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Chapter 1

Understanding Ethics

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“Ethics is about how we meet the challenge of doing the right thing when that will cost

more than we want to pay”

The Josephson Institute of Ethics

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What is Ethics?

How people try to live their lives according to a standard of “right” or “wrong” behaviors -- in both how we think and behave toward others and how we would like them to think and behave toward us.

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Understanding Right and Wrong• Developing your own ‘Moral Compass’• How Should I live?• The Value of a Value

– Intrinsic – a value is a good thing in itself and is pursued for its own sake– Instrumental – the pursuit of one value is a good way to reach another value

• Value Conflicts – gray area makes the study of ethics complex• Doing The Right Thing

– Simple truth – doing the right thing (right or wrong or good or bad)– Personal integrity– Rules of appropriate individual behavior– Rules of appropriate behavior for a community or society

• The Golden Rule – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

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Ethical Theories• Virtue Ethics – living your life according to a

commitment to the achievement of a clear ideal

• Utilitarianism - ethics for the greater good• Universal Ethics – actions that are taken out of

duty and obligation to a purely moral ideal rather than based on the needs of the situation

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Ethical Relativism

Where the traditions of your society, your personal opinions, and the circumstances of the present moment define your ethical principles.

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Applied Ethics

The study of how ethical theories are put into practice

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Ethical Dilemmas

Where the decision you must make requires you to make a ‘right’ choice knowing full well that you are:– Leaving an equally ‘right’ choice undone.

– Likely to suffer something bad as a result of that choice.

– Contradicting a personal ethical principle in making that choice.

– Abandoning an ethical value of your community or society in making that choice.

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Resolving Ethical Dilemmas - I

• Step One: Analyze the consequences.

• Step Two: Analyze the actions.

• Step Three: Make a decision.

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Resolving Ethical Dilemmas Arthur Dobrin

1. What are the facts?

2. What can you guess about the facts you don’t know?

3. What do the facts mean?

4. What does the problem look like through the eyes of the people involved?

5. What will happen if you choose one thing rather than another?

6. What do your feelings tell you?

7. What will you think of yourself if you decide one thing or another?

8. Can you explain and justify your decision to others?

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Ethical Reasoning

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Ethical Reasoning

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development:Level 1: Pre-Conventional:

Stage 1: Punishment & Obedience Orientation – focused on avoidance of punishment and deference to power and authority

Stage 2: Individualism, Instrumentalism, & Exchange – focused on satisfying one’s needs

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Ethical Reasoning

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development:Level 2: Conventional:

Stage 3: “Good Boy-Nice Girl” Orientation – focused on meeting the expectation of family members

Stage 4: Law & Order Orientation – increasingly aware of his or her membership in a society and the existence of codes of behavior (legal, religious, or social behavior dictate something is right or wrong)

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Ethical Reasoning

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development:Level 3: Post-Conventional:

Stage 5: Social-Contract Legalistic Orientation – focused on individual rights and the development of standards based on critical examination (something is right or wrong because it has withstood scrutiny by which the society in which the principle is accepted)

Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principle Orientation – focused on self-chosen ethical principles that are found to be comprehensive and consistent (reflects the person’s individual value system and the conscious choices he or she makes in life)

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