Ethics Help Define Ethics Help Define Who We Are and Who We Are and Describes our CultureDescribes our Culture

““Character is not the same thing as Character is not the same thing as reputation. Character is what you reputation. Character is what you are. Reputation is what people say are. Reputation is what people say you are.”Josephson, 2002 you are.”Josephson, 2002

What is meant by What is meant by ethics? ethics?

Helps us discern what is right or Helps us discern what is right or wrongwrong

Doing what the law requiresDoing what the law requires Standards of behaviorStandards of behavior Doing what society expectsDoing what society expects

Standards of right and wrong that Standards of right and wrong that prescribe what people ought to do in prescribe what people ought to do in terms of rights, benefits to society, terms of rights, benefits to society, fairness, etc fairness, etc

Standards of behavior that tell us Standards of behavior that tell us how people ought to act in many how people ought to act in many situations in which they find situations in which they find themselves inthemselves in

Utilitarian ApproachUtilitarian Approach The Rights ApproachThe Rights Approach Fairness or Justice Fairness or Justice Common GoodCommon Good VirtueVirtue

What Iowa Farmers What Iowa Farmers Told UsTold Us(2002 Farm Poll, n=1942)(2002 Farm Poll, n=1942)

At one time a person’s word was At one time a person’s word was as good as a signed contract; now as good as a signed contract; now you must get it in writing. 93% you must get it in writing. 93% somewhat or strongly agreedsomewhat or strongly agreed

In general, ethical standards in In general, ethical standards in society have declined. 87% society have declined. 87% agreedagreed

What farmers told usWhat farmers told us

I used to take a persons’ word as I used to take a persons’ word as measure of his/her honor, but now-a-measure of his/her honor, but now-a-days you can’t always simply accept days you can’t always simply accept what a person tells you. 85% agreed.what a person tells you. 85% agreed.

One reason ethical standards have One reason ethical standards have declined is that people have lost respect declined is that people have lost respect for authority. 70% agreedfor authority. 70% agreed

Often people admit they are not being Often people admit they are not being ethical in paying the full amount of their ethical in paying the full amount of their taxes. 49% agreed.taxes. 49% agreed.

What farmers told usWhat farmers told us

Even among friends and Even among friends and neighbors, I am concerned that neighbors, I am concerned that they no longer feel obliged to they no longer feel obliged to honor their word. 37% agreedhonor their word. 37% agreed

Farmer’s ethical standards have Farmer’s ethical standards have declined. 57% agreeddeclined. 57% agreed

How have ethics How have ethics changed?changed?

– % Decline in past 10 years% Decline in past 10 years– Clergy Clergy 24%24%– NeighborsNeighbors 3131– Local MerchantsLocal Merchants 3636– Local Agribusiness Local Agribusiness 3737– LendersLenders 4141– FarmersFarmers 4545– Youth and young adultsYouth and young adults6868– Local elected officialsLocal elected officials 7070– Elected state officialsElected state officials 7272

The Six Pillars of The Six Pillars of CharacterCharacter(Source: Josephson, Making Ethical (Source: Josephson, Making Ethical Decisions)Decisions)

TrustworthinessTrustworthiness– HonestyHonesty– TruthfulnessTruthfulness– SinceritySincerity– CandorCandor– Honesty in conduct Honesty in conduct – IntegrityIntegrity– RelabilityRelability

The Six Pillars of The Six Pillars of CharacterCharacter(Source: Josephson, Making Ethical (Source: Josephson, Making Ethical Decisions)Decisions)

RespectRespect– Civility, courtesy, and decencyCivility, courtesy, and decency– Dignity and autonomyDignity and autonomy– Tolerance and acceptanceTolerance and acceptance

ResponsibilityResponsibility– AccountabilityAccountability– Pursuit of ExcellencePursuit of Excellence– Self RestraintSelf Restraint

The Six Pillars of The Six Pillars of CharacterCharacter(Source: Josephson, Making Ethical (Source: Josephson, Making Ethical Decisions)Decisions)

FairnessFairness– ProcessProcess– ImpartialityImpartiality– EquityEquity

CaringCaring

CitizenshipCitizenship

Some guides to Some guides to determine determine if an action is ethicalif an action is ethical

1.1. The Golden Rule, “you act in a The Golden Rule, “you act in a way that you would expect others way that you would expect others to act toward you”to act toward you”

2.2. The Professional Ethic, “You take The Professional Ethic, “You take only those actions that would be only those actions that would be viewed as proper by an objective viewed as proper by an objective panel of your professional peers”panel of your professional peers”

3. Kant’s Categorical Imperative, “Ask 3. Kant’s Categorical Imperative, “Ask yourself, “What if everyone behaved this yourself, “What if everyone behaved this way?”way?”

4. Child on Your Shoulder, “Would you proudly 4. Child on Your Shoulder, “Would you proudly make the same decision if your young child make the same decision if your young child were witnessing your choice?”were witnessing your choice?”

5. TV Test, Could you explain and justify your 5. TV Test, Could you explain and justify your actions to general television audience?”actions to general television audience?”

6. The Des Moines Register Test, “Would you 6. The Des Moines Register Test, “Would you like your friends and neighbors to read like your friends and neighbors to read about this?”about this?”

Four simple questionsFour simple questions

1.1. Could you or someone else suffer Could you or someone else suffer physical harm?physical harm?

2.2. Could you or someone else suffer Could you or someone else suffer emotional pain?emotional pain?

3.3. Could the decision hurt your Could the decision hurt your reputation, undermine your credibility, reputation, undermine your credibility, or damage important relationships?or damage important relationships?

4.4. Could the decision impede the Could the decision impede the achievement of any important goal?achievement of any important goal?

Seven Steps to Better Seven Steps to Better DecisionsDecisions

1.1. Stop and thinkStop and think2.2. Clarify goalsClarify goals3.3. Determine FactsDetermine Facts4.4. Develop optionsDevelop options5.5. Consider consequencesConsider consequences6.6. ChooseChoose7.7. Monitor and modifyMonitor and modify

What happens when What happens when there is not there is not adherence to a code adherence to a code of ethics?of ethics? People begin to “cut corners”People begin to “cut corners”

– Most unethical and illegal activities Most unethical and illegal activities start smallstart small

Rationale or justifications often Rationale or justifications often include, “everyone else is doing it”include, “everyone else is doing it”

Erosion in ethics brings about Erosion in ethics brings about greater regulation because trust has greater regulation because trust has been violatedbeen violated

Rules, regulations and laws reflect Rules, regulations and laws reflect the formalization of ethicsthe formalization of ethics

Erosion in Erosion in Ethics=Distrustful CultureEthics=Distrustful Culture

Where people no longer trust each otherWhere people no longer trust each other Where extreme individualism is primaryWhere extreme individualism is primary Where people no longer know each otherWhere people no longer know each other With diminished respect, trust and With diminished respect, trust and

cooperation, there are calls for cooperation, there are calls for regulations to monitor or regulate regulations to monitor or regulate behaviors/actionsbehaviors/actions

Symptoms of Distrust in Symptoms of Distrust in AgricultureAgriculture

Legal representationLegal representation Formalized contractsFormalized contracts Fear of Liability—liability insuranceFear of Liability—liability insurance Less personal contact—fear of Less personal contact—fear of

strangersstrangers Formal communicationFormal communication SuspiciousnessSuspiciousness

The Need for a Code of Ethics The Need for a Code of Ethics in Farmingin Farming

Evidence is there has been an Evidence is there has been an erosion in ethicserosion in ethics

The erosion in ethics has contributed The erosion in ethics has contributed to loss of trust, and consumer to loss of trust, and consumer confidence, and calls for more confidence, and calls for more regulations. regulations.

A code of ethics might restore A code of ethics might restore confidence and farming could be confidence and farming could be viewed a leader in pursuing higher viewed a leader in pursuing higher ethical standard.ethical standard.

What are some What are some examples that display examples that display ethics or the lack of ethics or the lack of ethicsethics

Slavery—it was legal, was it ethicalSlavery—it was legal, was it ethical Denying the rights of women to Denying the rights of women to

own propertyown property Indian removalIndian removal Navigation ActsNavigation Acts Land expropriation Land expropriation

Modern day examplesModern day examples

Displacing a tenant for $5.00 acre more Displacing a tenant for $5.00 acre more rentrent

Calling upon the widow before her Calling upon the widow before her husband funeral about renting her farmhusband funeral about renting her farm

Encouraging over-application of fertilizer Encouraging over-application of fertilizer because of incentives you will receivebecause of incentives you will receive

Trading in a tractor that you know has Trading in a tractor that you know has major problems without disclosing to the major problems without disclosing to the dealerdealer

Failure to deliver on a promiseFailure to deliver on a promise

ExpectationsExpectations• 5-7 pages5-7 pages• BibliographyBibliography• Describe an ethical issue in Describe an ethical issue in

agricultureagriculture• Provide a rationale for why this Provide a rationale for why this

action or decision was unethical action or decision was unethical • What ethical approach are you usingWhat ethical approach are you using• How could this have been decided How could this have been decided

or handled in a better wayor handled in a better way• What are the consequences, how What are the consequences, how

would approach this decision? would approach this decision?