Mental Models and Ethical Decision Making

Explanation of someone's thought process about how something works in the real world.

Ethical decision making is a complex process that involves evaluating a situation, considering the potential outcomes, and making a choice based on one's moral principles. Mental models, the frameworks we use to understand and interpret the world, play a crucial role in this process.

The Process of Ethical Decision Making

Ethical decision making typically involves the following steps:

1. Identifying the ethical issue: This involves recognizing that a decision has ethical implications and needs to be handled with care.

2. Gathering information: This includes understanding the context, the stakeholders involved, and the potential consequences of different actions.

3. Evaluating the options: This involves considering the potential outcomes of different decisions and how they align with one's ethical principles.

4. Making a decision: This is the act of choosing a course of action based on the evaluation of the options.

5. Implementing the decision: This involves taking action based on the decision made.

6. Reflecting on the decision: This involves considering the outcomes of the decision and whether it was the right choice.

How Mental Models Guide Ethical Decision Making

Mental models can guide ethical decision making in several ways:

• Clarifying values: Mental models can help us clarify our values and understand what is truly important to us. This can guide our decision making by providing a clear framework for evaluating options.

• Providing perspective: Mental models can help us see situations from different perspectives. This can help us understand the potential impacts of our decisions on different stakeholders.

• Identifying biases: Mental models can help us identify and overcome biases that might cloud our judgment. This can help us make more objective and fair decisions.

• Facilitating reflection: Mental models can help us reflect on our decisions and learn from them. This can help us improve our decision making over time.

Case Studies: Ethical Dilemmas and Mental Models

Let's consider a few case studies to illustrate how mental models can guide ethical decision making:

1. The Trolley Problem: This classic ethical dilemma involves a runaway trolley heading towards five people tied to the tracks. You can pull a lever to switch the trolley to a different track, where only one person is tied. The mental model of utilitarianism, which values the greatest good for the greatest number, would suggest pulling the lever. However, the mental model of deontology, which values duty and rules, might suggest not pulling the lever, as it involves actively harming someone.

2. The Heinz Dilemma: In this scenario, a man named Heinz must decide whether to steal a drug to save his wife's life. The mental model of consequentialism, which values outcomes over actions, might suggest that Heinz should steal the drug. However, the mental model of virtue ethics, which values character and virtue, might suggest that Heinz should not steal, as it is not a virtuous act.

These case studies illustrate how different mental models can lead to different decisions in ethical dilemmas. By understanding and applying different mental models, we can make more informed and thoughtful ethical decisions.