I will never forget the experience when I was in a great dilemma; an ethical dilemma for that matter. It happened last year when I was one of the panelists for a thesis defense. Thesis defense is not new to me. I always see it as a challenge on my part as I scrutinize every effort of the students. I was strict, yet there were times when I would have the tendency to become very subjective in my evaluation. I could say that I both hate and enjoy being a panelist in a thesis defense. Going over the strong and vague points of each craft is not new to me as a Clinical Instructor. I always try my best to be constructive in giving compliments and criticisms. It was a totally different world when you are about to be a defense panelist since I am fond of treating students as my little brothers and sisters. In fact, I am very casual to them in my approach outside school hours. They would see me in the canteen and greet me warmly. I, in turn, will initiate a little chat with them which would lead to a friendly and buoyant conversation. In short, I have opened up myself as a friend to my students not knowing that this attitude of mine will cause me my future dilemma.
One student, who was about to present her case thesis, gave us (panelists) a warm kickstart. One of my co-Clinical Instructors claimed that the thesis of the student is inauthentic because he found out that his (Clinical Instructor) signature was forged. This was immediately investigated and soon the student herself voiced out that she was guilty. We were all in the state of shock. Immediately, hubbubs rang in and out of the room. The student, Alyssa (pseudonym) was bitterly crying as one of my co-teachers confronted her. It was an instant show. The faculty was on the verge of decision-making. I, myself, wanted to say `pass’ to the situation because I know it was another time for a tough decision-making.
The most surprising thing is this: that Alyssa is a close friend of my sister’s friend, Grace and we live in the same barangay. I was surprised later on that night of the very same day: I heard our doorbell rang. I went on to see the visitor and it was my sister’s friend Grace, with Alyssa. I knew from that very moment that I would be obliged to do something about the incident. Grace explained to me that Alyssa wanted to talk to me about the incident. I have let them in and listened to Alyssa. At first, she told me confusing reasons and later on shifted to story telling that lead to a longer conversation. I asked her we could go to their house and talk to her parents regarding the matter. She said no. She was afraid. Nonetheless, we were able to convince her. I and Grace, talked to her parents about it. They were humble and understanding. They too were shocked but they kept their cool. We thought that the parents would become furious to Alyssa but it was the other way around. They pleaded for me to raise a consideration for their daughter. I told them I could do it, but it was not only me who would decide on that. They were sad. I tried to be neutral with my emotions but I found myself deeply sympathizing with them. They were average earners and it was only Alyssa whom they could send to school. The next day came and the faculty room became an instant haven of theoretical gossips. I chose to shut my mouth, it was then that they talked about the necessary steps that we could do. I have raised a plea of consideration, some agreed, some did not, and all we could do is study the case well and do the necessary things. That afternoon, I told Alyssa that she is in deep trouble and that I could not be biased with any decision. But I wanted to help her. We had a long conversation: a good conversation. And I found out that we have some commonalities in our characters. We shared things in common. Yet sometimes she would share vague stories. I know something wrong was going on with her. Nevertheless, in a short moment, I have found a little sister. I do not only sympathize but as well as empathize. Soon, the investigation on Alyssa started. She was interviewed by the College Dean, the Advisers, and some teachers. She was asked to undergo guidance counseling. She was also asked to take psychological tests. Later on, they found out that Alyssa was mentally troubled because of personal problems especially her broken love life which she happened to share with me. It was all the more that I have sympathized with her. She texted me and asked me to raise a consideration for her. She and her poor family wanted her to march for her diploma. I was in dilemma. I told her I could not simply do that. It was painful for me to turn her down. Yet, it was the necessary thing for me to do: to be just and to be fair to everyone. After all of that, we have finalized our decision. Hard as it would be, Alyssa will not make it for the graduation. She would have to work on another case. I comforted her and encouraged her to go on and be strong. She understood me, and she trusted herself. She was sorry, and she trusted God for everything. And now, she has already earned her diploma after struggling in redirecting her life.
As I acquire wisdom in my bio-ethics class, I have realized that that event was tough for me. In the light of Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative, I found out that I was able to defend the right of Alyssa to voice out her reasons for doing the forgery. I was able to respond to her individual right of Autonomy. It was my duty to hear her side. I realized that I came across with LIBERALISM when I saw Alyssa’s actions. She was acting on her own free will. She did whatever she wished to do.
In the final decision-making, however, the RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE was applied. Alyssa committed a crime and it was but proper to lay just punishment on her. The RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE was applied. Since she was mentally troubled, it was necessary to give her the benefit of Guidance Counseling; and the burden of starting all over again with her thesis.
Alyssa came across with Aristotle’s Practical Reasoning when she reasoned out everything. But there was a question on Virtuous Acts. She has made the forgery a MEANS TO HER DESIRED ENDS.
The principle of UTILITARIANISM was applied by the board of Academics and Panelists when they took away Alyssa’s autonomy for the sake of the majority. Kant’s first Maxim was applied when Alyssa’s action should not be universally applied.
I did not know that I was acting with all these ethical principles. Because I was in dilemma and all I could think of is the confusion that preoccupies my mind. It was almost subliminal but I realized that reasoning works best in such difficult times.
I was not regretful in the decisions and actions I made under my ethical dilemma. Sometimes, you have to disregard your emotion for the sake of proper reasoning. It was a pain in the heart seeing a new friend be judged according to her conduct. But it was then that I realized that sometimes you let things happen the way it should be. And that kind of learning is even more worthy than what is being taught in the hospitals and in the classrooms.
This was one of my home work when I was studying in graduate school. I just want to share it to all of you. It happened in real life and is not just a product of my imagination. We were tasked to make an essay using the different ethical principles of several philosophers.
One student, who was about to present her case thesis, gave us (panelists) a warm kickstart. One of my co-Clinical Instructors claimed that the thesis of the student is inauthentic because he found out that his (Clinical Instructor) signature was forged. This was immediately investigated and soon the student herself voiced out that she was guilty. We were all in the state of shock. Immediately, hubbubs rang in and out of the room. The student, Alyssa (pseudonym) was bitterly crying as one of my co-teachers confronted her. It was an instant show. The faculty was on the verge of decision-making. I, myself, wanted to say `pass’ to the situation because I know it was another time for a tough decision-making.
The most surprising thing is this: that Alyssa is a close friend of my sister’s friend, Grace and we live in the same barangay. I was surprised later on that night of the very same day: I heard our doorbell rang. I went on to see the visitor and it was my sister’s friend Grace, with Alyssa. I knew from that very moment that I would be obliged to do something about the incident. Grace explained to me that Alyssa wanted to talk to me about the incident. I have let them in and listened to Alyssa. At first, she told me confusing reasons and later on shifted to story telling that lead to a longer conversation. I asked her we could go to their house and talk to her parents regarding the matter. She said no. She was afraid. Nonetheless, we were able to convince her. I and Grace, talked to her parents about it. They were humble and understanding. They too were shocked but they kept their cool. We thought that the parents would become furious to Alyssa but it was the other way around. They pleaded for me to raise a consideration for their daughter. I told them I could do it, but it was not only me who would decide on that. They were sad. I tried to be neutral with my emotions but I found myself deeply sympathizing with them. They were average earners and it was only Alyssa whom they could send to school. The next day came and the faculty room became an instant haven of theoretical gossips. I chose to shut my mouth, it was then that they talked about the necessary steps that we could do. I have raised a plea of consideration, some agreed, some did not, and all we could do is study the case well and do the necessary things. That afternoon, I told Alyssa that she is in deep trouble and that I could not be biased with any decision. But I wanted to help her. We had a long conversation: a good conversation. And I found out that we have some commonalities in our characters. We shared things in common. Yet sometimes she would share vague stories. I know something wrong was going on with her. Nevertheless, in a short moment, I have found a little sister. I do not only sympathize but as well as empathize. Soon, the investigation on Alyssa started. She was interviewed by the College Dean, the Advisers, and some teachers. She was asked to undergo guidance counseling. She was also asked to take psychological tests. Later on, they found out that Alyssa was mentally troubled because of personal problems especially her broken love life which she happened to share with me. It was all the more that I have sympathized with her. She texted me and asked me to raise a consideration for her. She and her poor family wanted her to march for her diploma. I was in dilemma. I told her I could not simply do that. It was painful for me to turn her down. Yet, it was the necessary thing for me to do: to be just and to be fair to everyone. After all of that, we have finalized our decision. Hard as it would be, Alyssa will not make it for the graduation. She would have to work on another case. I comforted her and encouraged her to go on and be strong. She understood me, and she trusted herself. She was sorry, and she trusted God for everything. And now, she has already earned her diploma after struggling in redirecting her life.
As I acquire wisdom in my bio-ethics class, I have realized that that event was tough for me. In the light of Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative, I found out that I was able to defend the right of Alyssa to voice out her reasons for doing the forgery. I was able to respond to her individual right of Autonomy. It was my duty to hear her side. I realized that I came across with LIBERALISM when I saw Alyssa’s actions. She was acting on her own free will. She did whatever she wished to do.
In the final decision-making, however, the RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE was applied. Alyssa committed a crime and it was but proper to lay just punishment on her. The RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE was applied. Since she was mentally troubled, it was necessary to give her the benefit of Guidance Counseling; and the burden of starting all over again with her thesis.
Alyssa came across with Aristotle’s Practical Reasoning when she reasoned out everything. But there was a question on Virtuous Acts. She has made the forgery a MEANS TO HER DESIRED ENDS.
The principle of UTILITARIANISM was applied by the board of Academics and Panelists when they took away Alyssa’s autonomy for the sake of the majority. Kant’s first Maxim was applied when Alyssa’s action should not be universally applied.
I did not know that I was acting with all these ethical principles. Because I was in dilemma and all I could think of is the confusion that preoccupies my mind. It was almost subliminal but I realized that reasoning works best in such difficult times.
I was not regretful in the decisions and actions I made under my ethical dilemma. Sometimes, you have to disregard your emotion for the sake of proper reasoning. It was a pain in the heart seeing a new friend be judged according to her conduct. But it was then that I realized that sometimes you let things happen the way it should be. And that kind of learning is even more worthy than what is being taught in the hospitals and in the classrooms.
This was one of my home work when I was studying in graduate school. I just want to share it to all of you. It happened in real life and is not just a product of my imagination. We were tasked to make an essay using the different ethical principles of several philosophers.
