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)
Slide 3
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.
Slide 4
Are they moral or ethical issues? Corporate cheating,
corruption Corporate criminal behavior Individual profiteering
Stock manipulation Others?
Slide 5
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.
Slide 6
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.
Slide 7
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
Slide 8
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.
Slide 9
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.
Slide 10
"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:
Slide 11
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?
Slide 12
Can ethics be taught? Teddy Roosevelt said, To educate a person
in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.
Slide 13
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]
Slide 14
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.
Slide 15
Be sure you are right, then go ahead. Davy Crockett
1786-1836
Slide 16
When the situation needs improvement, Gandhi offers guidance:
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Slide 17
To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.
(Confucius)
Slide 18
Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character.
But if you must be without one, be without strategy. General H.
Norman Schwarzkopf
Slide 19
Ethics: Whats the Fuss?
Slide 20
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
Slide 21
Slide 22
Family Cultural experience Religion Law Genetic inheritance
Professional codes of ethics
Slide 23
The Golden Rule The Iron Rule Utilitarianism Ethical concepts:
value of life, goodness, justice, truth-telling, individual
freedom
Slide 24
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
Slide 25
First Priority - best interests/welfare of the client, patient,
student or customer Safety for all Knowledge based service(s)
competence Accountable
Slide 26
Slide 27
Free of conflict of interest or conflict of commitment Duty to
warn
Slide 28
Dont Discriminate Respect and support diversity Follow all
laws
Slide 29
HEPA Employee Information Disciplinary Information Gossip
Slide 30
Slide 31
Sticking to rules backed by punishment of superior
authority
Slide 32
Following rules when they are in ones best interest, avoiding
punishment, bargaining with authority.
Slide 33
Slide 34
Seeking approval of friends and family, the need to be good in
your own eyes.
Slide 35
Obedience to law and order, avoiding the breakdown of
society.
Slide 36
Slide 37
Awareness of other peoples rights, universal principles of
justice...
Slide 38
Concern with consistent ethical principles, equality of human
rights and respect for the dignity of human beings as individuals
(Kohlberg, 1976).
Slide 39
An ethics self-assessment quiz
http://www.newint.org/issue289/quizque.htm
http://www.newint.org/issue289/quizque.htm
Slide 40
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?
Slide 41
Funny or tasteless? Harmless or harmful? Is it ethical to
change this photograph?? Why?
Slide 42
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
Slide 43
Situation-Based Rule-Based People-Based
Slide 44
What is the best possible outcome given these
circumstances?
Slide 45
Follow the rules, and let the chips fall where they may
Slide 46
Follow the Golden Rule: what would you have others do if faced
by the same situation?
Slide 47
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
Slide 48
Where Do We Start? Upon What Can We Agree?
Slide 49
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?
Slide 50
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
Slide 51
Can you make a difference?
Slide 52
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
Slide 53
The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the
conduct of one hour. Japanese proverb
Slide 54
President Lincoln said: Honor is better than honors.