Unit 2- Ethical Theories and Obligations

• Ethical Theories– Kantianism– Relativism– Utilitarianism– Social Contract Theory

• Ethical Obligations– Integrity– Competency– Maintain client confidences– Objectivity/Independence– Social responsibility– Loyalty

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PRELIM

Objectives

• Examine the ethical theories through examples.

• Determine the ethical obligations of an individual.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Ethical Theories

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Relativism

• Subjective Relativism – “what’s right for you may not be right for me”– Problem: no moral distinction between

the actions of different people• Cultural Relativism – “right” and

“wrong” rests with society’s actual moral guidelines– Problem: Just because societies have

different views of right and wrong doesn’t imply that they should.

– Problem: No framework for conflict between societies.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Kantianism

• People should be guided by the universal moral laws, which are devised rationally

• The only unqualified good is good will

• It is wrong to “use” other people

• Problem: allows no exception to moral laws

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Utilitarianism

• An action is right (or wrong) to the extent that it increases (or decreases) total happiness of affected parties.

• Action should be decided on the weight of good and harm that will result.

• Rule utilitarianism: adopt rules that if adopted will lead to the greatest increase in happiness

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Social Contract Theory

• Living in a civilized society forces:– The establishment of a set of moral rules– A government to enforce these rules

• Rational people decide on moral rules (rights and duties)

• Negative rights include freedom of expression and privacy

• Positive rights obligate others to act for you, such as free education.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Ethical Obligations

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Ethical Obligations

• Integrity

• Competency

• Maintain client confidences

• Objectivity/Independence

• Social responsibility

• Loyalty

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Integrity• is a highly professional characteristic

which requires one to be honest and trustworthy.

• perform all professional duties with high level of integrity. Deal honestly with colleagues and customers, expose colleagues who engage in fraud or deception.

• His actions must be free from intentional distortions or manipulations. He engages only in fair and honest business practice.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Competency

• requires one to have adequate knowledge, skills and experience in the practice of his professions.

• observe technical and ethical standards and strive to improve competency and quality of services.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Maintain client confidences

• (confidentiality of records)• is another ethical consideration which

a practitioner should adopt;• he should not disclose confidential

information, which he obtained in the course of his professional engagement, without the consent of his client or employer.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Objectivity/Independence

• requires to be fair, to avoid bias and always to maintain an impartial attitude in all matters. In mental attitude requires a practitioner to avoid compromising relationship that may impair his objectivity.

• maintain objectivity and independence when providing services.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Social responsibility

• in answer to responsible citizenship, requires a practitioner not to engage in activities that will be hazardous to the environment and to the welfare of the citizen as well.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Social responsibility• Likewise, he advises client on

matters of environmental and public concern. Preventing pollution and preserving the environment ensure not only healthy workers but also a healthy community development and progress which in turn will affect the state of well being of the business firms.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Loyalty

• requires to be faithful and dedicated to your job, employer, to our country, and to God.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Other Obligations

• Members must recognized that their employer’s or their client’s organization has obligation to its owners. Employees, suppliers, customers, users, and the general public, and should therefore have regard to these interest in the conduct of their work. They also have responsibilities to their fellow members and to society at large. Therefore:

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Other Obligations

1. Members must not make willful misrepresentations or inaccuracies in their own work, and must maintain a high standard of trustfulness and accuracy in all work, whether or not they are the originators of that work.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Other Obligations

2. Members must never intentionally injure, maliciously or recklessly, directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, prospect or business of others.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Other Obligations

3. In their working relationship , members must show courtesy and consideration for others. Those members who have authority for the delegated purposes only and no other.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations

Other Obligations4. If called upon to comment on

another member’s work, a member of the institute may reasonably be expected to do so. Members should, however, be aware of the fine dividing line between personal opinion and objective criticism, and must avoid personal denigration.

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Ethical Theories and Obligations