4 famous Ethical Stories
- The story of the Good Samaritan
- The story of King Solomon and the baby
- Ring of Gyges
- Boy who Cried Wolf
1. Good Samaritan: Told by Jesus in the New Testament, tells the tale of a man who is robbed and left for dead on the side of the road. A priest and a Levite pass by without stopping to help, but a Samaritan, who was considered an outsider by the other two men, stops to help the man and takes him to an inn to be cared for. The story is often used to teach the lesson of compassion and the importance of helping those in need, regardless of whether they are part of one’s own community or not.
2. King Solomon and the baby: two women come to King Solomon with a baby, each claiming to be the child’s mother. Solomon offers to cut the baby in half and give each woman half, but the real mother agrees to give up her claim to the child in order to save its life. Solomon then declares her to be the true mother and gives her the baby. This story is often used to teach the lesson of selflessness and the importance of putting the needs of others before one’s own desires.
3. Ring of Gyges: Story coming from Plato, involves a shepherd who discovers a ring that makes him invisible when he wears it. The shepherd then uses the ring to satisfy his own desires, including stealing and committing other crimes, without fear of being caught. The story is often used to explore the concept of moral relativism, or the idea that what is right or wrong depends on the individual or society.
4. Boy Who Cried Wolf: Story, which has its roots in ancient Aesop’s fables, tells the tale of a boy who repeatedly tricks his neighbors by falsely crying “wolf” and then laughing at their reactions. Eventually, when a real wolf appears, the boy cries out for help, but no one believes him because he has lied so many times before. The story is often used to teach the lesson of honesty and the importance of telling the truth.
