Demario's biology class has a quiz every other Friday. This is the third time Demario has been so worried about other personal matters that he hasn’t done quite as well on the quizzes as he might have otherwise. What has Demario upset is the fact that the professor leaves the room while the students take the quiz, and over half the class is taking the opportunity to cheat. Demario knows personally several of the other students in the class, and some of the ones Demario hangout with are among those who are cheating. Demario knows that a failure to speak to the professor about the cheating will result in his own grade being lower, since the school grades on the curve system. But if Demario does say something to the professor he will be doing his friends and the others a great harm, since cheating is taken very seriously at the school and can lead to expulsion. If Demario doesn’t “turn in” the classmates, the only other alternative is he will get a worse grade than he deserves. He will also be labled as a snitch among is peers and a cheater at the school, either of which Demario has never done. Further, if the professor somehow discovers that Demario is hiding the cheating of others, Demario will be considered an accessory to the cheating, and may be reprimanded for not turning others in, since the school operates on an honor system.
Critical thinking About Ethics Right vs Wrong
What should Demario do?
Should Demario cheat?
Should Demario turn in the cheating classmates?
Should Demario say nothing and not cheat himself?
Be specific in your answer about exactly what Demario should do. (Remember to use one of the three moral theories to solve this dilemma.)