Ethics Flashcards
Quick Description of focus:
- Virtue:
- Deontoligist:
- Utilitarianism:
- Virtue: The Person * Actor
- Deontoligist: * The Act
- Utilitarianism: Consequence
- Definition of Ethics
- Study of right and wrong
- Attempt to Lead a Rational life
- The Desire to Purue a pleasure and avoid pain
- A Mathmatical equation where Good > Bad
- The Determination of how things out to be
- Intent to act in your self interest
6.1.3 How do personal and professional ethics differ? (p. 123)
Professional: Principles which are explicitly adopted by a group of people (the medical and legal professions both have Professional Codes of Ethics)
6.1.4 Name several personal and organizational influences on ethical decision-making. (p. 123)
Personal: (Values) Autonomy - Tolerance - Equality / (Morals): Honest - Respect for Life
Organizational: (Values) - Integreity - Professionalism - Caring - Teamwork / (Ethical Principals) Act based on ethical standards, Honor others - their rights
6.2.1 How can the many theories on ethics be loosely grouped? (p. 124)
- Virtue theories which concentrate on the actor.
- Deontological theory which concentrates on the act.
- Utilitarianism theory which concentrates on the consequences.
6.2.2 What are virtue ethics? (p. 124)
The central function of human beings is to lead a rational life where rationality is defined as virtuous. * Aristotle
- Virtuous is not perfection, rather it is a mean between two extremes.
* For example, courage is a virtue but being too courageous is not. The pursuit of virtue is a lifelong journey and the journey leads to happiness
6.2.3 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of virtue ethics. (p. 124)
Advantages: Allows for bad act done for the right reasons ( llying to protect someone’s life or driving an ambulance with bad brakes to get someone to the hospital
- Distinguishes between good and bad people * Actor* recoginizes that the individual may be bad
Disadvantages: Does not explain how to know what is moral
- obvious for some decisions (murder) but not for others (justified killings)
6.2.4 What school of ethics concentrates on the act? (p. 124)
Deontological theory which concentrates on the act. * What is done
6.2.5 Describe the advantages/disadvantages of the Deontological school. (p. 124-125)
Advantages: Clearly defines what is moral as being good acts
- Further, it defines how to know what is moral as those acts being in accordance with the Categorical Imperative
- Must recognise that all are equal
Disadvantages: creates a paradox because you can never do anything wrong or not ‘good’, even to prevent a greater wrong (i.e. lie to prevent a murder).
6.2.6 How do Utilitarian’s make ethical decisions? (p. 125)
The most basic Utilitarian view is that ethics is the pursuit of pleasure
- Based on theorythat God would not give us a situation where it hurts to do the right thing
- Ethical decision making is possible using a mathematical formula
6.2.7 Describe the advantages/disadvantages of utilitarian ethics. (p. 125-126)
Advantages:
- Defines what is moral as being what brings us happiness
- it shows how you can determine what is moral through basic math
- it defines why you should be moral
- Whats best for the most people is best for all
Disadvantages:
- theory ignores consequences we might do what we think will bring us the most happiness but we cannot be certain
- It also ignores what someone meant to do. One person might knowingly donate $20 to charity while the other accidentally drops $20 in the collection box.
*In Utilitarian theory both are morally equal.
- Happiness all the time is impossible
6.2.8 What are the inherent problems with these philosophical approaches? (p. 126)
- We may not agree with the content
- We may not agree on same set of human and Civil Rights
- We may not agree on what serves the “common good”
6.3.1 What should the goal of leaders be? (p. 126)
The goal of leaders should be to make decisions that are ethically supportable, or ‘right’ and that are beneficial to organizational goals, or ‘good.’
6.3.2 What are the four decision-types? Define each. (p. 126-127)
- Type I – Right/Good Decision: Ethically supportable - Good for Orgnanazation - Most Desirable
- Type II – Right/Bad Decisions: Ethically Supportable - may not immediately contribute to Organization goals - ex. A Fleet Manager who enforces Hour of Work standards even if it
means that deliveries are not made on time. - Type III – Wrong/Bad: These are against ethical principals - Detrimental to Organization goals ie. ENRON..
- Type IV – Wrong/Good Decisions: These are against ethical principals but are profitable to Organization -
6.3.3 What are the five steps to making ethically-sound decisions? (p. 127)
- Recognize the ethical issue
- Get the Facts
- Analysis - Evaluate alternatives
- Make a Decision and Test it * Make the Decision making grid & Globe and mail test
- Act and Reflect on the Decision - Implement - evaluate impact on stake holders - would I repeat?