Defining Moments

Living with “dirty hands” according to the author Badaracco in Defining Moments is “not in the sense of rolling up their sleeves and working hard, but in the sense of losing their moral innocence” (p.3), as human creatures; who want to seek the truth, want to believe in others and want to do the right thing based on knowledge and experience, I find that John the teacher in the case study is struggling with this element; his ambition is to help Zack as to anyone else, however he is not sure of how to do so. The question is “are dirty hands really the inevitable lot of successful men and women with real power and responsibility in life?”(p.3) Being a leader portrays personal challenges, some can create destruction and some can grow strength, it seems as if one cannot come without the other. If John will send Zack home, he will betray his personal morals; he would like to make changes in these children’s life, yet he does not have sufficient tools, being a single teacher for a 20 students class. Zack is in need for close attention, while the rest of the class is missing out the attention they deserve and need as well.

Humans are not machines, and machines cannot replace human’s common sense. John’s opinion is negotiated by the way he was raised, past experience, environmental changes and feelings. As these elements build his morals, they are also the ones who create his dilemma. An example for ethical idealists is the two philosophers; John Stuart Mill’s and Kant’s. If this scenario was brought to their attention, they would both respond differently: John Stuart Mill’s utilitarian ethics is ethics of consequences; he rather killing 1 innocent person, in order for 20 others to live (p.35), which translates to sending Zack home in order for others to receive what they deserve. Zack is a distraction to the group; therefore John should “remove” the distraction for the benefit of the group. It is very harsh to say; yet in his belief it serves the cause. Doing...