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Ethics: Whats the Fuss?

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To gain insight into ethical behavior To understand why the terms ethical and moral are quite different (and why confusing them presents problems) To become familiar with inherent conflicts in being ethical (if it werent hard, everyone would do it)

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Principles of Professional Practice "knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is the right thing to do." Potter Stewart, former Supreme Court Justice The study of what is good and bad, right and wrong, just and unjust.

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Are they moral or ethical issues? Corporate cheating, corruption Corporate criminal behavior Individual profiteering Stock manipulation Others?

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In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Psychology professor Steven Davis says that cheating by high school students has increased from about 20 percent in the 1940s to 75 percent today. Students say cheating in high school is for grades, cheating in college is for a career.

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Is there an ethics crisis in America? One recent national election day poll indicated that 56 percent of voters thought that Americas problems are primarily moral and social. Only 36 percent thought that the nations problems were primarily economic.

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When evaluating ones goals and objectives, a vital question must be asked: What is your highest aspiration? A. Wealth B. Fame C. Knowledge D. Popularity E. Integrity

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If integrity is second to any of the alternatives, then it is subject to sacrifice in situations where a choice must be made. Such situations will inevitably occur in every persons life.

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Many institutions of higher education have instituted policies regarding ethics education. For example, the Faculty Handbook of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University includes the following statement: Therefore, faculty and staff have a responsibility for creating an academic environment that promotes honest academic inquiry and teaches students ethical behavior in the process.

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"We Will Not Lie, Steal Or Cheat, Nor Tolerate Among Us Anyone Who Does" -- Which do you think is the harder part: Line 1 or Line 2? Why? Educational Institutions have established ethics codes for their students, e.g. the U.S. Air Force Academy:

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To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men. Abraham Lincoln Do you think this relates to line 2 of the U.S.A.F. Academy Code of Honor?

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Can ethics be taught? Teddy Roosevelt said, To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.

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In his best-seller, The Closing of the American Mind, Allan Bloom says that the eternal conflict between good and evil has been replaced with Im okay, youre okay. Students unthinkingly embrace a blind tolerance in which they consider it moral never to think they are right because that mean someone else is wrong. [Allan Bloom, The Closing of the American Mind, New York, Simon and Schuster, Inc. 1987]

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Whether we derive a code of ethics from religious beliefs, a study of history and literature, or personal experience and observation: We can all agree upon some basic values.

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Be sure you are right, then go ahead. Davy Crockett 1786-1836

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When the situation needs improvement, Gandhi offers guidance: You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

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To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage. (Confucius)

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Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without strategy. General H. Norman Schwarzkopf

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Ethics: Whats the Fuss?

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Right vs. right decisions Right vs. right decisions Come from the head (intellect) Come from the head (intellect) Codes of expected behavior Approved guidelines Derived from morals

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Family Cultural experience Religion Law Genetic inheritance Professional codes of ethics

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The Golden Rule The Iron Rule Utilitarianism Ethical concepts: value of life, goodness, justice, truth-telling, individual freedom

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Personal ethics Ethics of the community Professional code(s) of ethics http://www.aafcs.org/about/ethics.html http://www.eatright.org/Public/GovernmentAffairs/98_9051.cfm http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/PSETH05.asp https://www.nea.org/aboutnea/code.html http://www.iida.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=304 Business, organization or institutional code of ethics

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First Priority - best interests/welfare of the client, patient, student or customer Safety for all Knowledge based service(s) competence Accountable

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Free of conflict of interest or conflict of commitment Duty to warn

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Dont Discriminate Respect and support diversity Follow all laws

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HEPA Employee Information Disciplinary Information Gossip

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Sticking to rules backed by punishment of superior authority

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Following rules when they are in ones best interest, avoiding punishment, bargaining with authority.

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Seeking approval of friends and family, the need to be good in your own eyes.

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Obedience to law and order, avoiding the breakdown of society.

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Awareness of other peoples rights, universal principles of justice...

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Concern with consistent ethical principles, equality of human rights and respect for the dignity of human beings as individuals (Kohlberg, 1976).

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An ethics self-assessment quiz http://www.newint.org/issue289/quizque.htm http://www.newint.org/issue289/quizque.htm

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After five years of hard work, Billy Bob has finally fulfilled the requirements for graduation from the University of Erehwon. While looking through his files, Billy Bob found an essay which he had handed in to his Ethics teacher during his first semester at the University of Erehwon. Billy Bob immediately experienced feelings of shame and guilt. The essay was plagiarized. Billy Bob's Ethics teacher did not catch the plagiarism, and Billy Bob received an "A" in the class. Questions: What ethical issues are involved in this situation? What are Billy Bob's options? What should Billy Bob do? Why? Would your opinion change if Billy Bob was a compulsive plagiarist? Why or why not?

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Funny or tasteless? Harmless or harmful? Is it ethical to change this photograph?? Why?

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Right vs. Wrong decisions From the heart and the brain Feels like the right thing According to the way I was taught, this IS the right thing

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Situation-Based Rule-Based People-Based

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What is the best possible outcome given these circumstances?

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Follow the rules, and let the chips fall where they may

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Follow the Golden Rule: what would you have others do if faced by the same situation?

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Situation-Based: Do the ends justify the means? Rule-Based: What should the rules be? People-Based: Who is to say if the moral code of the decider is good or bad? Codes of Ethics can help overcome weaknesses

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Where Do We Start? Upon What Can We Agree?

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Provide set, agreed-upon guidelines for the behavior of those who adhere to them Examples: Law Enforcement Code of Ethics American Medical Association Code of Ethics Is there a Fire Service Code of Ethics?

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Questions to Assist in Ethical Decision Making 1.Deciding Whether the Situation Has Ethical Dimensions 2.Gathering Information 3.Identifying and Evaluating Alternatives 4.Reaching the Decision 5.Monitoring the Decision

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Can you make a difference?

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The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character. - Margaret Chase Smith, first woman elected to both houses of the U.S. Congress

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The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour. Japanese proverb

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President Lincoln said: Honor is better than honors.

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