2.3: The Theoretical Basis for Ethical Conduct Flashcards
Define “ethics” and its origin.
Ethics comes from the Greek word ethos, meaning “way of living.” It is a branch of philosophy investigating human behavior concerning moral judgments, where “moral” refers to what is acceptable (right or good) versus unacceptable (wrong or bad).
What is the key question ethical theories aim to address?
Ethical theories aim to answer: “How should we live?”
They justify rationales for conduct and promote the “common good” to foster the flourishing of all members in a community.
What are the components of ethical decision-making?
Ethical decision-making is composed of:
Circumstance: The context in which the decision is made.
Agent: The person making the decision.
Action: The behavior or choice, including the intended goal and act.
Consequence: The result of the action.
What is the principle of integrity in ethical decision-making?
The principle of integrity states that the whole action is good only if both the act and goal are good. A morally bad means cannot justify a good end.
Explain the ethical decision-making process.
Ethical decision-making involves choosing what is good/bad or right/wrong in a given context or circumstance. It evaluates:
Intended goals (good to bad)
Behaviors to achieve those goals (right to wrong)
A moral action is determined by the intended goals and the visible means or acts used to achieve them.
Why are consequences significant in ethical theories?
Consequences, both foreseeable and unforeseeable, influence decisions:
External consequences: Impact others (e.g., theft impoverishes the victim).
Internal consequences: Affect the decision-maker’s character (e.g., theft corrupts the perpetrator).
Ethical theories examine how actions align with promoting the common good.
What are the three main ethical approaches highlighted?
Utilitarian (Goal Focused): Emphasizes benefits of actions.
Deontological (Means Focused): Based on universal rules, rights, and justice.
Agent-Based (Character Focused): Focuses on personal virtues and caring.
Why do businesspersons struggle with ethical decision-making?
Businesspersons often rely on instincts and a mix of personal judgments rather than applying structured ethical principles, leading to low competence in ethical decision-making.
What is the purpose of analyzing ethical theories?
To understand prescriptive principles for what we should do in all contexts, transcending cultures, religions, and times, and promoting the common good.
What is the focus of personal virtue ethics?
Personal virtue ethics focuses on a person’s behavior as a moral agent. It considers the character traits of a good person or citizen, emphasizing that character is developed through desire, learning, continuous practice, and habit.
Why is personal virtue ethics important to organizations?
It is relevant to organizations because it supports excellence in leadership, organizational identity, and culture.
Virtue ethics proposes that good character traits (virtues) lead to better outcomes in organizational settings.
What does virtue ethics assert about virtuous leadership?
Virtuous leadership is driven by the desire for human excellence and should be a goal for everyone.
List some examples of virtues and their corresponding vices.
Courage ↔ Cowardice
Generosity ↔ Selfishness
Honesty ↔ Deceitfulness
Transparency ↔ Secrecy
Fairness ↔ Injustice
Excellence ↔ Mediocrity
Self-control ↔ Overindulgence
Wisdom ↔ Ignorance
Honor ↔ Disgrace
Service ↔ Indifference
What are the two primary ethical principles of virtue ethics?
An action is right only if a virtuous person would do the same in the same circumstances.
Individuals should strive to be virtuous by asking: “Does this action represent the kind of person I want to be?”
How is the virtue principle applied in a corporate setting?
Through the “newspaper test”:
Would you want your decision reported in the news?
This test evaluates whether an action aligns with a corporation’s desired image or reputation.
What is the significance of the Lance Armstrong case in the context of virtue ethics?
Armstrong exemplified how character flaws (e.g., dishonesty, arrogance) can overshadow achievements.
His actions demonstrated how failing to uphold virtues can lead to a loss of trust, reputation, and career.
What were the main ethical concerns surrounding Lance Armstrong?
Use of performance-enhancing drugs (doping).
Lying and bullying those who accused him.
Lack of genuine remorse when admitting guilt.
Damaging the integrity of sports and his personal reputation.
What is the main principle of ethical egoism?
Ethical egoism suggests that individuals should act according to their own self-interest and judge ethical actions based on how they benefit the moral agent.
What does psychological egoism observe about human behavior?
Psychological egoism observes that people are influenced by their own interests and naturally tend to do what is right for them, driven by a self-preservation instinct.
What is the major criticism of pure ethical egoism?
It opposes altruism and promotes greed and selfishness, which conflicts with virtue ethics. It does not allow for consideration of others’ needs.
Define “enlightened self-interest” in ethical egoism.
Enlightened self-interest balances self-interest with an awareness that serving the public interest ultimately benefits all involved, including the individual.
What are the key differences between ethical egoism and enlightened self-interest?
Ethical egoism focuses solely on personal benefit without concern for others.
Enlightened self-interest considers the reciprocal benefit to others while pursuing self-interest.
What ethical principles are associated with ethical egoism?
Act according to your own self-interest.
Set your own ethical standards based on personal benefit.
Altruism is not acceptable.
What ethical principles are associated with enlightened self-interest?
Act according to your own self-interest.
Moderate self-interest with awareness of public and group benefits.
What critical question does government intervention raise regarding ethical egoism?
Does government provide enough guidance to ensure that companies consider all relevant stakeholders while pursuing their self-interests?
How does ethical egoism relate to economic theory?
Economic theory often assumes humans act as homo economicus, focusing on self-interest and maximizing personal gains.
This perspective has drawn criticism for neglecting the public good.
What is the main focus of the ethic of caring?
The ethic of caring focuses on addressing the needs of individuals or stakeholders who are harmed or disadvantaged, promoting care, kindness, empathy, and responsibility to reduce suffering and find equitable solutions.
How does the ethic of caring apply the Golden Rule?
It emphasizes acting in ways you would expect others to act toward you, fostering empathy by examining decisions from the perspectives of all involved parties.
