DAY+65+MORAL+REASONING

Jim and Derek are high school friends. Jim, whose birthday is coming up, has mentioned to Derek how great it would be to have an IPOD to listen to music while he goes about his job driving a van. Derek steals an IPOD from a car in the school parking lot and gives it to Jim for his birthday. Jim is appreciative; not realizing the present is stolen.

The next day Jim sees Scott, another friend. Jim knows Scott has an IPOD and he knows how to download songs from the computer. Jim mentions that he got an IPOD for a birthday present and asks Scott to come over to help download songs from the computer. “Sure,” Scott says with a sigh. “You look upset, Scott. What’s wrong?” Jim asks. “Oh, I was ripped off,” Scott says. “Oh, damn. What did they get?” Jim asks. “My IPOD,” Scott says. Scott starts describing the stolen IPOD, with the faceplate of his favorite football team.

Later, Jim starts thinking about how odd it is that Scott’s IPOD was stolen just at the time Derek gave him one with the same faceplate. Jim gets suspicious and calls Derek. Sure enough, Derek confesses that he stole it, and the car he stole it from turns out to be Scott’s car!

It’s time for Scott to arrive to help Jim download songs to the IPOD. Scott will probably recognize the IPOD as his. Scott is at the door, ringing the doorbell.

// What should Jim – the one who got the stolen birthday present from Derek – say or do? //

1. **Should Jim tell Scott that Derek took Scott’s IPOD?** should tell shouldn’t tell can’t decide

2. **How good a friend is Derek? Would Jim be able to trust Derek not to steal from him?**

yes, could trust no, couldn’t trust can’t decide

3. **Derek stole the IPOD for a good cause (Jim’s birthday). Does that make it all right for Derek to steal the IPOD?**

yes, all right no, not all right can’t decide

4. **What if Derek didn’t steal the IPOD from Scott’s car? What if instead Derek stole he IPOD from a stranger’s car? Then would it be all right for Derek to steal the IPOD for Jim’s birthday?**

yes, all right no, not all right can’t decide