The Case of the Lost Wallet

One day, I was walking down a busy street when I noticed a wallet lying on the sidewalk. It was clearly someone’s, filled with cash, credit cards, and various personal documents. My immediate intuition was to find the owner. It felt inherently wrong to keep it or even take it to a store hoping for a reward.

Decision-Making Process:

My decision-making process was swift and clear. I didn’t deliberate for long. The thought of keeping the wallet or profiting from its contents felt incredibly unethical. I scanned the area for anyone who might have lost it, but couldn’t find anyone. I decided to take the wallet to a nearby police station, explaining the situation to the officer.

Biases:

The most prominent bias in this situation was likely the “availability heuristic,” where my recent exposure to news stories about people losing their wallets and the emotional impact it had on them influenced my immediate reaction.

Ethical Framework: Deontology

Deontology, with its focus on duty and moral obligations, perfectly aligns with my decision. This framework emphasizes acting based on universal moral principles, regardless of the consequences.

Application of Deontology:

• Universalizability: The act of keeping the wallet would have violated a universal principle of honesty and respect for others’ property.

• Duty: I felt a strong duty to help the owner recover their lost wallet.

• Intention: My intention was purely to do the right thing, not to benefit from the situation.

Ethical Principles:

• Honesty: Returning the wallet was the honest and morally correct action.

• Respect for Property: The wallet belonged to someone else and should be returned.

• Beneficence: By helping the owner, I was acting in a way that would benefit them.

Reflection:

Using the deontological framework helped me articulate the rationale behind my decision. It provided a structured approach to analyzing the situation and identifying the underlying ethical principles. This framework solidified my intuition and offered a clearer understanding of the moral obligation I felt.

Comparison to Typical Approach:

While I usually rely on intuition and empathy, using the deontological framework made my decision-making process more deliberate and reflective. It helped me move beyond my initial gut feeling and understand the ethical implications of my choices.

This experience highlighted the power of ethical frameworks in guiding our actions, especially in situations where our moral intuitions might be challenged. It provided a solid foundation for making ethical decisions and understanding the weight of our choices.