Question 1

Is Edward Snowden a hero or a traitor? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The question of whether Edward Snowden is a hero or a traitor is a highly debated and controversial topic. Some people view him as a hero for exposing the mass surveillance programs conducted by the NSA and bringing attention to the issue of government overreach and invasion of privacy. They argue that his actions were in the public interest and helped to spark important conversations about civil liberties and government transparency.

On the other hand, others see Snowden as a traitor for leaking classified information and potentially compromising national security. They argue that his actions put lives at risk and undermined the work of intelligence agencies. Additionally, they believe that he should have followed proper channels for addressing his concerns rather than leaking sensitive information to the media.

Ultimately, whether one views Edward Snowden as a hero or a traitor often depends on their perspective on government surveillance and whistleblowing. It's a complex issue with valid arguments on both sides, and the debate is likely to continue for years to come.

Question 2

In the BER case, Engineer A discovered that Engineer A's company, SPQ, was cheating a vendor by using software in violation of agreement. Upon learning of this wrongdoing, Engineer A responded by reporting SPQ on a confidential hotline. BER determined this act of whistle-blowing to be unethical. All of the following considerations supported their conclusion except

Accepted Answer

A)  there was no immediate threat to the public. 
B)  Engineer A was disloyal. 
C)  Engineer A did not properly calculate the utility. 
D)  Engineer A did not notify SPQ to give them a chance to fix the problem. 
A)  there was no immediate threat to the public. 
B)  Engineer A was disloyal. 
C)  Engineer A did not properly calculate the utility. 
D)  Engineer A did not notify SPQ to give them a chance to fix the problem. D

Question 3

Which of the following accurately describes the case of whistle-blowing of Mr. Vokes against TransCanada over their pipelines for violating safety guidelines?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mr. Vokes did not report his complaint up the chain of command. 
B)  No other employees at TransCanada thought the violations merited reporting. 
C)  None of Mr. Vokes worries about pipelines exploding have been validated. 
D)  After being fired from TransCanada in retaliation for whistle-blowing, Mr. Vokes was unable to find permanent employment elsewhere. 
A)  Mr. Vokes did not report his complaint up the chain of command. 
B)  No other employees at TransCanada thought the violations merited reporting. 
C)  None of Mr. Vokes worries about pipelines exploding have been validated. 
D)  After being fired from TransCanada in retaliation for whistle-blowing, Mr. Vokes was unable to find permanent employment elsewhere. D

Question 4

The complicity-avoiding view takes you to be obliged to blow the whistle if and only if (l) what you will reveal derives from your work for an organization; (2) you are a voluntary member of that organization; (3) you believe that the organization, though legitimate, is engaged in serious moral wrongdoing; and (4) you believe that your work for that organization will contribute (more or less directly) to the wrong if (but not only if) you do not publicly reveal what you know and your beliefs are true and justified. What sort of case calls the necessity of these criteria in question?

Accepted Answer

A)  A case where the wrongdoing is in another part of the organization or above you 
B)  A case where the wrongdoing is illegal 
C)  A case where you have already participated in the wrongdoing yourself 
D)  A case where your company is about to be bought by another 
A)  A case where the wrongdoing is in another part of the organization or above you 
B)  A case where the wrongdoing is illegal 
C)  A case where you have already participated in the wrongdoing yourself 
D)  A case where your company is about to be bought by another

Question 5

The fact that whistle-blowers are generally deeply involved in the activity they reveal is thought by some theorists to show that

Accepted Answer

A)  prevention of harm is the salient feature of whistle-blowing. 
B)  whistle-blowing always involves breaking one's word to one's employee. 
C)  avoiding complicity is the most morally relevant aspect of whistle-blowing. 
D)  None of the above 
A)  prevention of harm is the salient feature of whistle-blowing. 
B)  whistle-blowing always involves breaking one's word to one's employee. 
C)  avoiding complicity is the most morally relevant aspect of whistle-blowing. 
D)  None of the above

Question 6

What is the best objection to the complicity-avoiding defense of whistle-blowing?

Accepted Answer

The best objection to the complicity-avo

Question 7

According to DeGeorge's harm-preventing view, whistle-blowing which of the following conditions is not necessary for whistle-blowing to be morally permissible?

Accepted Answer

A)  A practice or product does or will cause serious harm to individuals or society at large. 
B)  The charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors. 
C)  No appropriate action has been taken to remedy the wrongdoing. 
D)  There is documentation of the potentially harmful practice or defect. 
A)  A practice or product does or will cause serious harm to individuals or society at large. 
B)  The charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors. 
C)  No appropriate action has been taken to remedy the wrongdoing. 
D)  There is documentation of the potentially harmful practice or defect.

Question 8

All of the following are features of whistle-blowing except

Accepted Answer

A)  the whistle-blower brings attention to the authorities of wrongdoing. 
B)  the whistle-blower is within the institution responsible for the wrongdoing. 
C)  the whistle-blower bypasses normal protocols for reporting, sometimes even contacting media. 
D)  the whistle-blower works undercover for the government. 
A)  the whistle-blower brings attention to the authorities of wrongdoing. 
B)  the whistle-blower is within the institution responsible for the wrongdoing. 
C)  the whistle-blower bypasses normal protocols for reporting, sometimes even contacting media. 
D)  the whistle-blower works undercover for the government.

Question 9

Is whistle-blowing a disloyal act? Explain.

Accepted Answer

Whistle-blowing is not necessarily a dis

Question 10

Which element of whistle-blowing is absent from the following case: An engineer knows that his company is breaking the law by periodically allowing untreated wastewater with a low pH into the sewer, creating a risk of killing the bacteria at the municipal wastewater treatment plant. The engineer sabotages the company's discharge creating a spill that draws the attention of the authorities and then explains to them what the company has been doing.

Accepted Answer

A)  Merely passes information along to authorities 
B)  Justifiably believes wrongdoing has occurred 
C)  Intention to end wrongdoing (not merely revenge) 
D)  Serious wrongdoing 
A)  Merely passes information along to authorities 
B)  Justifiably believes wrongdoing has occurred 
C)  Intention to end wrongdoing (not merely revenge) 
D)  Serious wrongdoing

Question 11

What might be the missing element of responsible whistle-blowing in the following scenario? One employee, Amy, tells another employee, Bob, that she has seen the company pass sensitive data on to clients in a way that violates user privacy. Bob then makes a report to the authorities.

Accepted Answer

A)  Merely passes information along to authorities 
B)  Justifiably believes wrongdoing has occurred 
C)  Intention to end wrongdoing (not merely revenge) 
D)  The wrongdoing is serious 
A)  Merely passes information along to authorities 
B)  Justifiably believes wrongdoing has occurred 
C)  Intention to end wrongdoing (not merely revenge) 
D)  The wrongdoing is serious

Question 12

On the harm-preventing view, which condition is one of the two necessary conditions to make whistle-blowing morally obligatory?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is good reason to believe that public disclosure will avoid the present or prevent similar.
Future wrongdoing. 
B)  No appropriate action has been taken to remedy the wrongdoing. 
C)  The company will not be angry with you when the information is revealed. 
D)  A practice or product does or will cause serious harm to individuals or society at large. 
A)  There is good reason to believe that public disclosure will avoid the present or prevent similar.
Future wrongdoing. 
B)  No appropriate action has been taken to remedy the wrongdoing. 
C)  The company will not be angry with you when the information is revealed. 
D)  A practice or product does or will cause serious harm to individuals or society at large.

Question 13

A whistle-blower is someone who

Accepted Answer

A)  sells information about what he or she justifiably believes to be serious moral or legal wrongdoing in an organization to an internal or external party. 
B)  passes along information about what he or she justifiably believes to be serious moral or legal wrongdoing in an organization. 
C)  passes along information about what he or she justifiably believes to be serious moral or legal wrongdoing in an organization of which he or she is a member. 
D)  passes along information about what he or she justifiably believes to be serious moral or legal wrongdoing in an organization of which he or she is a member to an internal or external party he or she is not authorized to contact with the intention to stop this wrongdoing. 
A)  sells information about what he or she justifiably believes to be serious moral or legal wrongdoing in an organization to an internal or external party. 
B)  passes along information about what he or she justifiably believes to be serious moral or legal wrongdoing in an organization. 
C)  passes along information about what he or she justifiably believes to be serious moral or legal wrongdoing in an organization of which he or she is a member. 
D)  passes along information about what he or she justifiably believes to be serious moral or legal wrongdoing in an organization of which he or she is a member to an internal or external party he or she is not authorized to contact with the intention to stop this wrongdoing.

Question 14

Roger Boisjoly is best known for having

Accepted Answer

A)  blown the whistle before the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger, which he did by contacting the press. 
B)  blown the whistle before the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger, which he did by contacting the executive director of NASA. 
C)  raised serious concerns about the O-ring the months before the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. 
D)  None of the above 
A)  blown the whistle before the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger, which he did by contacting the press. 
B)  blown the whistle before the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger, which he did by contacting the executive director of NASA. 
C)  raised serious concerns about the O-ring the months before the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. 
D)  None of the above

Question 15

According to Michael Davis's complicity-avoiding view, whistle-blowing is morally permissible if

Accepted Answer

A)  a practice or product does or will cause serious harm to individuals or society at large. 
B)  what you will reveal derives from your work for an organization; you are a voluntary member of that organization; you believe that the organization, though legitimate, is engaged in serious moral wrongdoing; you believe that your work for that organization will contribute (more or less directly) to the wrong if (but not only if) you do not publicly reveal what you know; and these beliefs are true and justified. 
C)  a practice or product does or will cause serious harm to individuals or society at large and the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors. 
D)  the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors and no appropriate action has been taken to remedy the wrongdoing. 
A)  a practice or product does or will cause serious harm to individuals or society at large. 
B)  what you will reveal derives from your work for an organization; you are a voluntary member of that organization; you believe that the organization, though legitimate, is engaged in serious moral wrongdoing; you believe that your work for that organization will contribute (more or less directly) to the wrong if (but not only if) you do not publicly reveal what you know; and these beliefs are true and justified. 
C)  a practice or product does or will cause serious harm to individuals or society at large and the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors. 
D)  the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors and no appropriate action has been taken to remedy the wrongdoing.

Question 16

Michael Davis summarizes his complicity-avoiding account of whistle-blowing in six criteria. In his view, you are obliged to blow the whistle just in case (1) what you will reveal derives from your work for an organization; (2) you are a voluntary member of that organization; (3) you believe that the organization, though legitimate, is engaged in serious moral wrongdoing; (4) you believe that your work for that organization will contribute (more or less directly) to the wrong if (but not only if) you do not publicly reveal what you know; (5) you are justified in beliefs (3) and (4); and (6) beliefs (3) and (4) are true. Which ethical theory offers the best support of this account of whistle-blowing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Utilitarianism 
B)  Ethical egoism 
C)  Kantian duty ethics 
D)  Virtue ethics 
A)  Utilitarianism 
B)  Ethical egoism 
C)  Kantian duty ethics 
D)  Virtue ethics

Question 17

According to Richard T. DeGeorge's harm-preventing view, whistle-blowing is morally permissible if a practice or product does or will cause serious harm to individuals or society at large,

Accepted Answer

A)  the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors, and no appropriate action has been taken to remedy the wrongdoing. 
B)  the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors, and there is documentation of the potentially harmful practice or defect. 
C)  the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors, and there is good reason to believe public disclosure will avoid the present or prevent similar future wrongdoing. 
D)  and the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors. 
A)  the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors, and no appropriate action has been taken to remedy the wrongdoing. 
B)  the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors, and there is documentation of the potentially harmful practice or defect. 
C)  the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors, and there is good reason to believe public disclosure will avoid the present or prevent similar future wrongdoing. 
D)  and the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors.

Question 18

Richard T. DeGeorge defends a harm-preventing view about whistle-blowing. In his view, it is permissible to blow the whistle just in case (1) a practice or product does or will cause serious harm to individuals or society at large; (2) the charge of wrongdoing has been brought to the attention of immediate superiors; and (3) no appropriate action has been taken to remedy the wrongdoing. Which ethical theory offers the best support of this account of whistle-blowing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Utilitarianism 
B)  Ethical egoism 
C)  Kantian duty ethics 
D)  Virtue ethics 
E)  None of the above 
A)  Utilitarianism 
B)  Ethical egoism 
C)  Kantian duty ethics 
D)  Virtue ethics 
E)  None of the above

Question 19

A whistle-blower is someone who passes along information about what he or she justifiably believes to be

Accepted Answer

A)  a violation of the NSPE code of ethics with the intention to stop this wrongdoing. 
B)  an illegal activity with the intention to stop this wrongdoing. 
C)  serious moral or legal wrongdoing in an organization of which he or she is not a member with the intention to learn from this wrongdoing. 
D)  serious moral or legal wrongdoing in an organization of which he or she is a member with the intention to stop this wrongdoing. 
A)  a violation of the NSPE code of ethics with the intention to stop this wrongdoing. 
B)  an illegal activity with the intention to stop this wrongdoing. 
C)  serious moral or legal wrongdoing in an organization of which he or she is not a member with the intention to learn from this wrongdoing. 
D)  serious moral or legal wrongdoing in an organization of which he or she is a member with the intention to stop this wrongdoing.

Question 20

Which identifies as the crucial condition for whistle-blowing a situation in which people cannot make informed consent without you revealing wrongdoing publicly?

Accepted Answer

A)  Complicity-avoiding 
B)  Harm-preventing 
C)  Autonomy-based 
D)  Utilitarian 
A)  Complicity-avoiding 
B)  Harm-preventing 
C)  Autonomy-based 
D)  Utilitarian

Is Edward Snowden a hero or a traitor? Explain.

Which of the following accurately describes the case of whistle-blowing of Mr. Vokes against TransCanada over their pipelines for violating safety guidelines?

The fact that whistle-blowers are generally deeply involved in the activity they reveal is thought by some theorists to show that

What is the best objection to the complicity-avoiding defense of whistle-blowing?

According to DeGeorge's harm-preventing view, whistle-blowing which of the following conditions is not necessary for whistle-blowing to be morally permissible?

All of the following are features of whistle-blowing except

Is whistle-blowing a disloyal act? Explain.

What might be the missing element of responsible whistle-blowing in the following scenario? One employee, Amy, tells another employee, Bob, that she has seen the company pass sensitive data on to clients in a way that violates user privacy. Bob then makes a report to the authorities.

On the harm-preventing view, which condition is one of the two necessary conditions to make whistle-blowing morally obligatory?

A whistle-blower is someone who

Roger Boisjoly is best known for having

According to Michael Davis's complicity-avoiding view, whistle-blowing is morally permissible if

According to Richard T. DeGeorge's harm-preventing view, whistle-blowing is morally permissible if a practice or product does or will cause serious harm to individuals or society at large,

A whistle-blower is someone who passes along information about what he or she justifiably believes to be

Which identifies as the crucial condition for whistle-blowing a situation in which people cannot make informed consent without you revealing wrongdoing publicly?

Introduction

Professional Codes of Ethics

A Brief History of Engineering

A Methodological Toolbox

Utilitarianism and Ethical Egoism

Duties, Virtues and Rights

Conflicts of Interest: When Is It Permissible to Influence the Actions of Others

Costbenefit Analysis: Do the Ends Justify the Means

Risk and Uncertainty: How Safe Is Safe Enough

Privacy: What Is It and Why Should It Be Protected

The Problem of Many Hands: Who Is Responsible and Should Anyone Be Blamed

Technology Assessments and Social Experiments

A Critical Attitude to Technology

The Ethics of Artifacts

Sustainability

Filters

Exam 7: Whistle-Blowing: Should You Ever Break With Protocol

Is Edward Snowden a hero or a traitor? Explain.

Which of the following accurately describes the case of whistle-blowing of Mr. Vokes against TransCanada over their pipelines for violating safety guidelines?

The fact that whistle-blowers are generally deeply involved in the activity they reveal is thought by some theorists to show that

What is the best objection to the complicity-avoiding defense of whistle-blowing?

According to DeGeorge's harm-preventing view, whistle-blowing which of the following conditions is not necessary for whistle-blowing to be morally permissible?

All of the following are features of whistle-blowing except

Is whistle-blowing a disloyal act? Explain.

What might be the missing element of responsible whistle-blowing in the following scenario? One employee, Amy, tells another employee, Bob, that she has seen the company pass sensitive data on to clients in a way that violates user privacy. Bob then makes a report to the authorities.

On the harm-preventing view, which condition is one of the two necessary conditions to make whistle-blowing morally obligatory?

A whistle-blower is someone who

Roger Boisjoly is best known for having

According to Michael Davis's complicity-avoiding view, whistle-blowing is morally permissible if

According to Richard T. DeGeorge's harm-preventing view, whistle-blowing is morally permissible if a practice or product does or will cause serious harm to individuals or society at large,

A whistle-blower is someone who passes along information about what he or she justifiably believes to be

Which identifies as the crucial condition for whistle-blowing a situation in which people cannot make informed consent without you revealing wrongdoing publicly?

Introduction

Professional Codes of Ethics

A Brief History of Engineering

A Methodological Toolbox

Utilitarianism and Ethical Egoism

Duties, Virtues and Rights

Conflicts of Interest: When Is It Permissible to Influence the Actions of Others

Costbenefit Analysis: Do the Ends Justify the Means

Risk and Uncertainty: How Safe Is Safe Enough

Privacy: What Is It and Why Should It Be Protected

The Problem of Many Hands: Who Is Responsible and Should Anyone Be Blamed

Technology Assessments and Social Experiments

A Critical Attitude to Technology

The Ethics of Artifacts

Sustainability

Filters