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Lesson 2 - ETHICS

Ethics (Bicol University)

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THREE LEVELS OF MORAL DILEMMA - Either these standards are not necessarily linked to
morality or by nature lack ethical sense.
The ethical standards of an organization have a major - Basic examples of non-moral standards include
influence on how it conducts its functions. A positive rules of etiquette, fashion standards, rules in
approach to maintaining ethical standards can lead to games, and various house rules.
positive outcomes in an organization. However, moral and
- Technically, religious rules, some traditions, and
ethical shortcomings also exist even in the most successful
legal statutes (i.e. laws and ordinances) are non-
organizations. These can be classified at three levels:
moral principles, though they can be ethically
 Individual dilemma – Organizations and relevant depending on some factors and contexts.
businesses are run by people. Therefore, the
The following six (6) characteristics of moral standards
ethical standards of these individuals are an
further differentiate them from non-moral standards:
important consideration.
- Because individuals can have different set of a. Moral standards involve serious wrongs or significant benefits.
ethical standards, this can lead to tensions - Moral standards deal with matters which can
putting them in a situation called moral seriously impact, that is, injure or benefit human
dilemma. beings.
- For instance, following or violating some
- Factors such as peer pressure, personal
basketball rules may matter in basketball games
financial position and socio-economic status but does not necessarily affect one’s life or
may influence an individual’s ethical wellbeing.
standards.  
 Organizational dilemma – At a company, b. Moral standards ought to be preferred to other values.
corporate or organizational level, ethical standards - Moral standards have overriding character or
are embedded in the policies and procedures of hegemonic authority.
- If a moral standard states that a person has the
the organization, and form an important
moral obligation to do something, then he/she is
foundation on which the organization is built. supposed to do that even if it conflicts with other
- There can be a gap between the non-moral standards, and even with self-interest.
company/organization policy on ethical  
standards and the conduct of those leaders in- c. Moral standards are not established by authority figures.
charge of running the organization, which can - Moral standards are not invented, formed, or
present an ethical challenge for some generated by authoritative bodies or persons such
as nations’ legislative bodies.
employees.
- Ideally instead, these values ought to be
 Structural dilemma – Factors such as political considered in the process of making laws.
pressures, economic conditions, societal attitudes  
to certain businesses, and even business regulation d. Moral standards have the trait of universalizability.
can influence a system’s operating standards and - Simply put, it means that everyone should live up
policies. Leaders must be aware of how these to moral standards.
pressure affect operations, relationships, and how - To be more accurate, however, it entails that
moral principles must apply to all who are in the
they may impact people locally, nationally or relevantly similar situation.
internationally. - If one judges that act A is morally right for a
certain person P, then it is morally right for
MORAL VS. NON-MORAL STANDARDS anybody relevantly similar to P.
Morality – standards that a person or a group has about  e. Moral standards are based on impartial considerations.
what is right and wrong, or good and evil. - Moral standard does not evaluate standards on the
basis of the interests of a certain person or group,
Moral Standards - those concerned with or relating to but one that goes beyond personal interests to a
human behavior, especially the distinction between good universal standpoint in which each person’s
and bad (or right and wrong) behavior. interests are impartially counted as equal.
 
- involve the rules people have about the kinds of - Impartiality is usually depicted as being free of
actions they believe are morally right and wrong, bias or prejudice. Impartiality in morality requires
as well as the values they place on the kinds of that we give equal and/or adequate consideration
to the interests of all concerned parties.
objects they believe are morally good and morally
 
bad. f. Moral standards are associated with special emotions and
- Some ethicists equate moral standards with moral vocabulary.
values and moral principles. - Prescriptivity indicates the practical or action-
guiding nature of moral standards.
Non-moral Standards - refer to rules that are - These moral standards are generally put forth as
unrelated to moral or ethical considerations. injunction or imperatives (such as, ‘Do not kill,’

Dianna Rose O. Belen, RN, LPT GE 8 ETHICS 2nd Sem

2018-2019

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‘Do no unnecessary harm,’ and ‘Love your

neighbor’).
- These principles are proposed for use, to advise,
and to influence to action.
- Retroactively, this feature is used to evaluate
behavior, to assign praise and blame, and to
produce feelings of satisfaction or of guilt.
 
If a person violates a moral standard by telling a lie even to
fulfill a special purpose, it is not surprising if he/she starts
feeling guilty or being ashamed of his behavior afterwards.

On the contrary, no much guilt is felt if one goes against

the current fashion trend (e.g. refusing to wear tattered
jeans).

FREEDOM: FOUNDATION OF MORALITY

By: Alex Salter

What is the role of human freedom in morality?

- Every ship must be well run on its own, but each

must also coordinate with all the others so that
they avoid collisions and stay in formation. Finally,
the fleet must be set on a destination, which
constitutes the purpose of their journey. This is a
helpful way to think about morality regarding self,
others, and our ultimate end.

Personal Morality

- The personal aspect of morality—which might

more properly be called ethics—is about the
cultivation of virtue: the development of character
traits so that choosing the good becomes a matter
of habit.

- An efficient and well-run ship is like a virtuous

person: both have regularized the internal
practices necessary to be a good example of what
it is. There is one crucial difference, however: a
ship’s crew is run hierarchically, under the
command of a captain. But a person, in order to
be truly virtuous, must be free to cultivate the
virtues, or not.

- There is no virtue in being temperate when you

are being forced not to indulge. There is no virtue
in being charitable when someone is forcing you
to give up what is yours. Virtue can be guided by
cultural traditions and social institutions, but it
cannot be coerced. A virtuous man must also be a
free man.

- Thus, freedom is essential to a genuinely good

human life at all the levels of morality.

Dianna Rose O. Belen, RN, LPT GE 8 ETHICS 2nd Sem

2018-2019

Downloaded by Roger Paul Fuentes ([email protected])