B&S Chapter 8 - Personal and Organizational Ethics Flashcards
Ethics principle
ethical concept, guideline, or rule which, if applied when you are faced with an ethical decision or practice, will assist you in taking the ethical course
Teleological theories
focus on the consequences or results of the actions they produce. (ie Utilitarianism, which recommends the action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number)
Deontological theories
focus on duties.
Aretaic theories
Aristotle’s “virtue” theories
Utilitarianism
act to produce the greatest ratio of good to evil for everyone. Focus on common welfare.
Kant’s categorical imperative
sense of duty arises from reason or rational nature, an internal source.
1) Act only on rules that you would be willing to see everyone else follow.
2) Principle of ends: treat humanity in every case as an end and never as merely a means.
3) Principle of autonomy: We do not need an external authority to determine moral law, we can discover it ourselves.
Principle of rights
Rights cannot be overridden by utility; only y another, more basic or important right.
Negative right
the right to be left alone, to think and act freely
Positive right
the right to something, such as food, shelter, education
Principle of justice
The “fairness principle.” Involves the fair treatment of each person.
Distributive justice
distribution of benefits and burdens in societies and organizations
Compensatory justice
compensating someone for a past injustice
Procedural justice (ethical due process)
fair decision-making procedures, practices, or agreements
Rawl’s principle of justice
1) Each person has an equal right to the most extensive basic liberties compatible with similar liberties for all others.
2) Social and economic inequalities are arranged so that they are both reasonably expected to be to everyone’s advantage and attached to positions/offices open to all.
Ethics of care
Responsibilities to others and the necessity of interdependent relationships
Virtue ethics
An individual is imbued with virtues (honesty, fairness, truthfulness). Focuses not on actions but on being a virtuous person.
Servant leadership
An approach to ethical leadership and decision making based on the moral principle of serving others first.
The Golden Rule (ethic of reciprocity)
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
Test of common sense (“smell” test)
Logical to consider the practical implications of a decision. If a proposed course of action stinks, don’t do it.
Test of one’s best self
“Is this action compatible with my concept of myself at my best?”
Test of making something public (Disclosure rule)
“How would I feel if others knew I was doing this?”
Test of ventilation
Expose your proposed action to others and get their thoughts on it before acting.
Test of purified idea
“Am I thinking this action or decision is right just because someone with appropriate authority or knowledge says it is right?”
Test of the big four
Greed, speed, laziness, and haziness. If you’ve fallen victim to one of these, you may not be acting ethically.