Transcript ethics - Optimal Resume at KAPLAN UNIVERSITY

ETHICS
Shawnna Burchfield
HU245-02
Table of Contents
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Analytical Skill Building
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Critical Reading Skills
Writing Skills
Thinking Skills
Knowledge Acquisition
Concept – Basic Principles
1) The Value of Life Principle
2) The Principle of Goodness
3)
4)
5)
or Rightness
The Principle of Justice or
Fairness
The Principle of Truth
Telling or Honesty
The Principle of Individual
Freedom
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Practical Application
Connection with Society
Connection with my life
Analytical Skill Building
Critical Reading Skills
I took the following steps to improve my
reading skills
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Read closely and carefully
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by allowing myself more time to complete the weekly readings I was able
to focus on the material.
Posed questions
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by jotting down questions that entered my mind while reading I was able to
find clarification amongst the reading thus understanding
the material
Took notes
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by highlighting key points through note taking I was
able to quickly review the material to ensure that I
understood the content
Writing Skills
I took the following steps to improve
my writing skills
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Introduced the topic
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Focused on main points to be addressed
This is where I drew the reader in and introduce my positioning. For
example,
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“Abortion involves the conflict of the Value of Life principle and the Principle of Individual
Freedom. The definition of the Principle of Individual Freedom states that individuals ought to
be free to pursue their own values and morality if it does not seriously conflict with or violate
the other four basic moral principles. These principles include Value of Life, Goodness,
Justice, and Truth Telling or Honesty. Therefore, it appears that having an abortion violates
the Value of Life principle.”
Explained the supporting ideas to support my position and provided a
conclusion
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Stuck to the Facts
It is easy to write your opinion solely but including the other sides opinion
to make your point is critical. In order to successfully persuade the other
side you have to stick to the facts and not allow your opinion to cloud your
judgment.
Thinking Skills
I took the following steps to
improve my thinking skills
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Compared what I have read or heard with
other sources
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I found that my opinion differed greatly from what was covered in the text.
Therefore, I did additional research to help determine my position. In some
cases I have changed my position while others remained the same.
Distinguished fact from mere opinion.
This allowed me to understand each position clearly while determining
what position I supported.
Do not jump to conclusions
It is easy to jump to conclusions without thinking things through. Often
we are raised to believe certain things to be true. However, unless we
question those beliefs we do not know what is true or not. Therefore,
even though I had a general opinion I was open minded, which
allowed me the chance to change my positioning.
Knowledge Acquisition
Concept – Basic Principles ( 1 of 5 )
There are five basic principles:
1) The Value of Life Principle
This principle was a hard topic for me to
understand. I am a Christian and have been taught to believe
that God decides when we live or die. Therefore, learning all
the different view points was hard to take in. For example, the
topic of abortion. This was a no brainer for me that abortion is
both unethical and immoral. That is until I began to hear the
other side of the story. I am not saying that my opinion has
changed. However, I have learned that it is not as simple as I
once thought. There are many factors that play into ones
reasoning for given life or taking life. Without a clear
understanding of the situation it is hard to justify if it is ethical or
unethical.
Concept – Basic Principles ( 2 of 5 )
2) The Principle of Goodness or
Rightness
This principle was easy to understand. Basically
it states that there are three things that humans
need to do in order to be moral people. The first
is to promote goodness which means to do good
at all times. However, sometimes as humans we are unable to do
good in all situations. The second is to cause no harm. This one is
also hard to do in some situations. For example, if someone is
physically trying to hurt me I need to defend myself. This may cause
harm unto the individual that is causing harm to me. The third is
prevent badness. Ultimately, humans fall short of abiding to these
principles but that does not make them immoral. Therefore, as long as
we do our best to do good and bring about no harm I believe we are
being moral.
Concept – Basic Principles ( 3 of 5 )
3) The Principle of Justice or
Fairness
Simply put humans should treat other humans
fairly and justly. When I think of this principle
the Golden Rule pops into my mind “Do unto
others as you would have them do unto you”. This is a tough topic
especially when dealing with capital punishment. For example, in
our unit four discussion board we were asked, if you had a loved one
who was murdered, would you want to have the option of capital
punishment for the convicted murderer? My answer may have
surprised others but I answered that I would not want the option of
capital punishment. My reasoning is simply that if I were in their
shoes I would want mercy shown upon me. Therefore, allowing the
murderer life in prison is justice enough for me and it is fair toward
the murder. However, some may question where the justice is for
the loved one that died. My answer is that we do not have the right
as humans to convict or judge others but we can have show mercy
and offer forgiveness.
Concept – Basic Principles ( 4 of 5 )
4) The Principle of Truth Telling or
Honesty
Humans enter into agreements based on truth
and honesty. However, not all humans are honest
and take advantage of those who are. Therefore, we need to focus
once again on the Golden Rule. For example, if you want to be told
the truth than you yourself should tell the truth. Another phase I
think of is “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. Meaning
if someone lies to me I should not turn around and lie to them. If I
result to lying I myself am no better than the one who lied to me.
However, if I do not lie and tell the truth I am setting an example for
the person who lied to me.
Truth telling is an absolute necessary because all human
relationships are based upon communication and if the relationship
is based on a lie there ultimately is not a true relationship.
Concept – Basic Principles ( 5 of 5 )
5) The Principle of Individual
Freedom
Once again this is a tough principle for me.
As a Christian I believe that there are somethings that should not be allowed. Individual
Freedom conflicts with this positioning stating that humans have
equal rights until proven otherwise. This goes back to the touchy
topic of abortion. Some say it is the mothers right to abort the fetus
because it is her individual right. However, is it not the right of the
fetus to have a chance at life? Therefore, there is no right or wrong
answer in my opinion. Basically it comes down to the individual
circumstances that surround the situation. However, I believe that if
at all possible the individual should choose to give life.
Practical Application
Connection to Society
• Ultimately this course does a great job of explaining how society
struggles with what it considers ethical and moral behavior. Often
as humans we fail to understand that not everyone believes or acts
the same way. Therefore, having a better understanding of both
sides of any moral issue is critical. This course is an eye opener
for those who are closed minded. Learning why others agree or
disagree with each topic is interesting. I believe that we often jump
to conclusions without seeing the whole picture. We are taught
how to think and feel from the moment of our birth and without
additional education and research we do not
question our positioning until challenged. I believe
that we all need to step back and re-question what
we consider ethical. Furthermore, continuing to
educate ourselves is the only way to help reduce
conflicts and increase resolutions.
Connection with My Life
• This course has brought to my attention many different view points
of what humanity considers ethical and unethical behavior. I have
to admit that I ended up changing my own way of thinking on some
of the issues. For example, I am open minded to one’s right to
have an abortion. Before this course I would have said that
abortion was one hundred percent unethical. However, now after
hearing both sides I am not sure. Until I am in the other person’s
predicament I feel I do not have the right to say that if it is wrong or
not. In addition, I am now able to have an open mind about similar
issues like war, capital punishment, and mercy killings. Before this
course I only had my families views and beliefs about
what is ethical and moral behavior. Thankfully, my
beliefs are similar to many of the topics discussed in
this course.