Ethics
Moral philosophy is the study of general nature of morals and of specific moral choices to be made by a person.
What are medical ethics?
- Drugs, abortion, genetics, organs
- Autonomy = Patient’s right to choose
- Justice = What is fair?
- Non-maleficence = Minimize harm
- Beneficence = Maximise good
What is an example of academic ethics?
Cheating on tests
What is an example of legal ethics?
Death penalty
What is an example of financial ethics?
Financial crisis?
What are examples of environmental ethics?
- Being sustainable
- Animal ethics
What is an example of marketing ethics?
Advertising (children, women, alcohol, cigarettes)
What are examples of hospitality ethics?
- money security of the guests
- Pricing
- Product recommendations?
- Overbooking
- Codes of practice
- Tipping
- Commission procedures
Examples of business ethics:
- Social Responsibility
- Trust
- Connection
- Honesty
- Integrity
- Commitment
- Transparency
- Core Values
- Reliability
What are the qualities of an ethical leader?
- Values
- Character
- Ethical competence
What is the ETHICS model?
Evaluate the problem Think through the options Highlight the stakeholders Investigate each option Choose the best option State your justification
DEPICT: Description:
Where/What/When is the situation? Who is involved?
DEPICT: Ethical problem:
- Is it an ethical problem? How do we know? Business vs ethical problems?
- Why is it an ethical problem? (What makes it an ethical issue?)
- What type of dilemma is it (insider vs authority)?
DEPICT: Problem-owner:
Whose problem is it (primarily)?
Who needs to act next?
What are insider dillemas?
insider/witness is a PO, regardless of position
What are authority dillemas?
PO is not necessarily the highest authority but the one who must make the next move
What is a secondary PO?
If the final outcome depends on a second actor’s response to the PO’s chosen action
DEPICT: Information:
Is it complete & accurate? (Essential for objective and professional analysis)
Do I have all the facts?
Are my sources biased or selective?
Are there any underlying assumptions or contradictory claims?
If information is incomplete or inaccurate => conclusions and solutions are as well
DEPICT: Central moral question:
States the problem precisely in the form of a moral question, has to clarify:
- The actors (PO and other key actors)
- The scene (location)
- The problem (moral nature)
Sub questions:
Flow from the main issues and help and identify key issues and underlying assumptions
What is the definition of a dilemma?
Two or more values conflict
The 7 steps dilemma model:
- What is the core problem of the dilemma?
- Who are the stakeholders (parties affected) in the dilemma?
- What regulations or guidelines are relevant to the dilemma? (sources can be books, covenants, code of conduct or other)
- What is the influence of the situation or context?
- Which arguments can be formulated? (make an inventory)
- What are my options? (pro and con, responsible decision, take into account all relevant stakeholders)
- What is my decision, and will I act according to my conclusion? (consistency, support)
What are the three main theories?
- Consequentialism
- Virtue ethics
- Deontology
What does consequentialism entail?
- “goodness” is key
- “An action is morally right if it results in the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people affected by the action.”
- “The greatest happiness principle” weighting the good results against the bad results
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Subjectivity (who are the people effected? What is good?)
- Quantification (What is the measurement? What is the excuse for lying?)
- Utility distribution (Who benefits? Target group, for who is it necessary (America: white working class))
What are virtue ethics about?
- Becoming a good person
- About character more than about the right or wrong or consequences
- “emphasizes the role of one’s character and the virtues that one’s character embodies for determining or evaluating ethical behaviour.”
