Ethical Dilemmas & Decisions, Ch.1 Flashcards
Morality, Ethics, & Human Behavior
discretion
authority to make a decision between two choices
wholesight
exploring issues with one’s heart as well as one’s mind
morals
principles of right and wrong
ethics
the discipline of determining good and evil and defining moral duties.
meta-ethics
the discipline of investigating the meaning of ethical terms, including a critical study of how ethical statements can be verified.
professional ethics
applied principles of right and wrong relevant to specific occupations or professions
duties
required behaviors or actions… attached to a specific role
superogatories
actions that are commendable but required in order for a person to be considered moral
values
judgments of desirability, worth, or importance
ethical issues
difficult social questions that include controversy over the “right” thing to do
ethical dilemmas
situations in which it is difficult to make a decision, either because the right course of action is not clear or it carries some negative consequences
police discretionary power
- deprive people of liberty (through arrest)
- decide who to investigate
- power to issue citations
prosecutor discretionary power
- decide which charges to pursue or drop
- decide which cases taken to grand jury
- decide to pursue the death penalty
judicial discretionary power
- deny or accept plea bargains
- decide upon rules of evidence
- decide sentencing
legislative discretionary powers
- define behavior as illegal
* set amount of punishment
