Hasn’t there ever been a time in your life whereby you’re forced to make a decision?
A decision that conflicts with your moral reasoning and guidance yet of utter importance for the bigger majority?
Lim Boon Heng had to make one when he had to undermine his own religious and moral reasoning to build the casino but what had led him to agree to such a decision that would eventually see 50,000 jobs created at the cost of Singaporeans losing their wealth?
It’s down to Brannigan’s 6 Step To Moral Reasoning.
- Identify The Facts
- View Facts From Different Perspectives
- Identify Moral Issues
- Identify People Involved
- Identify Ways To Resolve Issues
- Choose Best Moral Option
Identify The Facts
Here, we need to first sieve out the facts. In doing so, we need to ensure that we do not put across biased statements which would mean we cannot write statements saying, “ought to, should, must”.
View Facts From Different Perspectives
The facts then needs to be viewed from various points. That of the people involved in the decision making as well as those who’s lives will be affected. The facts also needs to be viewed from all the other perspectives that plays a part (religious, societal, community).
Identify Moral Issues
Having done so, what then are the moral issues involved in the decision making process? In the case of the casino, there were several moral issues as a result of gambling.
Identify People Involved
We then need to identify the various levels of people involved which includes the Stakeholders as well as the Decision Makers and whether or not the decision made will affect any other people.
Identify Ways To Resolve Issues
To resolve issues, we need to look into the Virtues, Duty, Rights and Consequences. These then needs to be viewed from either the Western or non-western view as different views have a different method of resolving issues. Aristotle, Confucius, Dharma, Buddha, Kant etc..
Choose Best Moral Option
Having identified the different methods to resolve the issues, choose the methods which would best address the moral issue on hand. At times, the option taken could go against certain religious values but it is important that the decision be made because that would be the best moral option to be taken having considered all the points above.
With the General Elections coming, we’ve already seen what the Casino can do for Singapore.
It has created jobs (for many foreigners and Singaporeans) and has also caused a lot of moral problems to occur including one of that of an Army Captain.
Could the decision to build the casino have been averted?
Did Lim Boon Heng and his PAP members in parliament employ the Brannigan’s 6 Step to Moral Reasoning process to help them make their decision?
Similarly, for the upcoming General Elections, perhaps all Singaporeans need to employ this method to reason out in their minds the best decision to take when polling day comes.
To think through about what the party stands for and whether or not they will deliver what they have promised.
For the parties that have been in parliament, have they delivered their promises to you?
IF NO, what were the stumbling blocks and was the stumbling blocks fair for them?
To change or not to change, that’s your call Singapore.