ETH501 Module 4 SLP- Script

SLIDE Script to Accompany Slide

Slide 1 Title introduction
Good morning everyone! Welcome, employees of Aloha Petroleum, to this short discussion about ethics. Today we are
gathered together not just to simply define ethics or specifically duty ethics. Let us also consider this day as a day where we
are ourselves how sound and ethical our decisions have been for the past weeks, months, or years. It could be about a small
decision in life or a major one. I am here to talk to you about Duty Ethics, it’s nature, definition, and how can we apply it on
our daily lives.
Slide 2 Ethics
As a short review, let’s talk about the basics first. Let’s talk about ethics. So, all of you already know that ethics is also called
moral philosophy. It is basically the study and the pursuit towards identifying what is morally good and bad, what is right and
wrong. Today we’ll try to take a look at the different ethical theories and try to delve deeper on one of them which is duty
ethics. Towards the end, we’ll try to take a greater leap and see if we can apply it on our workplace and see how decision
making could be different.
Slide 3 Three ethical theories
First of the three ethical theories that I will give an introduction about is Utility ethics. Basically, it argues that an actions
morality is based on its consequences (Billington, 2003). It is also called consequentialism which basically argues that the
most ethical option or action is always that will cause the greater good for the greatest number.
Secondly, we have Virtue ethics. It is one of the earliest ethics that has been developed by Aristotle and other ancient Greeks.
It is based on the significance of living a life of moral character. It is a character-based approach that guarantees being ethical
by practicing virtues such as being honest, brave, just, generous, and so on (Zeuschner, 2001). By practicing these characters,
virtue ethics argues that people will be able to make ethical choices and actions.
Lastly, the highlight of this presentation, we have Duty ethics. We can also call this as deontology, a theory that is basically
concerned not with the consequences of our actions but on what we do (Alexander & Moore, 2012). What is important for this
theory? Do the right thing always no matter how it will end.
Slide 4 It is called duty ethics for a reason. It is from the Greek word deon that means duty (Billington, 2003). Basically, this theory
argues that acts are right or wrong because they are. Because of this, people should always act accordingly regardless of what
the consequences may be. What is important is to do one’s duty, which is not to do wrong things. This form of morality
doesn’t believe in justifying an action because it produced good consequences (Alexander & Moore, 2012).
Slide 5 Some of the basic beliefs that is significant for duty ethics are not to kill people, not to steal, to lie, and to always keep
promises. Can you give some examples of acts that are essentially good? … These are absolutely part of the universal moral
rules of duty ethics. Deontologists believe that an individual should always strive to do the right thing even if it produces harm
 (Alexander & Moore, 2012). That is our duty.
Slide 6 Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, is considered as one of the most influential philosophers in the history of Western
philosophy. He is one of the pioneer thinkers behind deontological ethics. He believed that there is a possibility to create a
moral system using reason (Billington, 2003). The basis of his duty-based ethics is his categorical imperative. He argues that it
is something that is true in all circumstances and it is written as “Always act in such a way that you can also will that the
maxim of your action should become a universal law” (Zeuschner, 2001). Simply put, it says that we should always act in such
a way that our actions could become a general law that everyone can do in the same situation. This is the first point of his
categorical imperative.
It simply means that before an act, we should contemplate first and think if it is feasible for it to become a law and be
practiced by everyone (Zeuschner, 2001).
Slide 7 Secondly, the categorical imperative argues that we should always treat people as ends in themselves and never as a means to
one’s own ends (Zeuschner, 2001). This puts value to human. Hence, people should not be used as a means to achieve
something else. People should avoid treating people as if they were inanimate objects. We should not deceive and coerce each
other for something that we want (Zeuschner, 2001).
Slide 8 This is where the importance of duty comes in. It is important for us to always considered the right thing for the right reason.
At the end of the day, it will remain as the right thing to do. Doing something with the thought that it is our duty makes the act
right.
Slide 9 To keep you from thinking, I have a sample scenario.
Imagine that you are a computer engineer, a hacker and you just learned that there is a bomb that will be detonated digitally.
As per your experience and expertise, you are sure that you can hack the system of the building in order for the bomb to be
defused. If you are a deontologist, what are you going to do?
(Wait for people’s answers)
This is a really tricky question but what a deontologist will do is not to hack the system to defuse the bomb. Why? Because it
is a violation of the professional code of ethics to hack something without permission. It is a form of lying and cheating and
deontology advises not to violate this rule.
Slide 10 Don’t lie, cheat, and steal are some of the most common tenets of duty ethics. As long as you avoid offences that are
essentially bad, you are morally upright. This is actually easy to apply because it does not require examination of an action
based on its consequences (Alexander & Moore, 2012). What’s important is the present and that you will do what is right and
what is according to your duty, your calling to do what is right no matter what the consequences are. Like for the previous
example, what’s important is that you don’t implement the hack even if it will cost a lot of lives.
Slide 11 There is no need for complicated processes of weighing the costs and benefits of a situation or an action (Alexander & Moore,
2012). What’s important is the set of rules that you have to follow to do what is right. This avoids the problem of subjectivity
and uncertainty that Kant believes is possible by creating an absolute rule or maxim for ethics (Billington, 2003).
Slide 12 Kant’s duty-based ethics highlights the importance of treating people as valuable. He believes that human beings are free and
equal members of a society that subscribe to shared moral prerogatives. Though he argued that people should not be used,
there is still a chance for people to be used but the person should also be treated as an end in themselves.
Slide 13 This form of ethics is really interesting because as people are entitled to act according to their duty and to what is right, it also
gives the people a chance to make the world a better place to live in. It helps in the construction of a world with a glow of
moral goodness (Zeuschner, 2001).
Slide 14 Now, as far as my researched is concerned, integrity is part of your company’s core values. Can you give me an instance when
you chose the duty-based ethics as the ethical framework of your decision? … For me, it looks likes it was during the release
of the final grade. A student reached out to me saying that he won’t be able to graduate on time if I will fail him. He didn’t
attend my class for almost half of the term without notification. With that, I stick to what is just and right which is not to give
him a passing grade. Thought, right?
Slide 15 Now, the challenge is on you, guys. In this era of complexity and plurality of truth, what framework are you going to
embrace? Just take some time to think and review what we have learned so far.
Slide 16 Here are the references that I used for today’s discussion. Thank you and the floor is now open for clarifications and inquiries.
Thanks for listening!
 References

Alexander, L., & Moore, M. (2012). Deontological Ethics. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Billington, R. (2003). Living Philosophy: An introduction to moral thought. London, UK: Routledge.

Zeuschner, R. B. (2001). Classical ethics East and West: Ethics from a comparative perspective. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.