Lecture 4 & 5: Professional Ethics Flashcards
Which of the following best defines “Morals”?
A) A system of personal beliefs that guide what is right and wrong
B) A person’s standard of behavior regarding what is acceptable or not
C) A set of rules that govern professional behavior
D) A vision of society as a community with shared goals
B
What is the key difference between ethics and values?
A) Ethics are externally imposed principles, while values are personal beliefs
B) Ethics focus only on personal decisions, while values apply to work
C) Ethics and values are the same
D) Values focus only on professional conduct
A
An ethical dilemma is a situation where:
A) There is an easy decision between right and wrong
B) A person must choose between two or more difficult ethical options
C) A person chooses self-interest over ethics
D) There is a clear legal answer to a moral issue
B
Which ethical theory focuses on the consequences of actions?
A) Consequentialist
B) Non-Consequentialist
C) Agent-Centered
D) Divine Command
A
The theory that determines the morality of actions based on duty, not consequences, is called:
A) Utilitarian Approach
B) Egoistic Approach
C) Duty-Based Approach (Deontological Ethics)
D) Virtue Approach
C
Which ethical approach focuses on maximizing self-interest?
A) Utilitarian
B) Egoistic
C) Common Good
D) Virtue
B
Which ethical approach seeks to maximize the welfare of the greatest number of people?
A) Egoistic Approach
B) Utilitarian Approach
C) Fairness Approach
D) Rights Approach
B
Which approach links individual well-being to the well-being of the entire society?
A) Common Good Approach
B) Egoistic Approach
C) Feminist Approach
D) Duty-Based Approach
A
Which ethical theory is concerned with respecting the rights of individuals?
A) The Rights Approach
B) Duty-Based Approach
C) Fairness or Justice Approach
D) Virtue Approach
A
Which non-consequentialist theory argues that good and bad are based on obedience to God?
A) Utilitarian Approach
B) Fairness Approach
C) Divine Command Approach
D) Feminist Approach
C
What is an example of the Fairness/Justice approach in action?
A) Maximizing shareholder profit
B) Distributing salary and promotion opportunities equally between men and women
C) Making decisions based on religious beliefs
D) Prioritizing individual freedom over collective welfare
B
Which ethical approach emphasizes the development of good character and role models?
A) Virtue Approach
B) Egoistic Approach
C) Fairness Approach
D) Duty-Based Approach
A
Which ethical theory promotes inclusion, diversity, and the empowerment of marginalized groups?
A) Common Good Approach
B) Virtue Approach
C) Feminist Approach
D) Utilitarian Approach
C
Which of the following is an example of the Feminist Approach?
A) Encouraging gender-based education bans
B) Advocating for women’s empowerment in the workplace
C) Increasing taxes for large corporations
D) Promoting strict adherence to corporate policies
B
Which of the following is NOT a core professional ethic?
A) Integrity
B) Confidentiality
C) Bribery
D) Punctuality
C
What are the consequences of a lack of professionalism in the maritime industry?
A) Higher insurance costs
B) Environmental damage
C) Loss of lives and injuries
D) All of the above
D
What year was the Singapore Maritime Officer’s Union (SMOU) formed?
A) 1951
B) 1955
C) 1968
D) 1985
B
Which ethical approach would support a corporate whistleblower exposing misconduct, even if it harms their career?
A) Virtue Approach
B) Duty-Based Approach
C) Egoistic Approach
D) Common Good Approach
B
Which approach would argue that a company must follow environmental laws regardless of business losses?
A) Utilitarian Approach
B) Duty-Based Approach
C) Egoistic Approach
D) Feminist Approach
B
Whats the difference between Morals, Values, Ethics and Ethical dilemmas?
Morals- a person’s standard of behaviour or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do. E.g Be polite; have empathy
Values- a system of personal beliefs from within for deciding good or bad. E.g courage, gratitude
Ethics- a set of moral principles that guide and drive an individual’s conduct. E.g in professional norms: speaking to customers/suppliers
Ethical dilemma: a situation in which there is a difficult choice between two or more options.
List out the 3 Major Ethical Theories (Hint: CNCA)
- Consequentialist- concerned with ethical consequences/results of particular actions
- Non-consequentialist intentions of the person making ethical decisions
- Agent-centred (totality) concerns individuals’ overall ethical status and is less concerned with identifying the morality of particular actions.
Discusss the 3 consequentialist theories (Hint: UEC)
Utilitarian Approach
→ Maximising the welfare of the maximum number of people
→ aims at creating the least amount of harm and preventing a great amount of suffering
→ Focus on overall consequences for the total group of people
Egoistic Approach
→ aimed at maximising self-interest.
→ no obligation to promote other’s interest, whatever brings self highest payoff
Common Good Approach
→ Vision of society as a community whose members have a shared pursuit of values and goals
→ Own good is linked to the whole community,
→ “ What is ethical is what advances the common good”
Discuss the four non-consequentialist theories (Dr JD)
Duty-Based Approach (Deontological Ethics)
→ determine the rightness or wrongness of actions by examining actions themselves without focusing on the consequences
→ focus on the role of duty and respect for persons, e.g corporate whistleblower
The Rights Approach
→ Stipulates best ethical actions which protect the ethical rights of those affected by the action
→ emphasises belief that all humans have a right to dignity
→ e.g human rights, access to healthcare/education
Fairness or Justice Approach
→ distributes benefits and costs among stakeholders in an equitable way
E.g women get equal standing to man in salary or promotion opportunities
Divine Command Approach
→ Good and bad based on the level of obedience to god, regardless or religion
Discuss the 2 Agent-centred THeories
Virtue Approach
→ Focuses on attitudes or character traits that enable us to be and act in ways that develop human potential
→ Emphasises the importance of role models
Feminist Approach
→ Requires supporting voice, agency and empowerment of women and girls in all diversity and others who face discrimination or marginalisation
→ Value diversity and inclusion as essential assets for transformative change and sustainable development
E.g Afghanistan girls losing the right to education
What are the 6 character traits governing professional ethics?
- Integrity
- Confidentiality & privacy
- Honesty: Not
overpromise, owning up when commit mistakes, being transparent - Legality: Consistent enforcement
- Punctuality: Good practice, good impression
- Bribery/Corruption-Free: Is it legal? Acceptable practice?
