Nature of MoralityWhy to study Ethics
Answer all these questions in just yes or
no:
1:You did not help a person who met with an accident in front
of you and was lying on the road waiting for someone to
give him assistance?
2:Have you ever bribed someone for getting your work done?
3:Have you ever discriminated someone because of his
color, gender or any other thing?
/f the answer of any of the above mentioned
points is yes then my friend its time for you to
fearn ethics!Origin of the word Ethics
ae word ethics comes from a Greek
word
“Etho"
Which means character, behavior and
custom.
aDifferent views about Ethics
A few years ago, sociologist Raymond Baum hart asked business
people, “What does ethics mean to you?” Among their replies
were the following:
» Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or
wrong.
» Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs.
» Being ethical is doing what the law requires.
» Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our society
accepts.Definition of Ethics
» Ethics: Man is a social animal. Man himself has derived certain
principles to govern his own individual and group behavior ,
their basic objective is always mutual existence and peace .
By ensuring security and protection these standards helps in
the survival of the particular community and thus its
members. These standards of behavior are called “ethics.”
Ethics: Refers to well-based standards of right and wrong
that prescribe what humans ought to do,
usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society .
Ethics, for example, refers to those standards(accepted
behaviors) that impose the reasonable obligations to avoid
stealing, murder, assault and fraud.Definition of Ethics
» Ethics also refers to the study of
“morality”
Morality refers to the human conduct, which is....
‘what is right and what is wrong”.
> — Ethicists use the term ethics to refer primarily to the study of morality,
just as chemists use the term chemistry to refer to the study of chemical
substancesBusiness Ethics
> By business ethics we mean the study of right
and wrong (good and bad) human conduct in
business.
» would it be right for a store manager to break a
promise to a customer and sell some hard to find
merchandize to someone else.
» Would it be right not to hire a person on the base
of religion, color, nationality etc.
» Promoting a person purely on his competencies.
aImportance of Business Ethics
v Good Image/Reputation:
Businesses conducted on ethical bases are enjoying good image.
v Balance the needs and wishes of stakeholders
Business ethics requires businesses to think about the impact of
its decisions on people or stakeholders who are affected by those
decisions.
v Employee Retention: A successful Business Ethics program
establishes a culture where fair rewards system is practiced that is
ultimately satisfying employees/ internal customers.
v Setting the Example :Ethical Business Practices
points out that businesses is practicing the highest ethical
standards are also the most profitable and successful in their
industry.Levels of Business Ethics
Organizational level: Ethical issue arises when a person is
asked to perform an unethical or illegal act to earn profit for
the company. In such a situation the organizational member
should examine the firm’s code of ethics before making any
decision.
Example:
Societal level: Business operating in a society should be in
accordance with the laws and traditions of that particular
society.
Example: Business activities acceptable in USA may not be
acceptable in Afghanistan.Moral Vs Non moral standards
» Moral Standards:
These are concern behaviors
that is of serious results/output
to human welfare, it can either
seriously injure or benefit
people like.......
> Stealing
> Lying
» Murdering
> Helping an injured person
» Helping needy personOrigin of Moral Standards
During childhood moral standards are
absorbed from family, friends and various
societal institutions. Later in life experiences,
learning and intellectual development help a
person in forming
these standards
aMoral Vs Non moral standards
In_a business context moral standards
would be.....
« Whether products are harmful or healthful.
« Work conditions are safe or dangerous.
+ Personnel procedures biased or fair.Moral Vs Non moral standards
Non moral standards are P
what falls outside the
sphere
of moral standards é
or
eo
are those 2
conducts or actions
that is not of that much °
serious results /outputs. ~ ¢
aMoral Vs Non moral standards
Examples....
» Coming in informal dress to office is also a non
moral behavior.
» Attending calls during a meeting is also a non
moral act.
» Saying “thank you” to someone.
aBasic Terminologies used in Ethics
«Etiquettes
«Law
«Religion
a1: Etiquettes
Etiquettes
refers to any socially
acceptable code of behavior &
it comes under the context of
Non moral standards,
because its results are
not of serious nature.
Etiquettes are something that
is concerned with manners.
a1: Etiquettes
Examples.....
1: Push your chair back into place upon
leaving a dinner table is a good
etiquette.
2: It is considered a good etiquette
to say “please” or “thank you” to
someone.2: Law
Law. Means rules and
guidelines
approved by a state for the public.
Legal acts... Are those acts
which are in accordance with the
law.
Illegal acts.... Violating the law.
Note: laws differs from country to
country2: Law
A: An action can be illegal but ethically right.
Helping Jewish family to hide from the “Nazis”
was against German law in 1939.
but it would have been ethically right.
B: An action that is legal can be ethically wrong.
It may be perfectly legal act for the
chairman of a company to layoff employees,
but ethically it is not permissible.3:Religion
Religion...
Religion involves moral instructions,
guidelines and values.
like...
«No one of you is a believer until he loves for his
brother ,what he loves for himself.
(Islam)
« Good people are those people that consider
what is best for others is best for them.
(Hinduism)
« Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.
(Buddhism)3:Religion
Opinions of philosophers...
A: Some philosophers think that ethics
is based on religion which means that it
is the religion that provides ethical guidelines.
B: Some are of the opinion that ethics is
not dependent on religion like materialists
they don’t believe in any religion then on what basis (personal
standards) they say
“this is right and wrong”
Outcome.. Religion is a source of
morality, but morality is not completely based on
religion.Ethical Relativism (Theory)
Relativists are of the opinion
that ethics is just what a particular
society happens to believe what is
“right and wrong".
or
Morality is something that is related
to particular society, what is right
in one society may be wrong in other.
Example:
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do."Ethical Relativism (Theory)
Example..
Abortion is condemned as
immoral in Afghanistan
but it is practiced as morally
neutral form of controlling
population in Japan.
Abortion is an immoral act...but
» permissible in Japan
>» Not permissible in Afghanistan.Relativism and business
Relativist like Albert Carr.... Are of the
opinion that, Business has its own norms
and rules that is different from society.
‘What is right in business may be
considered wrong in society”
Example..
Marketing strategy in business is permissible
which is used for deceiving customers, but
deceiving someone is not permissible in society.
aConscience
Conscience is a little voice inside of us that
guides us in our actions.
or
These are instructions of our parents that we
have learned, we grow up.
Example...
When you were child, you were told to speak truth
and if you were caught lying, then was probably
y punished sometimes.Limits of Conscience
How reliable guide is this conscience ...
People say that always “follow your
conscience”
But following your conscience is not
always helpful.
Example...
People fall in Love, sometimes when rejected are
thinking consciously that we should now commit
suicide but if they thought using their mind, then
its not a good action.
aCode of Ethics
A Code is a statement of policies or rules
that guides behavior.
International Perspective: Code of ethics for Gov't Service in
USA
1:Put loyalty to the highest moral principle.
2:Uphold the constitution, laws and regulations.
3:Give a full day’s labor a full day’s pay.
4:Seek to find economical ways of getting tasks accomplished.
5:Never discriminate unfairly by giving privileges or favors to
anyone.
6:Make no private promises of any kind binding upon the
duties of office.
7:Expose corruption wherever discovered.