While reflecting on our class discussions, I came across a rather unusual, yet funny story, which I would like to put up for ethical analysis.
In the story below, a boss explains why he fired his secretary:
Last week was my 40th birthday and I really didn't feel like waking up that morning. I managed to pull myself together and go downstairs for breakfast, hoping my wife would be pleasant and say, "Happy Birthday!", and possibly have a small present for me. As it turned out, she barely said good morning, let alone "Happy Birthday." I thought... Well, that's marriage for you, but the kids... They will remember.
My kids came trampling down the stairs to breakfast, ate their breakfast, and didn't say a word to me. So when I made it out of the house and started for work, I felt pretty dumpy and despondent.
As I walked into my office, my secretary Joanne said, "Good Morning Boss, and by the way Happy Birthday!" It felt a bit better knowing that at least someone remembered. I worked in a zombie like fashion until about one o'clock, when Joanne knocked on my door and said, "You know, it's such a beautiful day outside, and it's your Birthday, why don't we go out for lunch, just you and me." I said, "Thanks, Joanne, that's the best thing I've heard all day. Let's go!"
We went to lunch but not where we'd normally go. Instead she took me to a quiet bistro with a private table. We had a couple of mixed drinks and I enjoyed the meal tremendously. On the way back to the office, Joanne said, "You know, it's such a beautiful day... We don't have to go right back to the office, do we?" I replied with "I suppose not. What do you have in mind?" She said, "Let's go to my apartment, it's just around the corner."
After arriving at her apartment, Joanne turned to me and said, "Boss if you don't mind, I'm going to step into the bedroom for just a moment. I'll be right back." "Ok." I nervously replied. She went into the bedroom and, after a couple of minutes, she came out carrying a huge birthday cake...followed by my wife, my kids, and dozens of my friends, and co-workers, all singing "Happy Birthday".
And I just sat there...on the couch...Naked.
url: http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhyIFiredMySecretary/bmznb/post.htm
This story probably gave you a laugh, or maybe not. However, I believe it’s a great story for ethical analysis.
Based on Sartre’s ethical views, how can we describe the concept of freedom and responsibility in this story? How can the man explain his actions? Was the secretary responsible for the man’s actions (not directly or causally, but in a “domino-effect-sort-of-way)?” How can the man exercise his freedom in this situation? Was it morally right for the boss to fire his secretary after this event? In this embarassing moment, will the boss attempt to answer the question "What kind of existence is this?" If so, how?
These are just a few questions to consider, feel free to analyze the story using any questions you have. Looking forward to reading your responses.
hahahahahaha
ReplyDeleteEmmanuel I have to say I do love your post!!
Honestly (and I think Sartre would agree) everyone is blame here.
I mean the wife and kids could take responsibility for making him feel bad about himself. The Secretary could take responsibility for leading him on, and he should take responsibility for being led on.
I mean this story is just too funny. Why would he go back home with his secretary when he is married? and why would she invite him knowing that he is married? and even if the intentions were pure why didn't they have it so that everyone would be waiting in the living room ready to scream "surprise" as they came in? why did she have to go to her bedroom first? what did she think he was going to think? and most important question of all why would the wife agree to an idea as stupid as this?! hahaha
They are all to blame, and they should all take responsibility for it.
Like Nellie, I also had to laugh out loud when I read that story.
ReplyDeleteBut now, a couple of minutes later, I really start to feel for that man but besides that, I don't see where we can put any blame on. Of course, most people would consider the action of the man as not very moral, but as we learned, Existentialism does not make moral judgements. Certainly, it is his responsibility to sit naked on the couch, but how does that make him immoral? There are also enough reasons to blame everybody else (e.g. because they lied, even though their will was intentionally good).
All in all, yes we can find responsibility here, but all in all it is a great story and everybody should be able to laugh about that weird situation.
That was hilarious! In my opinion, the secretary led him on. Instead of taking him to her apartment, they should have planned the surprise party somewhere else! Like Nellie said, if she knew he was married, she should have never thrown out those sexual innuendos even if that was not her intention!
ReplyDeleteThis is why I don't really like surprises; things never go as planned! There is always something that gets messed up. It was his family's fault for not acknowledging his birthday (maybe that was one of his motives for doing what he did), his secretary's fault for leading him on, and his fault for being aroused too easily!
Wow. That is all that I can say, but I will admit I did laugh while shaking my head though. Clearly, like everyone has said all the people in this story take some sort of responsibility for what happened. The boss had full freedom throughout the entire story. He chose to go to the secretary's house and chose to read into what she was saying. Although the secretary was leading the boss on so she takes responsibility too, and of course the wife and children's decision to ignore him contributed to his decision. So, was the boss acting in bad faith though? When he had the idea of cheating on his wife do you think he was pretending to not be married?
ReplyDelete