Harkness Prompt:
● How do certain moral frameworks guide us in deciding what is the "right" thing to do
when faced with a moral dilemma?
Virtue ethics: About the character or virtue of a person. About intentions, not as much outcome.
Ex. If two people are in an argument about whether to cheat or tell the teacher they need an
extension, virtue ethics would argue not to cheat. Because even though there may not be a good
outcome, virtue ethics focuses on character and the reasoning behind the actions, rather than
what they actually cause you to gain.
Utilitarianism: About what benefits the most people. It is more about the outcome than the
intentions. More short term than long term. Even if it means killing 3 people, saving 100 people
is the larger benefit so it is the steps you take. Also take into consideration what it means
benefiting people. Ex. 3 people who are important in society vs 100 prisoners? Is saving 100
people still beneficial?
Kantism: focusing on taking yourself out of the situation. Not about emotion, but about
reasoning and fairness. Ex. Even if you are the mother of the child, save the cold or 100 soldiers?
Must be able to remove yourself and think objectively.
● What does it mean to be a good person and live a good life?
Being a good person raises an important question: is goodness defined by how others see you, or
by how you see yourself? While other people’s opinions can influence us, being a good person
ultimately depends on your own values and choices. It is not about seeking approval or appearing
kind on the surface, but about genuinely striving to do what is right. To be a good person means
acting with integrity and working toward excellence in what is truly good, even when that path is
difficult or unpopular.
Being good to others is an essential part of this, but goodness goes deeper than simply being
nice. Kindness matters, yet it cannot be the only measure of morality. There are moments when
you must choose between doing what is kind and doing what is right. These two ideals do not
always align, and when they conflict, doing what is right often requires courage and honesty,
even if it causes discomfort or disappointment. A good person understands this tension and
accepts that true goodness sometimes involves making hard choices, guided by principle rather
than praise.
Having a good life also requires specificity. Is it a good life, or is it your good life? These are not
the same, and the distinction matters. A good life can be defined in more universal terms. It often
includes an honest living, stability, and access to the material things a person needs—and
● How do certain moral frameworks guide us in deciding what is the "right" thing to do
when faced with a moral dilemma?
Virtue ethics: About the character or virtue of a person. About intentions, not as much outcome.
Ex. If two people are in an argument about whether to cheat or tell the teacher they need an
extension, virtue ethics would argue not to cheat. Because even though there may not be a good
outcome, virtue ethics focuses on character and the reasoning behind the actions, rather than
what they actually cause you to gain.
Utilitarianism: About what benefits the most people. It is more about the outcome than the
intentions. More short term than long term. Even if it means killing 3 people, saving 100 people
is the larger benefit so it is the steps you take. Also take into consideration what it means
benefiting people. Ex. 3 people who are important in society vs 100 prisoners? Is saving 100
people still beneficial?
Kantism: focusing on taking yourself out of the situation. Not about emotion, but about
reasoning and fairness. Ex. Even if you are the mother of the child, save the cold or 100 soldiers?
Must be able to remove yourself and think objectively.
● What does it mean to be a good person and live a good life?
Being a good person raises an important question: is goodness defined by how others see you, or
by how you see yourself? While other people’s opinions can influence us, being a good person
ultimately depends on your own values and choices. It is not about seeking approval or appearing
kind on the surface, but about genuinely striving to do what is right. To be a good person means
acting with integrity and working toward excellence in what is truly good, even when that path is
difficult or unpopular.
Being good to others is an essential part of this, but goodness goes deeper than simply being
nice. Kindness matters, yet it cannot be the only measure of morality. There are moments when
you must choose between doing what is kind and doing what is right. These two ideals do not
always align, and when they conflict, doing what is right often requires courage and honesty,
even if it causes discomfort or disappointment. A good person understands this tension and
accepts that true goodness sometimes involves making hard choices, guided by principle rather
than praise.
Having a good life also requires specificity. Is it a good life, or is it your good life? These are not
the same, and the distinction matters. A good life can be defined in more universal terms. It often
includes an honest living, stability, and access to the material things a person needs—and
