this rule when faced with a
dilemma

You will make a decision based on

utilitarian

the greatest good for the greatest number (or the

least harm to others)

moral rights

the way you would want to be treated

justice

what is fair and equal for all involved

practical

whether or not the typical person would find

your decision to be acceptable

a. utilitarian:
Using this framework dealing with my dilemma, when approached by Susannah, I would pretend to know
nothing. I then would go to her husband informing him that what he is doing behind Susannah back, she
is figuring it out and that he needs to stop doing what hes doing.

Why does this fit the utilitarian framework?

I feel this resolution fits the utilitarian framework because not too many people will be harmed handling
the situation this way. If the husband comes clean with his mistress yes she will be heartbroken but will
have to get over it. After all he was married and did not belong to her. This way even though his wife
Susannah is devastated as well, she has a forgiving heart so as long as they commit to working things
out they will be fine.

b. moral rights:
Using this framework to resolve this dilemma, I would not worry about my best friend. Instead I would
inform Susannah that it is in fact true her husband is having an affair but I did not feel comfortable telling
with her. Depending on how well I trusted her would depend on if I disclosed Janines name or not. I
would however also ask her to keep me a secret because I did not want to be in the middle. I would then
go to my best friend and inform her that the man of her dreams is married and since he is married he is
off limits. If she continued to see him I would distance myself from her, because clearly she has not
morals or respect for others.

Why does this fit the moral rights framework?

This resolution fits the moral framework because this is clearly how I would want to be treated if I went to
someone I considered a friend. I would expect my friend to tell me what she knew. Hiding the situation
from me would make me not trust her and if I would out she knew all along but did not let me know, I
would put her quickly in the acquaintance pool.

c. justice:
With using this framework to resolve my dilemma, it would be meeting time. All parties, Janine and
somehow Susannahs husband, would be called to my house for a gathering. I would have food and
beverages and after everyone got situated and settled I would inform them why they were called to my
house. I would explain how I felt being in the position that I was put in but that this situation is something
that need addressing. At that moment I would then expose that Susannah knows about their affair and
that they needed to end their relationship or I would how no choice but to inform Susannah.
Why does this fit the justice framework?
I think this resolution fits this framework because how Im handling the situation is fair for all parties. Even
though Janine would be hurt at least the truth about fact of the matter is, her dream guy is married, and it
fair for Susannahs husband to hear it from me rather than his wife. Hearing it from me, gives him a
chance before being approached by his wife to make a choice and end the affair to save his marriage.
This way when his wife does approach him he can come clean with a clear conscious knowing that while
he did make a mistake he is willing to fix things as well.

d. practical:
Using this framework, I would gather ALL parties, Susannah, her husband and Janine together and
advise them that there is a love triangle going on and that since I brought in the middle of it, Im taking
actions in my own hands making everyone confess to get the pressure off of me.

Why does this fit the practical framework?

This type of situation fits the practical framework because not everyone would agree this is the best
approach. So many relationships would be affected and this type of approach could really turn ugly if
everyone acts out of emotion.

6. Now, go back to your interviews with others and your own options to solve the dilemma (see
question #3) and label each with the appropriate ethical framework.

Step Five: Evaluate the Arguments

7. Reviewing the responses from the individuals interviewed in Step Three as well as your own options
to solve the dilemma, consider how stakeholders you have identified in the case might best benefit.
Then, rank the frameworks below according to their perceived merit, with 1 being the highest ranking.
(Note: Often we stick to our first thoughts on how we would resolve the dilemma; this step asks that you
expand your thinking to be more inclusive of others thoughts when ranking the frameworks.)

#1 utilitarian framework
#2 Moral Rights framework
#3 Practical framework
#4 Justice framework

Step Six: Make a Decision/ Evaluate the Impact

8. Considering all the possible outcomes that you and those you have interviewed have

associated with each ethical framework, make a decision on how you would resolve the case.
I would hate to have to be in this type of situation but if I were, I believe I would lean towards a
utilitarian framework approach. The least amount of people getting hurt would be my goal. So
when approached by Susannah, I would lie to her. I would tell her I did not know anything at all
but if I heard anything I would let her. After speaking with her I would call my best friend and let
her know what was going on and before she gets caught and identified she needs to break the
relationship off with Susannahs husband. I would tell her that normally men dont leave their
wives and he is just using her to fulfill a need he thinks he is lacking from home. Painting a bad
picture about the affair I would hope and pray that she would take my advice and break the
relationship off. If Janine did not listen to me I would just leave her in that war alone. She might
look at me as her best friend anymore because she had no support from me, but at least I did
my best of warning her to leave the situation.

9. Explain in some detail why you made your decision.

I made my decisions based on how I would want my best friend to handle the situation if the
tables were turned. Beings that Janine, even though she is wrong, is my best friend I would not
want to betray her by informing someone that I just consider friend confidential information that
was shared with me. I also would want to stay out of the situation as much as possible because
situations like this could get dangerous. Janine and Susannahs husband reaped what they
sew, so being exposed about the affair and suffering the consequences for it is something they
would have to deal with if they did not decide to stop on their own.

10. Explain how each of the stakeholders you listed in Question #2 might be affected by your
decision.

Tamara-Would feel guilty for lieing to Susannah. Even though she is just a friend, they
obviously have some type of relationship for Susannah to come to her and ask for
information.
Janine- She is really going to be affected because either way, the man of her dreams
will most likely end the relationship with her knowing his wife wants to work on the
marriage. Even he decides to divorce his wife; she still will be affected because she is
now going to deal with the stress of his divorce.
Susannah- Will be affected even though she is willing to work on her marriage, trust has
been broken so she now has to work on healing the hurt that is in heart.
Susannahs Husband- Will have to deal with getting healing from guilt. Feeling guilty
about doing something that you really didnt mean to do is the worse. Even though his
wife is willing to forgive him he has to rebuild trust which takes time and patience. He
also has to worry also about hurting another person that he deceived.

Person

1 Roxanne R.

2 Cammi T.

What would they

do?

Why?

What ethical
framework did
they use?

She would not tell

She feels she does
Susannah anything, not need to be a
but end the
part of their drama
friendship with the
cheaters

Justice

She would not tell

Susannah anything

utilitarian

She feels that

domestic
relationships are
tricky and could
turn on you. She
feels that the

number one
mistake us woman
do is run after the
woman when in fact
we need to look at
our husbands/man

3 Amy M.

4 Markessa C.

5 Robin P.

She feels that

Tamara should tell
Susannah what she
knows and then
drop Janine as her
best friend.

The reason she

feels that she
should tell her what
she know is
because thats her
friend and the
reason for dropping
Janine as a friend is
because Janine is
creating crazy
drama that is not
needed.

Practical

She would not say

anything to
Susannah about
what she knows but
for Susannah to
confront her
husband

She feels that us

woman can get
caught up with
having BFFs but
in the long run they
turn out to be your
worst enemy.

utilitarian

She wouldnt
advise Susannah
anything but to call
the show
Cheaters and she
would tell her best
friend Janine she
was wrong for
messing with a
married man

She feels that

Susannah has
already made up
her mind about the
situation and that
her husband is
cheating and that
she wants to work
things out. So no
need for Tamara to
get in the middle.

practical

Feels that Tamara

She feels by doing

Moral rights

6 Alleesa S.

should not tell

Susannah anything
but to confront her
friend Janine about
how the man of her
dreams is married
to her friend
Susannah.

this, her Janine will

leave the married
man alone once
she finds out that
he is in fact
married. If Janine
continues to see
the married man
after finding out he
is married, then
informing Susannah
would be the next
step.

Feels that she

should encourage
Susannah to talk
with her husband
about the situation
and if after she
talks to the
husband he does
not come clean
then get more
involved.

She feels because

Susannah already
knows the direction
she wants to go in
which is work on
her marriage then
talking to her
husband about
what she suspects
should be what she
should do.

justice

8 Carol Y.

She would
encourage
Susannah to talk
with her husband

She feels that this

situation is delicate
and that Tamara
could end up
looking like that bad
guy

utilitarian

9 Tanae J.

She wouldnt tell

Susannah anything

She wouldnt want

to betray her best
friend trust and
feels they need to
handle the situation
on their own.

utilitarian

10 Teira J.

She would not tell

She feels that

7 Anna B.

utilitarian

11 Scott T

Susannah anything

telling information
on some is
considered
snitching and being
fake. Also since
she just look at
Susannah as just
her friend thats
more the reason
not to tell.

He wouldnt tell
Susannah anything
but would advise
his Janine not to
run around saying
she is involved with
a married man

He feels
ignorance is bliss

utilitarian