When pursuing a college degree, ethics is tailored to the course being taught, i.e. Accounting, Finance, and Economics to name a few. Ethics does not appear to be offered as a separate required course for all disciplines, which raises such questions as, is there a need for an ethics course? Do students know enough about ethics for ethical thinking and action? Ethics encompasses a set of principles, philosophy, or theory relating to principles. Knowing how to best resolve difficult ethical dilemmas is never easy especially when any choice violates the societal and ethical standards we have been taught to govern our lives. Ethics is important and goes beyond common sense. However, if ethics were black and white, it would be simpler for all human beings. It can be unclear and subject to personal interpretation and unfortunately once an individual has made a decision or has taken a position they tend to reject what undermines their decision or contradicts their position.
Ethics can be used to educate students regarding their own flawed cognitive and behavioral tendencies, which may lead to unethical decision making. It can identify controversy, tension, and disagreements as well as explore assumptions and biases. This paper examines the importance of ethics, discusses how teaching ethics across all disciplines can expose students to various forms of ethical dilemmas as well as give the students the philosophical tools to analyze those dilemmas when they arise.
What are ethics? Why is it important? Ethics can be defined as “the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation; or “a set of moral principles (Merriam-Webster, 2017)”. The reason ethics is important is because it gives us a basic understanding the difference between concepts and situations that are considered right or wrong. We as humans have learned a set of values and beliefs that tell us what is considered right and wrong, there are times when situations change and the standard of ethics changes, but generally it goes according to our beliefs and what society considers to be right and wrong.
Yes, it did broaden my understanding of ethical decision making. I learned that human dignity is, therefore, the cardinal ethical principle underlying research ethics and is intended to protect the interests and the physical, psychological or cultural integrity of the individual. I have a very close friend who is caring for her son who has Multiple Sclerosis and it has taken its toll on her both mentally and physically. She has decided to send him to a skilled nursing facility because she can no longer care for him because of her employment and his deteriorating condition and his insurance will cover his bills. He has agreed because he does not want to be a burden. One evening when we were talking, I mentioned to her that they should consult with his doctor and discuss having an advanced order in case he is no longer capable of making decisions on his own.
Ethical dilemmas occur when there is a disagreement about a situation and all parties involved question how they should behave based on their individual ethical morals. (Newman & Pollnitz, 2005). The dilemma that I will be addressing in this essay involves Michael, recently employed male educator working in the nursery, and parents of a baby enrolled at the centre. The parents have raised concerns about male educators changing their child’s nappy as they have cultural practices that do not allow this practice to take place. This situation is classed as an ethical dilemma as there is a dispute between cultural beliefs and legal requirements within the workplace. There are four parties involved (parents, child, educator and director), all
Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with values concerning human conduct. These values help cultures determine what actions are appropriate and inappropriate and which motives of such actions are good or bad. Ethical values help humans decipher correct ways to handle problems. Boyd (2005) suggests moral problems are an interpretation of events viewed from a perspective that history and tradition have helped to shape. Perception plays a large role in ethical issues today. The way a culture
People from all walks of life face many ethical dilemmas. These dilemmas have consequences. Our worldview determines how we deal with these dilemmas, and guides us to the right decisions. In this essay, I will examine an ethical issues through my Christian worldview. I will also present other viewpoints, and compare them to mine.
As we practice resolving dilemmas we find ethics to be less a goal than a pathway, less a destination than a trip, less an inoculation than a process. —Ethicist Rushworth Kidder
I think that higher education should promote better ethics. I feel if someone is going to try and better themselves and try and gain more knowledge then a little ethics refresher courses should help as well. I think that colleges should promote ethics. Reason being that people are going to college to train in the field that they are going to make a career out of which is where most people will spend their life doing. So they should help teach ethics to those that are planning on becoming an adult. High school prepares you for college but they don’t have ethics classes in high school too much. There are also a lot of families that unfortunately don’t teach their children moral and ethical values. So I think that colleges can help with
This policy applies to conduct by or directed toward any customer, business associate, and team, member. This policy also applies to any business-related setting outside the workplace, including trips, meetings, and or social events.
Recognizing that not all decisions are ethical, one’s moral principles acts as a guide for their behavior and decision making. Therefore, ethics do (and should) play a major role in decision making.
Ethical dilemmas are virtually impossible to avoid if you are a participant in the workforce. The definition of an ethical dilemma stands as a situation that challenges two or more “right” values that arise in a conflict (Treviño & Nelson, 2014). As ethical persons, how may we overcome ethical dilemmas and finish on the “right” side? The research mentioned in Trevino’s and Nelson’s book, “Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk About How to Do It Right,” suggests that preparing for specific ethical challenges before a situation occurs can adequately prepare the workforce to better handle real-world applications when an ethical situation transpires. The notion that ethics is teachable inspires the following case analysis. The case analysis involving chemical safety will discuss the facts and issues, stakeholders, decision alternatives, and real-work constraints. Focusing on each of the previously mentioned topics, I will describe the applications using Utilitarian, Kantian Ethics, and Rawlsian Justice Analysis’s.
Many freshmen are bombarded with responsibility upon arriving to college. From living on their own to balancing commitments, there will be many situations that put their judgement to the test. How students handle these obstacles and challenges will determine their character in the future. It is important during this developmental period that ethics are integral to their decision-making process.
Making consistently ethical decisions is difficult. Most decisions have to be made in the context of economic, professional and social pressures, which can sometimes challenge our ethical goals and conceal or confuse the moral issues. In addition, making ethical choices is complex because in many situations there are a multitude of competing interests and values. Other times, crucial facts are unknown or ambiguous. Since many actions are likely to benefit some people at the expense of others, the decision maker must prioritize competing moral claims and must be proficient at predicting the likely consequences of various choices. An ethical person often chooses to do more than the law requires and less than the law allows.
One thing that has changed in my approach to ethics since the beginning of the semester is I am now adamant that it is impossible to arrive at a final answer to ethical questions. Learning about the different approaches to ethics has caused me to see that there can be more than one “right” solution to ethical dilemmas. Therefore, if an ethical question is raised, everyone will arrive at a different solution depending on which approach they take.
Ethical and unethical situations occur on a daily basis and are seen all around us. Being ethical requires one to take responsibility for their actions and doing what is right in any given circumstance. Every person has the power to dictate their actions on how they are going to handle any situation they are put in. I have experienced numerous amounts of situations that have tested my ethical behavior and actions. Throughout my experiences, I have realized that ethics has a great impact on many different aspects of life such as society, career, and personal life. Understanding the meaning of ethics allows me to grow as a person and to truly do what is right with any issue I am faced with.
Ethics is the branch of philosophy that deals with the principles correlated to human behavior concerning the rightness and wrongness of specific conduct, and to the good and bad that influences and ends those actions (Ditonary.com, 2011). In other words, ethics is the choice people effect in regards to a decision they need to achieve. Without ethics directing the choice an individual makes, moral preferences of what should or should not be done becomes irrelevant. While ethical decisions are made every day there are two different regions in which these choices are made.