The Encyclopedia of Ethical Failure: Think Like A Freak

Subject and Section
Professor’s Name
Date
Title
1 If almost 500 children are killed in traffic accidents every day, why are so many people unaware of traffic deaths? In contrast, why are so many people aware of the far fewer deaths due to air travel?
Traffic deaths are so common that they are hardly reported on the news, thereby having less public attention. Also, the brain remembers negative information better than the positive one. Thus, people assess rare risks like airplane crashes rather than car accidents (Levitt and Dubner 86-87).
2 In the study of German schoolteachers, explain why this group was more likely to take early retirement.
They retire earlier than the rest due to “bad mouthing” by their students, which negatively affects their mental health. No one can be persuaded by using foul language because it makes the students the teachers’ enemies (Levitt and Dubner 87).
3 Why do the authors advise a would-be persuader to steer clear of anecdotes? What is the problem with anecdotes?
Anecdotes are not comprehensive and happen at one point in time. Thus, it cannot persuade people because they lack elements of a story, which illustrates a perspective, scale, and data (Levitt and Dubner 88).
4 What is the flaw in the story of too many people overeating fatty food in the obesity epidemic?
First, studies suggest that there are healthy fats that can be helpful when taken in moderation. Second, the less one consumes fat, the more he eats food with high sugar content (Levitt and Dubner 88).
5 Explain how The Encyclopedia of Ethical Failure illustrates the usefulness of story-telling to persuade people to behave ethically and follow the rules.
The book’s advantage lies in story-telling, where it gives examples to help the reader properly visualize the rules. Steering one’s imagination helps the individual connect logic with real-life situations (Levitt and Dubner 89).
6 If you could persuade one person (or a group) of just one thing to make your life better today, who would it be, and of what would you persuade them? Using the six principles from this chapter, outline a plan for persuasion.
To persuade anti-vaxxers:
1) Research about the vaccine and the anti-vaxxers, precisely why they do not want to be immunized.; 2) The arguments must resonate with the fears of the audience.; 3) Acknowledge their sentiments and rebuttals.; 4) Do not pretend that my argument is the only thing that matters; 4) Tell stories about how the world was able to battle poliomyelitis and how almost no one has it now except for a few countries like the Philippines. Explain how the “Dengvaxia” scandal in the Philippines lead to the measles and poliomyelitis outbreak.
CHAPTER 9 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1 What are the differences between sunk and opportunity costs? Which should you pay more attention to if you are considering quitting?
A sunk cost is the effort one invested in a project, while opportunity cost describes the opportunity that o...