Chapter 1

Understanding
Ethics

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McGraw-Hill
 “Ethics is about how we meet the challenge
of doing the right thing when that will cost
more than we want to pay”

The Josephson Institute of Ethics

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 What is Ethics?

How people try to live their lives

according to a standard of “right” or
“wrong” behaviors -- in both how we
think and behave toward others and how
we would like them to think and behave
toward us.

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 Understanding Right and Wrong
• Developing your own ‘Moral Compass’
• How Should I live?
• The Value of a Value – intrinsic;
instrumental
• Value Conflicts
• Doing The Right Thing
• The Golden Rule – Do unto others as you
would have them do unto you
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 Ethical Theories
• Virtue Ethics
• Utilitarianism (Ethics for the Greater
Good)
• Universal Ethics

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 Explain the Role of Values
• Culture
• Moral Standards based on religious,
cultural or philosophical beliefs
– Beliefs
– Osmosis

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 Ethical Relativism
Where the traditions of your society,
your personal opinions, and the
circumstances of the present moment
define your ethical principles.
– What’s right for you may not be what’s right for me.
– What’s right for my culture won’t necessarily be what’s
right for your culture.
– No moral principles are true for all people at all times and
in all places.
Slavery is a good example of ethical relativism

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 Ethical Dilemmas

Where the decision you must make requires you to

make a ‘right’ choice knowing full well that you are:
– Leaving an equally ‘right’ choice undone.
– Likely to suffer something bad as a result of that choice.
– Contradicting a personal ethical principle in making that
choice.
– Abandoning an ethical value of your community or society
in making that choice.

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 Resolving Ethical Dilemmas - I

• Step One: Analyze the consequences.

• Step Two: Analyze the actions.
• Step Three: Make a decision.

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 Resolving Ethical Dilemmas - II
• What are the facts?
• What can you guess about the facts you don’t know?
• What do the facts mean?
• What does the problem look like through the eyes of the people
involved?
• What will happen if you choose one thing rather than another?
• What do your feelings tell you?
• What will you think of yourself if you decide one thing or another?
• Can you explain and justify your decision to others?

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 Ethical Reasoning

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 Ethical Reasoning

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development:

Level 1: Pre-Conventional:

Stage 1: Punishment & Obedience Orientation

Stage 2: Individualism, Instrumentalism, & Exchange

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 Ethical Reasoning

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development:

Level 2: Conventional:

Stage 3: “Good Boy-Nice Girl” Orientation

Stage 4: Law & Order Orientation

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 Ethical Reasoning

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development:

Level 3: Post-Conventional:

Stage 5: Social-Contract Legalistic Orientation

Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principle Orientation

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