A nurse named Paul is working in an assisted living facility and has a patient named Flo, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The patient has significant memory loss. One day, she wakes up in emotional distress, looking for her husband, Ernie. Paul knows that Ernie has been dead for ten years. Paul recognizes that telling the Floe her husband is dead will only cause further distress. However, he feels conflicted about lying to her.
Respond to one of the following prompts:
- According to Virtue Ethics and its core principles (telos, virtue, eudaimonia, and practical wisdom), would it be morally permissible for Paul to lie or deceive Flo about her husband, Ernie? How might this affect Paul’s character? How might this affect Flo’s character? What effect will lying or deception have on the community and the trust within it? Will this lying or deceiving align with our proper function as humans? Use appropriate textual evidence to back up your claim. (USLOs 2.1, 2.2, 2.3)
- According to Virtue ethics and its core principles (telos, virtue, eudaimonia, and practical wisdom), how might we use prudential reasoning to decide what is morally permissible? Which cardinal virtues (i.e., Justice, Temperance, Fortitude, and Prudence) should we appeal to in this case? Is there a solution where we can satisfy all the cardinal virtues? Use appropriate textual evidence to back up your claim. (USLOs 2.1, 2.2, 2.3)
