Ethics - Some Basic Ideas - Scribd

Welcome
A Framework for Thinking Ethically
Adapted from work done by the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/a-framework-for-ethical-decision-making
Outline
• Why talk about ethics?
• What is ethics?
• Approaches to ethics
• A framework for ethical decision making
• Application
3
Why?
• Time pressure
• Financial pressure
• To please the boss
• To protect the company
• Everybody else is doing it
• I’m looking out for those who work for me
• To be a team player
• I have to, just to keep up
• No one will ever know
4
The Cheating Culture (David Callahan
2004)
• “Free cable television”
• “Imaginary tax deductions”
• “Do you take your chance to cheat?”
• There is too much to gain.
• There is too much to lose.
• The watchdogs are asleep.
5
Can You Teach Ethics?
• Socrates:
• “Ethics consists of knowing what we ought to do,

and such knowledge can be taught.”
6
Stages of Moral Thought
(Kohlberg)
• Child – defines right and wrong in terms of what
authorities say
• Adolescent – defines right and wrong in terms of

group loyalty (friends, family, gang, nation)
• Adult – views right and wrong from universal

standards of justice, human rights, and human
welfare
Education is what stimulates growth through levels.

7
Codes of Ethics & Ethical Guides
• Codes suggest that a breach of the code will

automatically lead to a sanction – there is no
individual discretion
• Guides suggest that there is individual

interpretation as to the ethics of the actions
taken. Individuals have discretion.
8
What Is Ethics?
• Ethics is not the same as feelings.
• Ethics is not religion.
• Ethics is not following the law.
• Ethics is not following culturally accepted norms.
• Ethics is not science.
9
Two Fundamental Problems
1. On what do we base our ethical standards?
2. How do those standards get applied to specific

situations we face?
10
The Utilitarian Approach
• Focuses on the consequences that actions or
policies have on the well-being of all persons
directly or indirectly affected by the action or
policy.
• The principle states: "Of any two actions, the

most ethical one will produce the greatest
balance of benefits over harms."
11
The Rights Approach
• Ethical action is the one that best protects and
respects the moral rights of those affected.
• Each person has a fundamental right to be

respected and treated as a free and equal
rational person capable of making his or her own
decisions.
12
The Fairness Approach
• Focuses on how fairly or unfairly our actions
distribute benefits and burdens among the
members of a group.
• Fairness requires consistency in the way people

are treated.
• The principle states: "Treat people the same

unless there are morally relevant differences
between them."
13
The Common Good Approach
• Presents a vision of society as a community

whose members are joined in a shared pursuit of
values and goals they hold in common.
• The community is comprised of individuals whose

own good is inextricably bound to the good of the
whole.
• The principle states: "What is ethical is what

advances the common good."
14
The Virtue Approach
• Focuses on attitudes, dispositions, or character
traits that enable us to be and to act in ways that
develop our human potential.
• Examples: honesty, courage, faithfulness,

trustworthiness, integrity, etc.
• The principle states: "What is ethical is what

develops moral virtues in ourselves and our
communities."
15
Problems With These Approaches
• We may not agree on the same set of human

and civil rights, what constitutes the common
good, what is good and what is harmful.
• The different approaches may not answer the

question “What is ethical?” in the same way.
16
How To Make an Ethical Decision
• Recognise that decisions have ethical

implications
• Develop a method for exploring the ethical

aspects of a decision
• Discuss with others
17
Recognise an Ethical Issue
• Is there something wrong personally,

interpersonally, or socially? Could the
conflict, the situation, or the decision be
damaging to people or to the community?
• Does the issue go beyond legal or

institutional
concerns? What does it do to people, who
have dignity, rights, and hopes for a better
life together?
18
Get the Facts
• What are the relevant facts of the case?
• What facts are unknown?
• What individuals and groups have an important

stake in the outcome?
• Do some have a greater stake because they have a
special need or because we have special obligations
to them?
• What are the options for acting?

• Have all the relevant persons and groups been
consulted?
• If you showed your list of options to someone you
respect, what would that person say? 19
Evaluate Alternative
Responses
20
Utilitarian Approach:
• The ethical action is the one that will

produce the greatest balance of benefits
over harms.
• Which option will produce the most good and do

the least harm?
21
Rights Approach:
• The ethical action is the one that most

dutifully respects the rights of all affected.
• Even if not everyone gets all they want, will

everyone's rights and dignity still be respected?
22
Fairness or Justice Approach:
• The ethical action is the one that treats people

equally, or if unequally, that treats people
proportionately and fairly.
• Which option is fair to all stakeholders?
23
Common Good Approach:
• The ethical action is the one that contributes

most to the achievement of a quality common
life together.
• Which option would help all participate more fully in

the life we share as a family, community, society?
24
Virtue Approach
• The ethical action is the one that embodies

the habits and values of humans at their best.
• Would you want to become the sort of person who

acts this way (e.g., a person of courage or
compassion)?
25
Make a Decision and Test It
• Considering all these perspectives, which of the

options is the right or best thing to do?
• If you told someone you respect why you chose

this option, what would that person say? If you
had to explain your decision on television, would
you be comfortable doing so?
26
Act, Then Reflect on the Decision Later
• Implement your decision.
• How did it turn out for all concerned?
• If you had it to do over again, what would you do

differently?
27
Everyday Ethics: 5 Questions
1. Did I practice any virtues today?
2. Did I do more harm than good today?
3. Did I treat people with dignity and respect

today?
4. Was I fair and just today?
5. Was my community better because I was in it?

28
Personal Advice
• Set clear expectations.
• “Those who are faithful in little things will be

faithful in big things”.
• Maintain margin
• “Run your own race” – define success for

yourself.
• Recognise the trap

29
Quotes
"Our character is what we do when we think no one
is looking.“
Jackson Browne
"Sow an act...reap a habit;

Sow a habit...reap a character;
Sow a character...reap a destiny."
• George Dana Boardman
30
Thank You
31

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Welcome

A Framework for Thinking Ethically

• There is too much to gain.

• There is too much to lose.

• The watchdogs are asleep.

• “Ethics consists of knowing what we ought to do,

• Adolescent – defines right and wrong in terms of

• Adult – views right and wrong from universal

Education is what stimulates growth through levels.

• Codes suggest that a breach of the code will

• Guides suggest that there is individual

• Ethics is not the same as feelings.

• Ethics is not religion.

• Ethics is not following the law.

• Ethics is not following culturally accepted norms.

• Ethics is not science.

1. On what do we base our ethical standards?

2. How do those standards get applied to specific

• The principle states: "Of any two actions, the

• Each person has a fundamental right to be

• Fairness requires consistency in the way people

• The principle states: "Treat people the same

• Presents a vision of society as a community

• The community is comprised of individuals whose

• The principle states: "What is ethical is what

• Examples: honesty, courage, faithfulness,

• The principle states: "What is ethical is what

• We may not agree on the same set of human

• The different approaches may not answer the

• Recognise that decisions have ethical

• Develop a method for exploring the ethical

• Discuss with others

• Is there something wrong personally,

• Does the issue go beyond legal or

• What individuals and groups have an important

• What are the options for acting?

• The ethical action is the one that will

• Which option will produce the most good and do

• The ethical action is the one that most

• Even if not everyone gets all they want, will

• The ethical action is the one that treats people

• Which option is fair to all stakeholders?

• The ethical action is the one that contributes

• Which option would help all participate more fully in

• The ethical action is the one that embodies

• Would you want to become the sort of person who

• Considering all these perspectives, which of the

• If you told someone you respect why you chose

• Implement your decision.

• How did it turn out for all concerned?

• If you had it to do over again, what would you do

2. Did I do more harm than good today?

3. Did I treat people with dignity and respect

4. Was I fair and just today?

5. Was my community better because I was in it?

• “Those who are faithful in little things will be

• “Run your own race” – define success for

• Recognise the trap

"Sow an act...reap a habit;