How then Shall We Live? --Leo Tolstoy
How can we make effective and ethical decisions if we never have all the information? I often remind myself and my team to make a decision, if it's right- great; if it's wrong- we will adjust course and move on. However, there are times in life where we may be faced with impossible decisions. How shall we handle those occasions when none of the choices are attractive? You decide, act and trust that you made the right choice.
Scenario 1: A train is hurtling down the track where five children are standing. You are the switchperson. By throwing the switch, you can put the train on a side track where one child is standing. Will you throw the switch?
Yes. With the given information, I assume the situation implies that your choice will end in the death of five children, or one. I would choose the death of one child, while saving five others. Without the full understanding of the situation I assume there are no other choices. However, if given choices such as to stop the train, yell to warn the children or even to die in their place - the situation, decision and consequences could change.
Scenario 2: You are standing next to an elderly man. If you push him in front of the train it will stop the train and all the children will be saved. Will you push him?
Yes, I would push him. Once again there is no right or wrong answer and this situation will go against my moral and ethical belief and in my view this would be murder. Once again, I would choose the lives of the five children over an elderly man.
Scenario 3: The one child on the side track is your child. Will you throw the switch to save the five children?
No, I would choose to save my child over the five other children. That is a blunt and dramatic statement but I could not bear to knowingly be the cause of my child's death.
During World War II, General LeMay had the responsibility to decide, did he want to kill Japanese or would he rather have Americans killed? General LeMay was faced with the ethical dilemma, use new firebomb tactics and kill thousands of Japanese or risk an invasion of Japan and probably cost a half a million American lives. He devised a plan to use incendiary bombs that would create massive fires thus destroying Japan’s capacity to wage war. He interpreted and analyzed the situation, weighing the fact that his decision had the potential to kill thousands of innocent civilians. His first duty was to protect and save as many Americans as possible and he knew if he didn’t get results there would undoubtedly be a Japanese invasion. This was not a decision made lightly. General LeMay had to think critically about all aspects of his decision, the consequences and potential second and third order effects. However, he decided to apply the critical thinking trait of Intellectual Courage which is connected with the ability to consider ideas seen as absurd or different. He addressed whether to use these weapons and tactics although, according to LeMay – The Life and Wars of General Curtis LeMay it was widely known he preferred high explosive ordinance and different tactics. Not only was this decision against the status quo at the time, but it could be perceived as excessive use of force. Nevertheless, he made the call and according to atomicheritage.com, on March 10, 1945 300 B-29s started the firebombing campaign. Although, he was ultimately responsible for killing 100,000 Japanese he also saved thousands of Americans from dying during a Japanese invasion.
While leaders are not all faced with life and death decisions, there are still everyday ethical dilemmas that are struggled with. One must decide, act and trust that they made the right choice.
While leaders are not all faced with life and death decisions, there are still everyday ethical dilemmas that are struggled with. One must decide, act and trust that they made the right choice.
References:
Kozak, W. (2011). LeMay: the life and wars of General Curtis LeMay. Washington, D.C.: Regenery History.
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