Transcript Communication Ethics - Ethics in communication

Communication Ethics
COMM 4020 Week 3
Agenda
 Practical Ethics
 Overview of Ethical Paradigms
 Utilitarianism
 Deontology
 Divine Command
 Ethical Relativism
 Virtue Ethics
Agenda
 Practical Ethics
 Overview of Ethical Paradigms
 Utilitarianism
 Deontology
 Divine Command
 Ethical Relativism
 Virtue Ethics
Why study ethics?
 Law, rules, policies vs. ethics
 How do you decide
right vs. wrong?
Practical Ethics
 Codes of Conduct
 Five ethical principles
 Ethical obligations for communicators
 The “well-lit room” test
 For quadrants of ethical decision making
Codes of Conduct
 Ethical codes of conduct for professional organizations
 Codes go above and beyond the rules, laws and policies
 IABC Code of Ethics
 “Engage in communication that is not only legal but also ethical
and sensitive to cultural values and beliefs”
 http://www.iabc.com/about/code.htm
 “Engage in truthful, accurate and fair communication that
facilitates respect and mutual understanding”
Ethical Principles
 Autonomy (let others have control)
 Nonmaleficence (do no harm)
 Beneficence (do good)
 Justice (be fair)
 Fidelity (do what you say)
Ethical Obligations for Communicators
 Accuracy
 Completeness
 Speed in disseminating important information
 Storage and archiving of communications
The “well-lit room” test
Four quadrants of ethical decisions
Legal / Unethical
Legal / Ethical
Illegal / Unethical
Illegal / Ethical
Agenda
 Practical Ethics
 Overview of Ethical Paradigms
 Utilitarianism
 Deontology
 Divine Command
 Ethical Relativism
 Virtue Ethics
Ethical Paradigms
 Ethics is best viewed as a process of decision making. The
factors used in this process tell us how an issues manager
views the issue, as well as what he or she deemed an
important consideration in deciding the issue. Therefore, we
can discern the primary ethical decision-making model for a
manager based on his or her description of the decision
making process in an ethical issue.
 Shannon Bowen, University of Houston, 2002, emphasis added
Ethical Paradigms
 Utilitarianism
 Deontology
 Divine Command
 Ethical Relativism
 Virtue Ethics
Agenda
 Practical Ethics
 Overview of Ethical Paradigms
 Utilitarianism
 Deontology
 Divine Command
 Ethical Relativism
 Virtue Ethics
Utilitarianism
 Motive is unimportant – outcome matters
 “We must act in a way to produce the best possible outcomes
for as many people as possible”
 Right vs. wrong?
Utilitarianism
 Forms of Utilitarianism
 Hedonic (pleasure over pain)
 Rule-based (“useful rule” standard)
 Ideal
 Private ethics (happiness of the actor)
 Criticisms
 What are consequences and their value?
 Happiness vs. “preventing suffering”
Ethical Systems
Rachel visited her friend Sarah in the hospital. Sarah had been
badly burned and blinded in a car accident and seemed most
concerned about how disfigured she might look. She asks
Rachel how awful she looks. Rachel lies to Sarah and tells her
the effects of the burn are not bad at all.
System: Utilitarianism
Reasons: The decision was based on the best consequence for
Sarah.
Agenda
 Practical Ethics
 Overview of Ethical Paradigms
 Utilitarianism
 Deontology
 Divine Command
 Ethical Relativism
 Virtue Ethics
Deontology
 Duty (deon) and study (logos)
 “We must do the right thing, no matter how morally good or
bad the consequences may be.”
 Introduced by Immanuel Kant in the late 18th century
 Right vs. wrong?
Deontology
 Proposes there is a “truth” to actions
 “If your action became a universal law, would it still be
good?”
 Trolley dilemma
 “Threshold” Deontology avoids the issue of moral absolutism
Ethical Systems
Ted, an insurance agent, receives a phone call from a fellow
agent who works in the same office, asking for a ride to work
because his car has broken down. Ted had intended to use the
drive to work to view some property he would like to buy but
picking up his co-worker would not leave him time to do this. He
decides not to refuse the co-worker's request.
System: Deontology
Reasons: The decision was based on duty -Ted would want his
decision to be universal.
Agenda
 Practical Ethics
 Overview of Ethical Paradigms
 Utilitarianism
 Deontology
 Divine Command
 Ethical Relativism
 Virtue Ethics
Divine Command
 God’s will is the foundation of ethics
 “We must act in a way that follows the commandments of
God”
 Right vs. wrong?
Divine Command
 Being moral does not always equal happiness, unless one
believes in an afterlife that rewards goodness
 Answers the question, “why be moral?”
Ethical Systems
Rachel has fallen in love with Nathan, a schoolmate in a small
religious school set up by a Christian sect. Her parents forbid a
marriage with Nathan and make arrangements for Rachel to
marry Peter, another youth in the church. Rachel followed her
parents wishes and married Peter.
System: Divine Command
Reasons: The decision was based on one of The Ten
Commandments - honor thy mother and father, for instance.
Agenda
 Practical Ethics
 Overview of Ethical Paradigms
 Utilitarianism
 Deontology
 Divine Command
 Ethical Relativism
 Virtue Ethics
Ethical Relativism
 One’s culture and environment determine morality
 “We must act in a way that is right for us. What is right for you
may be different.”
 Right vs. wrong?
Ethical Relativism
 Protagoras: “While whatever anyone believes is true, things
that some people believe may be better than what others
believe.”
 Explains differences in cultures, norms, and societies
 “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
 Cannot pass judgments on the actions of others.
What is right is right for me.
Ethical Systems
Enu, the old grandmother of an Shoshone tribe, could no longer
chew the buffalo hides to make them supple enough for making
items of clothing. When winter came and food supplies were not
sufficient for all, it was decided by the tribe that Enu would be
left alone on a nearby hill to die.
System: Ethical Relativism
Reasons: The decision was based on the mores or traditions of the
tribe.
Agenda
 Practical Ethics
 Overview of Ethical Paradigms
 Utilitarianism
 Deontology
 Divine Command
 Ethical Relativism
 Virtue Ethics
Virtue Ethics
 Motives should drive our decisions
 “We must act like a virtuous person would act in a similar
situation”
 Right vs. wrong?
Virtue Ethics
 Aristotle: “Ideal character traits make a virtuous person”
 You will do the right thing because you’re trying to be the
right kind of person
 Challenges:
 Virtues take time, reflection and experience
 Is it too self-centered?
Ethical Systems
Thomas, a missionary doctor in El Salvador, was told by the
government to abandon his work and return to the United
States. Thomas doesn't even consider stopping his work with
the poor people of the countryside.
System: Virtue Ethics
Reasons: The decision was based on wanting to continue doing
good.