Transcript ethical reasoning

ETHICAL REASONING
What is it?
Isn’t it just different for everyone?
Let’s Define It!
Ethics: Derived from the Greek word, Ethos.
Ethos: means “character” or “custom”
Thus, ethics comes from a concern with essential
qualities and behavior.
Ethical reasoning is a way to determine what kinds
of behavior help or harm beings.
Group Work: 3 Minutes
Can you say that some things
are just right or wrong or does it always
depend on cultural norms? Why or why
not? Examples?
THEORY 1:
ETHICAL RELATIVISM
ETHICAL RELATIVISM
MORALITY IS RELATIVE TO THE NORMS OF
ONE’S OWN CULTURE.
WHETHER AN ACTION IS RIGHT OR WRONG
DEPENDS ON THE MORAL NORMS OF THE
SOCIETY IN WHICH IT IS PRACTICED
ETHICAL RELATISM | SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY |
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/ethicalrelativism.html
ETHICAL RELATIVISM (cont.)
The same action may be morally right in one
society but be morally wrong in another.
For the ethical relativist, there are no universal
moral standards -- standards that can be
universally applied to all peoples at all times.
The only moral standards against which a society's
practices can be judged are its own.
ETHICAL RELATISM | SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY |
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/ethicalrelativism.html
ETHICAL RELATIVISM (cont.)
THERE ARE MANY PRACTICES THAT ARE
CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE IS SOME SOCIETIES
BUT CONDEMNED IN OTHERS
GROUP WORK: 3 MINUTES
WHAT ARE 5 PRACTICES THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE
IN SOME SOCIETIES BUT CONDEMNED IN
OTHERS?
ETHICAL RELATIVISM (cont.)
GENOCIDE – POLYGAMAY – SLAVERY –
RACISM – SEXISM – TORTURE – FEMALE
GENITAL MUTILATION – CIRCUMCISION –
WOMEN WEARING A VEIL – PREMARITAL
SEX - BIRTH CONTROL –
SEX EDUCATION –EATING MEAT – KILLING
ANIMALS – DOGS AS PETS
THE LIST GOES ON & ON & ON
Most ethicists reject the theory of ethical
relativism—the notion that there are no
universal moral standards.
WHY?
#1 REASON WHY ETHICITS REJECT ETHICAL RELATIVISM
Some claim that while the moral practices of societies may
differ, the fundamental moral principles underlying
these practices do not.
EXAMPLE In some societies, killing one's parents after they
reach a certain age is common practice,
stemming from the belief that people are better off in the
afterlife if they entered it while still physically
active and vigorous. While such a practice would be
condemned in our society, we would agree with these
societies on the underlying moral principle -- the
duty to care for parents.
IN SUM: Societies may differ in their application of
fundamental moral principles but agree on the principles.
#2 REASON ETHICISTS REJECT CULTURAL RELATIVISM:
It is argued that some moral beliefs are
culturally relative whereas
others are not. Certain practices, such as
customs regarding dress and decency,
may depend on local custom whereas other
practices, such as slavery, torture,
or political repression, may be
governed by universal moral standards and
judged wrong despite the many
other differences that exist among cultures.
BUT: Simply because some practices are relative does not
mean that all practices are relative. Aren’t there some issues
that are simply right or wrong?!?
#3 REASON WHY ETHICISTS REJECT RELATIVISM
If the rightness or wrongness of an action depends on a
society's norms, then it follows that one must
obey the norms of one's society and to diverge from those
norms is to act immorally.
This means that if I am a member of a society that believes
that racist or sexist practices are morally permissible, then
I must accept those practices as morally right.
BUT WAIT: This view promotes social conformity and leaves no
room for moral reform or improvement in society.
Much of the previous information comes
from this excellent website:
ETHICAL RELATISM. SANTA CLARA
UNIVERSITY.
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/eth
icalrelativism.html.
MORAL ABSOLUTISM
The belief or theory that there are absolute
standards against which moral
questions can be judged—suggests
that morals are not determined by societal or
situational influences. According to moral
absolutism, morals are inherent in the laws
of the universe, the nature of humanity, or some
other fundamental source.
Why is ethical reasoning important?
Please note, there is some exaggerated information in this scenario.
Question 1: If you knew a woman who was
pregnant, who had eight children already, three
who were deaf, two who were blind, one
mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would
you recommend that she have an abortion?
Remember your honest answer and go to
question 2.
Question 2: It is time to elect the world leader, and yours
is the deciding vote. Here are the facts about the three
leading candidates:

Candidate A: He associates with crooked politicians, and
consults with astrologers. He's had two mistresses. He also
chain smokes and drinks up to ten Martinis a day.

Candidate B: He was ejected from office twice, sleeps until
noon, used opium in college and drinks a large amounts of
whisky every evening.

Candidate C: He is a decorated war hero. He's a
vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an occasional beer and
hasn't had any extra-marital affairs.
Which candidate is your choice?
Remember your answer. Shhhh.
Candidate A is Franklin D Roosevelt,
Candidate B is Winston Churchill,
Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.
And by the way--the answer to the abortion question...
If you said yes, you just killed Beethoven.
We all tend to make ethical judgments based on conditioned and
subjective views of what is right and proper.
And we all tend to make snap decisions in assessing whether
something is right or wrong, before seeking the full story.
Sometimes a choice seems obvious, but maybe it’s not.
Ethical reasoning is important to use in thinking, research and writing so that we
don’t make snap decisions.
Please note, there is some exaggerated information in this scenario.
Consider This…
The Tylenol Case
On September 30, 1982,
three people in the Chicago area died from cyanide
introduced into Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules.
The link between the deaths and the tainted capsules was
made with remarkable speed, and authorities notified
Johnson and Johnson.
As the number of deaths grew—the final total was
seven—the firm faced a crisis and, indeed, potential
disaster. Tylenol, a leading pain-reliever, was Johnson and
Johnson's single largest brand, accounting for almost
18 percent of the corporation's income.
EXECUTIVES FOR TYLENOL
NEEDED TO RESPOND QUICKLY
But the executives did not know the answers to
these three pertinent questions:
1.
Had the cyanide been put in the Tylenol capsules
during the manufacturing process or later?
2. Were the deaths that had already been reported
just the first of a very large number?
3. Would the deaths be limited
to the Chicago area?
The United States Food and Drug Administration
had issued a warning not to take Tylenol,
but the government had not ordered the company
to take any specific action.
Perhaps the deaths would be local, and there would
not be more than seven.
Perhaps the authorities would not demand a recall.
Perhaps a temporary cessation of sales until
the source of the contamination was determined
could prevent more harm to the public.
Against all these unknowns, the
Johnson and Johnson executives
had to weigh five certainties:
1. A recall would involve a loss of up to $100 million.
2. The loss was not covered by insurance.
3. News of a recall could so damage the product that Tylenol might never
be able to regain public confidence and its 37 percent of market share.
4. The news and loss would surely result in a dramatic drop in the
company's stock which would hurt many thousands of stock holders.
5. The competition in their product market was fierce; competitors
would try to make Tylenol's loss their gain.
The facts you now have are the
only facts they had…
1.
What should the Johnson & Johnson do? What
is the ethically right choice?
2.
What did Johnson & Johnson actually do?
Consider ALL factors.
What did Johnson & Johnson Do?

Unwilling to expose consumers to further risk—and
making a decision that puts them in the Ethics Hall of
Fame—Johnson and Johnson ordered a recall of all
Tylenol bottles. In the long run, public welfare and the
company's reputation were protected by ethical decision
making. “Tylenol: The Name You Trust”

The Tylenol case obviously presents a major example of
ethical reasoning in the business world. But ethical issues,
large and small, present themselves every day. Business
leaders and professionals in all fields need methods for
dealing with them and arriving at reasonable decisions.