A Framework For Thinking Ethically Professional Development Seminar CHE 395 Adapted from work done by the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.

A Framework For A Framework For Thinking EthicallyThinking Ethically

Professional Development SeminarProfessional Development Seminar

CHE 395CHE 395

Adapted from work done by theAdapted from work done by theMarkkula Center for Applied EthicsMarkkula Center for Applied Ethics

OutlineOutline

Why talk about ethics?Why talk about ethics? What is ethics?What is ethics? Approaches to ethicsApproaches to ethics A framework for ethical decision makingA framework for ethical decision making ApplicationApplication

What’s The Common Thread?What’s The Common Thread?

Jack AbramoffJack Abramoff Dennis KozlowskiDennis Kozlowski Barry BondsBarry Bonds Meg Scott PhippsMeg Scott Phipps Jayson BlairJayson Blair Martha StewartMartha Stewart Marion JonesMarion Jones Rosie RuizRosie Ruiz Woo-Suk HwangWoo-Suk Hwang

Oliver NorthOliver North Bill ClintonBill Clinton Bernie EbbersBernie Ebbers Stephen AmbroseStephen Ambrose Jason GiambiJason Giambi Sandra BaldwinSandra Baldwin Quincy TroupeQuincy Troupe George O’LearyGeorge O’Leary Tonya HardingTonya Harding

Why?Why?

Time pressureTime pressure Financial pressureFinancial pressure To please the bossTo please the boss To protect the companyTo protect the company Everybody else is doing itEverybody else is doing it I’m looking out for those who work for meI’m looking out for those who work for me To be a team playerTo be a team player I have to, just to keep upI have to, just to keep up No one will ever knowNo one will ever know

The Cheating Culture (Callahan)The Cheating Culture (Callahan)

There is too much to gain.There is too much to gain. There is too much to lose.There is too much to lose. The watchdogs are asleep.The watchdogs are asleep.

Can You Teach Ethics?Can You Teach Ethics?

Socrates: “Ethics consists of knowing what Socrates: “Ethics consists of knowing what we ought to do, and such knowledge can we ought to do, and such knowledge can be taught.” be taught.”

Stages of Moral Thought (Kohlberg)Stages of Moral Thought (Kohlberg)

ChildChild – defines right and wrong in terms of – defines right and wrong in terms of what authorities saywhat authorities say

AdolescentAdolescent – defines right and wrong in – defines right and wrong in terms of group loyalty (friends, family, terms of group loyalty (friends, family, gang, nation)gang, nation)

AdultAdult – views right and wrong from – views right and wrong from universal standards of justice, human universal standards of justice, human rights, and human welfare rights, and human welfare

Education is what stimulates growth through levels.

Codes of EthicsCodes of Ethics

AIChEAIChE National Society of Professional Engineers National Society of Professional Engineers

(NSPE)(NSPE)

What Is Ethics?What Is Ethics?

Ethics is not the same as feelings.Ethics is not the same as feelings. Ethics is not religion. Ethics is not religion. Ethics is not following the law. Ethics is not following the law. Ethics is not following culturally accepted Ethics is not following culturally accepted

norms. norms. Ethics is not science. Ethics is not science.

Two Fundamental ProblemsTwo Fundamental Problems

1.1. On what do we base our ethical On what do we base our ethical standards? standards?

2. How do those standards get applied to 2. How do those standards get applied to specific situations we face? specific situations we face?

The Utilitarian ApproachThe Utilitarian Approach

Focuses on the consequences that actions Focuses on the consequences that actions or policies have on the well-being of all or policies have on the well-being of all persons directly or indirectly affected by persons directly or indirectly affected by the action or policy. the action or policy.

The principle states: "Of any two actions, The principle states: "Of any two actions, the most ethical one will produce the the most ethical one will produce the greatest balance of benefits over harms." greatest balance of benefits over harms."

The Rights ApproachThe Rights Approach

Ethical action is the one that best protects Ethical action is the one that best protects and respects the moral rights of those and respects the moral rights of those affected.affected.

Each person has a fundamental right to be Each person has a fundamental right to be respected and treated as a free and equal respected and treated as a free and equal rational person capable of making his or rational person capable of making his or her own decisions.her own decisions.

The Fairness ApproachThe Fairness Approach

Focuses on how fairly or unfairly our Focuses on how fairly or unfairly our actions distribute benefits and burdens actions distribute benefits and burdens among the members of a group. among the members of a group.

Fairness requires consistency in the way Fairness requires consistency in the way people are treated. people are treated.

The principle states: "Treat people the The principle states: "Treat people the same unless there are morally relevant same unless there are morally relevant differences between them." differences between them."

The Common Good ApproachThe Common Good Approach

Presents a vision of society as a Presents a vision of society as a community whose members are joined in community whose members are joined in a shared pursuit of values and goals they a shared pursuit of values and goals they hold in common. hold in common.

The community is comprised of individuals The community is comprised of individuals whose own good is inextricably bound to whose own good is inextricably bound to the good of the whole. the good of the whole.

The principle states: "What is ethical is The principle states: "What is ethical is what advances the common good." what advances the common good."

The Virtue ApproachThe Virtue Approach

Focuses on attitudes, dispositions, or Focuses on attitudes, dispositions, or character traits that enable us to be and to character traits that enable us to be and to act in ways that develop our human act in ways that develop our human potential. potential.

Examples: honesty, courage, faithfulness, Examples: honesty, courage, faithfulness, trustworthiness, integrity, etc. trustworthiness, integrity, etc.

The principle states: "What is ethical is The principle states: "What is ethical is what develops moral virtues in ourselves what develops moral virtues in ourselves and our communities." and our communities."

Problems With These ApproachesProblems With These Approaches

We may not agree on the same set of We may not agree on the same set of human and civil rights, what constitutes human and civil rights, what constitutes the common good, what is good and what the common good, what is good and what is harmful.is harmful.

The different approaches may not answer The different approaches may not answer the question “What is ethical?” in the same the question “What is ethical?” in the same way.way.

How To Make an Ethical DecisionHow To Make an Ethical Decision

Recognize that decisions have ethical Recognize that decisions have ethical implicationsimplications

Develop a method for exploring the ethical Develop a method for exploring the ethical aspects of a decisionaspects of a decision

Discuss with othersDiscuss with others

Recognize an Ethical IssueRecognize an Ethical Issue

Is there something wrong personally, Is there something wrong personally, interpersonally, or socially? Could the conflict, interpersonally, or socially? Could the conflict, the situation, or the decision be damaging to the situation, or the decision be damaging to people or to the community?people or to the community?

Does the issue go beyond legal or institutional Does the issue go beyond legal or institutional concerns? What does it do to people, who concerns? What does it do to people, who have dignity, rights, and hopes for a better life have dignity, rights, and hopes for a better life together?together?

Get the FactsGet the Facts

What are the relevant facts of the case? What What are the relevant facts of the case? What facts are unknown?facts are unknown?

What individuals and groups have an important What individuals and groups have an important stake in the outcome? Do some have a greater stake in the outcome? Do some have a greater stake because they have a special need or stake because they have a special need or because we have special obligations to them?because we have special obligations to them?

What are the options for acting? Have all the What are the options for acting? Have all the relevant persons and groups been consulted? relevant persons and groups been consulted? If you showed your list of options to someone If you showed your list of options to someone you respect, what would that person say?you respect, what would that person say?

Evaluate Alternative ResponsesEvaluate Alternative Responses

Utilitarian Approach:Utilitarian Approach: The ethical action is the one that will The ethical action is the one that will

produce the greatest balance of produce the greatest balance of benefits over harms.benefits over harms.

Which option will produce the most good Which option will produce the most good and do the least harm? and do the least harm?

Rights Approach:Rights Approach: The ethical action is the one The ethical action is the one that most dutifully respects that most dutifully respects

the rights of all affected.the rights of all affected.

Even if not everyone gets all they want, Even if not everyone gets all they want, will everyone's rights and dignity still be will everyone's rights and dignity still be respected?respected?

Fairness or Justice Approach:Fairness or Justice Approach: The ethical action is the one that The ethical action is the one that

treats people equally, or if unequally, treats people equally, or if unequally, that treats people proportionately that treats people proportionately

and fairly.and fairly.

Which option is fair to all stakeholders?Which option is fair to all stakeholders?

Common Good Approach:Common Good Approach: The ethical action is the one that The ethical action is the one that

contributes most to the achievement contributes most to the achievement of a quality common life together.of a quality common life together.

Which option would help all participate Which option would help all participate more fully in the life we share as a family, more fully in the life we share as a family, community, society?community, society?

Virtue ApproachVirtue Approach: The ethical action : The ethical action is the one that embodies the habits is the one that embodies the habits and values of humans at their best.and values of humans at their best.

Would you want to become the sort of Would you want to become the sort of person who acts this way (e.g., a person person who acts this way (e.g., a person of courage or compassion)? of courage or compassion)?

Make a Decision and Test ItMake a Decision and Test It

Considering all these perspectives, which Considering all these perspectives, which of the options is the right or best thing to of the options is the right or best thing to do?do?

If you told someone you respect why you If you told someone you respect why you chose this option, what would that person chose this option, what would that person say? If you had to explain your decision on say? If you had to explain your decision on television, would you be comfortable doing television, would you be comfortable doing so?so?

Act, Then Reflect Act, Then Reflect on the Decision Lateron the Decision Later

Implement your decision. How did it turn Implement your decision. How did it turn out for all concerned? If you had it to do out for all concerned? If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently? over again, what would you do differently?

Everyday Ethics: 5 QuestionsEveryday Ethics: 5 Questions

1.1. Did I practice any virtues today?Did I practice any virtues today?

2.2. Did I do more harm than good today?Did I do more harm than good today?

3.3. Did I treat people with dignity and Did I treat people with dignity and respect today?respect today?

4.4. Was I fair and just today?Was I fair and just today?

5.5. Was my community better because I was Was my community better because I was in it?in it?

Personal AdvicePersonal Advice

Set clear expectations.Set clear expectations. ““Those who are faithful in little things will Those who are faithful in little things will

be faithful in big things”.be faithful in big things”. Maintain marginMaintain margin ““Run your own race” – define success for Run your own race” – define success for

yourself.yourself. Recognize the trapRecognize the trap

QuotesQuotes

"Our character is what we do when we "Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking.“think no one is looking.“ Jackson BrowneJackson Browne

"Sow an act...reap a habit; Sow a "Sow an act...reap a habit; Sow a habit...reap a character; Sow a habit...reap a character; Sow a character...reap a destiny." character...reap a destiny." George Dana BoardmanGeorge Dana Boardman