Transcript updated ethics PP

Ethical Considerations
Ethics
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 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 Complexity
Multiple alternatives
Broad & long-range consequences
Uncertain consequences
Mixture of economic, legal, ethical, social,
and personal benefits and costs
Some Ethical Systems
Eternal 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 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?
Consider
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
Exercise
Individually, consider each of the
Scenarios, one at a time:
– Write your decision
– Write your reasoning
In small groups, discuss reasoning for
each Scenario, one at a time
Kohlberg Stages of Moral Development
Stage 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 Drug
Moral
stage
Argument For
Argument Against
1
It isn’t wrong; it’s only
worth $100 & I probably
won’t get caught
It’s wrong; it’s worth $4000 & I
probably will get caught &
punished
2
I don’t want to lose my
wife; the drug is the only
hope
I shouldn’t risk myself for my
wife. It would be wrong to risk
myself for her well-being.
3
Taking it is the only thing
People won’t blame me for not
for a good husband to do.
stealing the drug; they wouldn’t
What would my friends say approve of stealing.
if I didn’t try to save her?
Heinz’s Reasoning (cont.)
Moral
stage
For
Against
4
I must steal the drug to live up
to my marriage vows. If
husbands don’t protect their
wives, the family structure will
disintegrate…
Stealing is illegal. I have to
obey the law, no matter what.
Imagine what society would be
like if everybody broke the law.
5
The law is unjust because it
does not protect my wife’s
right to life. I have no
obligation to obey the law.
I have an obligation to respect
the scientist’s right to property;
it would be wrong to steal the
drug.
6
The principle of the sanctity of
life demands that I steal the
drug, no matter the
consequences to me.
The principle of justice & the
greatest good for the greatest
number prevents me from
stealing it, even for the good of
my wife.
Reasoning from 693 class: stealing drug
Moral stage
For
Against
9
5
4
1
4
5
6
1
2
3
6
Reasoning from classes: stealing drug
Moral stage
For
Against
1
2
9
3
(4)
(4)
4
(4)
(1)
4
1
(4)
5
6
(4)
6
5
Reasoning from 693 class: stealing drug
Officer telling
Moral stage
For
Against
9 (2)
5 (5)
4
1 (19)
4
5
6
1
2
3
6
Reasoning from classes: stealing drug
Officer telling
Moral stage
For
Against
1
2
9 (2)
3
4 (1)
5 (5)
1
4
1 (19)
4 (14) 4
5
6
4
6
4 (4)
(2)
4
Reasoning from 693 class: stealing drug
Officer telling, Jail Time
Moral stage
For
Against
9 (2)
5 (5) (12)
4
1 (19) (13)
4
5
6
1
2
3
6
Reasoning from classes: stealing drug
Officer telling, Jail Time
Moral stage
For
Against
1 (punishment)
2 (benefits)
9 (2)
3 (social approval)
4 (law & order)
ethical principles)
5 (5) (12) 4,4,10
1
1 (19) (13) 4,14,12 4
5 (others’ rights) 6
6 (universal
4,1,1
4
2,1
4
The Insufficiency of Honesty
*/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
Integrity
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
Integrity
Honesty
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