Ethic Awareness Inventory Analysis

Ethics Awareness Inventory Analysis

The awareness of the conditions which define our ethical prospective and that of others gives us the ability to offer positive input on decisions we make on a daily basis. That is why it is imperative to take inventory on the perspectives we practice each day. The Ethics Awareness Inventory refers to a combination of broad characterizations representing four categories of ethical philosophy, which are Character, Obligation, Results, and Equity. They have been designed to assist in the development of a deeper understanding of personal ethical perspectives and styles. These descriptions are used to analyze some of the characteristics of my own perspective on ethics according to my preferred answers when faced with ethical issues.

According to the Ethics Awareness Inventory [EAI] (Williams Institute for Ethics and Management [WIEM], 2003), my ethical perspective is most likely based on Character and least likely based on Equity. I tend to center my ethical perspective on "what it is good to be" rather than "what it is good to do".

"When asked to judge whether an individual's actions are ethical, I look beyond the actions to the individual's character. Uprightness and integrity are key. I look for evidence of virtue in people, including such traits as honor, justice, and benevolence, believing that a virtue is not just an abstract principle" (WIEM, 2003).

This category is most closely aligned with the Virtue theory which believes in honesty, wisdom, and integrity. I rely on people to make sound moral judgments and to be of good character. Just because people follow all the rules and do everything by the book does not guarantee they are ethical human beings. I believe that an individual would be incapable of choosing between right and wrong without already possessing good character.

While attending The University of Phoenix, I have come across many individuals who possess notable character. They are the students that will step in with a moments notice and complete someone's portion of the team assignment because the other student is struggling. They are also the students that prefer not to cheat, not only because it is against the rules, but because they are attending UOP for an education and they want to learn.

Equity is an ethical perspective that I relate to in the least. In this approach to ethics all attempts to plan social order are challenged. The rules and codes of ethics cannot be trusted from day-to-day. The correct choice for a particular situation and at a particular time may be different then it was yesterday and it is likely to evolve from several viewpoints. The reason that I have a hard time with this perspective is because I find that it is not stringent enough and anyone can make or break the rules without consequences. The world is a big place and people of different cultures and upbringings have different ethical beliefs but it all boils down to good character. If they do not first possess character and integrity, they will have a hard time standing behind their