Am I Responsible?

Summary

In this insightful video, Kirk Hansen discusses the concept of ethical responsibility in business ethics, outlining five critical criteria: severity of harm, certainty of harm, degree of personal involvement, cost of acting, and certainty of solution. He emphasizes that the more severe and certain the harm, the greater the responsibility to act, especially if one is directly involved or uniquely positioned to intervene. Hansen also highlights the impact of the cost of intervention and the effectiveness of potential solutions on ethical obligations. This nuanced exploration invites viewers to reflect on their own responsibilities in challenging situations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ethical responsibility is determined by assessing specific criteria in a situation.
• 🔍 The severity of harm plays a crucial role in deciding whether to take action.
• ⚖️ The certainty of harm influences the level of responsibility one feels to intervene.
• 👥 Personal involvement in creating a problem increases one's ethical obligation to address it.
• 💰 The cost of acting affects responsibility; lower costs generally lead to a higher duty to act.
• 🔒 The certainty of a solution impacts one's responsibility; having a reliable solution increases the obligation to act.
• 🛠️ Individuals must evaluate the potential harm to persons and property when considering their responsibility.
• 🤝 Being part of a community or organization raises one's responsibility to address ethical issues.
• ⚡ Unique opportunities to act can increase both legal and ethical obligations to intervene.
• 🏊‍♂️ One's capability to resolve an issue, like being a swimmer in a drowning situation, affects their responsibility.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Kirk Hansen's video?

The main topic is ethical responsibility, particularly in the context of business ethics.

How many criteria does Hansen identify for determining responsibility?

Hansen identifies five criteria for determining responsibility.

What is the first criterion for assessing ethical responsibility?

The first criterion is the severity of harm, which involves assessing how serious the potential damage or danger is.

Why is the certainty of harm important in determining responsibility?

The certainty of harm is important because the more likely the harm is to occur, the greater the responsibility to take action.

How does personal involvement affect ethical responsibility?

If a person has caused the harm or is part of the community affected by it, their responsibility to act is significantly increased.

What does Hansen mean by the cost of acting?

The cost of acting refers to the personal risks or sacrifices one must make to address the harm. A lower cost typically results in a higher ethical obligation.

What role does the certainty of a solution play in ethical responsibility?

The certainty of a solution affects responsibility; the more confident one is in their ability to solve the problem, the greater their ethical obligation to intervene.

What is the bystander problem mentioned by Hansen?

The bystander problem refers to the tendency for individuals to feel less responsible to act when others are present, which can diminish personal accountability.

Can someone be held responsible even if they did not create the problem?

Yes, if a person has a unique opportunity to intervene and prevent harm, they may have a greater legal and ethical obligation to act.

What is the overall message of the video regarding ethical responsibility?

The overall message emphasizes that individuals must critically evaluate their responsibilities based on the severity, certainty, involvement, cost, and effectiveness of their actions in addressing potential harm.