Cultural Factors and Biases in Ethical Decision-Making, Assignments of Ethics

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Cultural Factors and Biases in Ethical Decision-Making Fern Grant PHL 218, Ethics in Global Society Dr. Ikko Oquias September 14, 2023

Cultural Factors and Biases in Ethical Decision-Making Introduction: Ethical decision-making is a complex process influenced by a multitude of factors, including one's cultural background and personal biases (Jones, 2016). In this exploration, we delve into how culture and bias shape the choices individuals make when confronted with ethical dilemmas. Drawing examples from the world of popular media, we will dissect Western and Eastern ethical issues, shedding light on the pivotal roles culture and bias play in these scenarios. Western Ethical Issue: For our examination of Western ethical issues, we turn our attention to "The Dark Knight" (Nolan, 2008). In this Western context, the ethical quandary revolves around the Joker's social experiment, where two ferries rigged with explosives force passengers to confront a harrowing decision: blow up the other ferry to save themselves or abstain and risk their own lives. This scenario encapsulates Western ethics, but it also introduces elements of moral relativism, a perspective often challenging traditional Western values (Smith, 2014). Bias in Decision-Making: Within this intense situation, a predominant bias emerges—the bias of fear and self- preservation (Johnson & Brown, 2017). Fear, a powerful motivator, pushes the passengers towards self-preservation, often at the expense of their moral compass. This bias towards self- preservation can be seen as both positive and negative, as individuals grapple with the conflict between saving themselves and adhering to their ethical principles. It is essential to acknowledge

Samurai way of life. This bias leads them to dismiss Eastern values and traditions as primitive and inferior, influencing their initial decisions. Cultural Morals and Values: Eastern cultural values play a pivotal role in shaping the decisions of the Samurai characters in the film (Nakamura, 1997). These values include honour, loyalty, respect for tradition, and a deep connection with nature (Tanaka, 2008). Captain Nathan Algren, the film's protagonist, undergoes a transformation as he adopts Eastern values like honour and respect, representing a convergence of Eastern and Western ethical perspectives (Zwick, 2003). "The Last Samurai" underscores the importance of cultural understanding and mutual respect in ethical decision-making, emphasizing that both Eastern and Western values have their merits and should not be dismissed lightly (Gudykunst & Lee, 2008).

References Gudykunst, W. B., & Lee, C. M. (2008). Bridging differences: Effective intergroup communication (4th ed.). Sage Publications. Greenwald, A. G., & Krieger, L. H. (2006). Implicit bias: Scientific foundations. California Law Review, 94(4), 945-967. Johnson, A., & Brown, R. (2017). Moral dilemmas in popular culture. Routledge. Jones, E. E. (2016). The psychology of ethics in popular culture: The morality of our media- infused lives. American Psychological Association. Nakamura, K. (1997). Ways of thinking of Eastern peoples: India, China, Tibet, Japan (Vol. 1). University of Hawaii Press. Smith, G. (2014). Batman and ethics. Wiley. Tanaka, S. (2008). The Japanese samurai: Honour, bravery and ethics. Tuttle Publishing.be dismissed lightly.