Ethics Awareness

OBLIGATION

You tend to base your ethical perspective on an individual's duty or obligation to do what is morally right - principles that represent what rational persons ought morally to do. You believe that ethical conduct appeals to "conscience." In judging whether a person's actions are ethical, you look to the intent behind his/her actions, rather than focusing on results. In other words, to be considered ethical, we must choose how we act and what rules we are willing to follow. From your perspective, ethical principles must be: (a) appropriate under any circumstances (universalizable); (b) respectful of human dignity; and (c) committed to promoting individual freedom and autonomy. Human beings must never be treated simply as "means" to the accomplishment of some defined "end." The end does not justify the means. This category is most closely aligned in philosophy with a deontological theory (Immanuel Kant and John Rawls).

YOUR ETHICAL STYLE

You believe that human beings have intrinsic value - we have a right to individual respect. Therefore, you cannot support social traditions and policies aimed at "the best interests of society as a whole" if any individual is denied the opportunities to which she/he is entitled as a human being. Your approach to ethics requires that, within legal and humane limits, people should be allowed to make their own choices. Acting in response to impulse, instinct, or rules worked out by others for us to obey does not constitute ethical conduct on our part. You believe that fostering personal growth takes precedence over achieving efficiency through dehumanizing organizational and social structures. For this reason, you advocate policies intended to ensure equal respect and opportunities for all. Moral decisions must reflect the free choice of individuals if we ever expect to hold them personally responsible. You are guided by a desire to be in accord with established standards of right and wrong.

FRUSTRATIONS YOU FACE IN ADDRESSING ETHICAL DILEMMAS

Ð'* What you determine to be the right choice may not appear to be the most beneficial choice, in the short-run, for the organization you have agreed to support. The right choice does not necessarily maximize the good for the decision maker.

Ð'* You believe that cost-benefit analysis, the preferred decision-making tool of many organizations, is inappropriate for addressing issues with ethical considerations. For example, some of the things that you hold most dear are not easily measured, e.g., right and wrong; good and evil; and the value of a human life.

Ð'* Your belief that we have a moral duty or obligation to do what is right leaves little room for compromise when ethical principles are being violated.

Ð'* You are frustrated to discover how various individuals define right and wrong, how conflicts are resolved in an organizational setting, and who resolves them.

Ð'* The people you work with may argue that certain factions of society are not capable of acting in their own best interests. You consider this a faulty argument that was once used to deny equitable treatment to women and minorities.

Ð'* Defending your ethical perspective may result in economic hardship, e.g., a lost promotion or termination.

CHARACTHER:

You tend to base your ethical perspective on what it is good to be, rather than what it is good to do . You believe that attention to ethics should focus on the achievement of moral excellence. When asked to judge whether an individual's actions are ethical, you look beyond the actions to the individual's character. Uprightness and integrity are key. You 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. It is reflected in the quality of an individual's character, and character is more important than an individual's actions. In your opinion, mere compliance with rules, no matter how well-intentioned, does not make anyone an ethical person without being accompanied by consistent voluntary striving to be a morally good person. This category is most closely aligned in philosophy with virtue theory (Aristotle and Alasdair MacIntyre).

YOUR ETHICAL STYLE

You believe that ethics relies on the ability of individuals to make sound moral judgments. You do not believe that it is enough to comply with some preset standards or principles of right and wrong to find the solution to a complex ethical dilemma. Ethics relies on exemplary character to make the difficult choices. You value such qualities as honesty, wisdom, and integrity, and you place greater emphasis on demonstrating these qualities than on following the rules. You believe that an individual would be incapable of choosing between conflicting rules or standards of right and wrong without already possessing good character. Your approach to ethics calls for developing practical wisdom within individuals to serve as the basis for ethical decision making. Your ethical style compels you to strive to be a person of wisdom and integrity.

FRUSTRATIONS YOU FACE IN ADDRESSING ETHICAL DILEMMAS

Ð'* Because social inequalities exist in our society, not everyone has an equal opportunity to develop the virtues you value so highly. In ethical discussions, you may be frustrated as you begin to realize that not all people have similar values.

Ð'* You believe that development of character within individuals is a slow and deliberate process that has been neglected in recent years. This kind of ideal goal is not compatible with the tendency for some people to look for "quick fixes" for problems.

Ð'* Although you strongly believe that mere compliance with organizational rules is not sufficient to develop ethical character within individuals, you may work for an organization that relies heavily on some system of ethical rules and sanctions. You view this as an "artificial" ethical environment that is less than sincere.

Ð'* You are frustrated when ethical considerations appear to be tacked on to the "real business" of organizational decision making - almost as an afterthought. You believe that this disregard for ethics is a reflection on the character of the decision makers.

Ð'* The people you work with may not have had the benefit of appropriate moral guidance throughout their lives, and they may not understand your perspective.

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