Ethical ConsiderationsEthical Considerations

EthicsEthics

What do we mean by “ethics” or “unethical”?

Motivations to behave unethically:– Personal gain, especially power– Competition– Restoration of justice or fairness

What is “fairness?”

Some Ways to Behave UnethicallySome Ways to Behave Unethically

Selective disclosure &/or misrepresentation to others

Deception

False threats or false promises

Provide false information (lie)

Inflict intentional harm on the other party

Selective disclosure or misrepresentation to constituencies

Ethical Decisions Have ComplexityEthical Decisions Have Complexity

Multiple alternativesMultiple alternatives

Broad & long-range consequencesBroad & long-range consequences

Uncertain consequencesUncertain consequences

Mixture of economic, legal, ethical, social, Mixture of economic, legal, ethical, social, and personal benefits and costsand personal benefits and costs

Some Ethical SystemsSome Ethical SystemsEternal law: "capital-T truth"

Ethical Egoism: seek self-interests & promote greatest balance of good over bad for self, with ethical constraints

Utilitarianism: greatest good for the greatest number, or maximize the social benefit function

Universalism (Categorical imperative): would I be willing to make the basis for my action a general law binding everyone, given similar circumstances?

Enlightened self-interest: self-interest rightly understood, with long-term perspective or judging from my deathbed

Ethics of interdependence: interdependence between individuals is fundamental; be willing to compromise to help the other side achieve goals

Some Ethical IntrospectionsSome Ethical Introspections

Is it right?

Is it fair?

How does it smell?

Who benefits and who gets hurt?

What if details were made public?

What would you tell your child to do?

What if everyone did this?

ConsiderConsider

Learning from your mistakes

Look in the mirror & see how you like what you see

Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and see how they see you

However, don’t be naive

ExerciseExercise

Individually, consider each of the Individually, consider each of the Scenarios, one at a time:Scenarios, one at a time:

– Write your decisionWrite your decision

– Write your reasoningWrite your reasoning

In small groups, discuss reasoning for In small groups, discuss reasoning for each Scenario, one at a timeeach Scenario, one at a time

Kohlberg Stages of Moral DevelopmentKohlberg Stages of Moral DevelopmentStage 1: Obedience and Punishment (e.g., I won't hit him because he may hit me back.)

Stage 2: Individual Instrumental Purpose and Exchange (I will help her so she will help me in exchange.)

Stage 3: "Good Boy/Girl" (I will go along with you because I want you/people to like me.)

Stage 4: Law and Order (I will follow the rule/order because it is wrong not to.)

Stage 5: Valuing Rights of Others plus Social Rights and Responsibilities (Although I disagree with his views, I support his right to have them.)

Stage 6: Individual Principles of Conscience Grounded in Universal Ethical Principles (There is no external force that can compel me to do an act that I consider morally wrong.)

Heinz’s Reasoning re Stealing the DrugHeinz’s Reasoning re Stealing the Drug

Moral Moral stagestage

Argument ForArgument For Argument AgainstArgument Against

11 It isn’t wrong; it’s only It isn’t wrong; it’s only worth $100 & I probably worth $100 & I probably won’t get caughtwon’t get caught

It’s wrong; it’s worth $4000 & I It’s wrong; it’s worth $4000 & I probably will get caught & probably will get caught & punishedpunished

22 I don’t want to lose my I don’t want to lose my wife; the drug is the only wife; the drug is the only hopehope

I shouldn’t risk myself for my I shouldn’t risk myself for my wife. It would be wrong to risk wife. It would be wrong to risk myself for her well-being.myself for her well-being.

33 Taking it is the only thing Taking it is the only thing for a good husband to do. for a good husband to do. What would my friends say What would my friends say if I didn’t try to save her?if I didn’t try to save her?

People won’t blame me for not People won’t blame me for not stealing the drug; they wouldn’t stealing the drug; they wouldn’t approve of stealing.approve of stealing.

Heinz’s Reasoning (cont.)Heinz’s Reasoning (cont.)

Moral Moral stagestage

ForFor AgainstAgainst

44 I must steal the drug to live up I must steal the drug to live up to my marriage vows. If to my marriage vows. If husbands don’t protect their husbands don’t protect their wives, the family structure will wives, the family structure will disintegrate…disintegrate…

Stealing is illegal. I have to Stealing is illegal. I have to obey the law, no matter what. obey the law, no matter what. Imagine what society would be Imagine what society would be like if everybody broke the law.like if everybody broke the law.

55 The law is unjust because it The law is unjust because it does not protect my wife’s does not protect my wife’s right to life. I have no right to life. I have no obligation to obey the law.obligation to obey the law.

I have an obligation to respect I have an obligation to respect the scientist’s right to property; the scientist’s right to property; it would be wrong to steal the it would be wrong to steal the drug.drug.

66 The principle of the sanctity of The principle of the sanctity of life demands that I steal the life demands that I steal the drug, no matter the drug, no matter the consequences to me.consequences to me.

The principle of justice & the The principle of justice & the greatest good for the greatest greatest good for the greatest number prevents me from number prevents me from stealing it, even for the good of stealing it, even for the good of my wife.my wife.

Reasoning from 693 class: stealing drugReasoning from 693 class: stealing drug

Moral stageMoral stage ForFor AgainstAgainst

11

22 99 55

33

44 11 44

55 66

66

Reasoning from classes: stealing drugReasoning from classes: stealing drug

Moral stageMoral stage ForFor AgainstAgainst

11

22 9 (4)9 (4) 5 (4)5 (4)

33 (1)(1)

44 1 (4)1 (4) 4 (4)4 (4)

55 6 (4)6 (4)

66

Reasoning from 693 class: stealing drugReasoning from 693 class: stealing drugOfficer tellingOfficer telling

Moral stageMoral stage ForFor AgainstAgainst

11

22 9 9 (2)(2) 5 5 (5)(5)

33

44 1 1 (19)(19) 44

55 66

66

Reasoning from classes: stealing drugReasoning from classes: stealing drugOfficer tellingOfficer telling

Moral stageMoral stage ForFor AgainstAgainst

11

22 9 9 (2) (2) 4 4 (1)(1) 5 5 (5) (5) 44 (4) (4)

33 11 (2)(2)

44 1 1 (19) (19) 44 (14) (14) 4 44 4

55 6 46 4

66

Reasoning from 693 class: stealing drugReasoning from 693 class: stealing drugOfficer telling, Officer telling, Jail TimeJail Time

Moral stageMoral stage ForFor AgainstAgainst

11

22 9 9 (2)(2) 5 5 (5) (5) (12)(12)

33

44 1 1 (19) (19) (13)(13) 44

55 66

66

Reasoning from classes: stealing drugReasoning from classes: stealing drugOfficer telling, Officer telling, Jail TimeJail Time

Moral stageMoral stage ForFor AgainstAgainst

1 (punishment)1 (punishment)

2 (benefits)2 (benefits) 9 9 (2) (2) 44,1,,1,11 5 5 (5) (5) (12) (12) 4,4,4,4,1010

3 3 (social approval)(social approval) 11 2,2,11

4 (law & order)4 (law & order) 1 1 (19) (19) (13) (13) 4,4,14,14,1212 4 44 4

5 5 (others’ rights)(others’ rights) 6 46 4

6 6 (universal (universal ethical principles)ethical principles)

The Insufficiency of HonestyThe Insufficiency of Honesty*/honesty.doc*/honesty.doc

Honesty: refusal to steal, lie, or deceive in any way

Integrity: trustworthiness & incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust or responsibility

IntegrityIntegrity

Honesty is necessary, but not sufficient

The most important thing in acting is honesty; once you learn to fake that, you’re in.

- Sam Goldwyn

IntegrityIntegrityHonesty

Discerning– Examining beliefs & assumptions– Searching for "truth," avoiding error– Allowing others the same

Acting on what you have discerned– Even at personal cost

Saying openly that you are acting re the above

Fulfilling moral obligations– Do no harm to others– Not just the minimum