ENDURING

deals with the is-sues of right and wrong in human affairs we

are
ethical dilemmas when we ask ourselves whether what we do is fair
or itnmorai. honest or dishonest. and just or unjust. For example. it okay to
classmate and submit your work as if you did it yourself? _ •
to cheat during examinations just so you can pass the subject? Is it okay to
school requirement even if you don't just so she gives you
okay to buy a stolen necklace at half the original price? Questions like
us every day, and however we respond to them will determine, in more ways
the kind of person that we are.
But should we care about ethics? Why should we worry about whether
do is good or bad, when the outcome is seemingly good to us? You copy
you cheat, you get a good grade. You lie to your mom about your school
earn money. You buy a stolen necklace, you save money. But try to flip the
vould you react if your teacher gives you a failing mark even when you did well
cheating, just because she did not check your exam papers well? How about if
mom does not give you money even when you have an urgent school
because she prioritizes gambling? What about if your necklace was stolen and
at half the original price? Surely, you won't feel good at all, and you might
kind of individuals your teacher, your mother, and the thief are. We need to care
ethics, then, because they benefit us in particular, and the society in general.
will live in a better society if students are honest and teachers are fair,
childrea
lie and parents care for their children, and people don't steal. Moreover, we
benefn
doctors who prioritize the health of patients over money, from government leaders *
are not corrupt, from police officers who protect the citizens, etc.
ETHICS COMMUNICATION NORMS
As we have already discussed in Lesson I, communication is something that
every day. Since communication is an everyday activity, it should also observe
ethxi
standards because ethical communication gives rise to trust. Only when people
perceive
us as ethical and trustworthy will we be able to make them believe in what we
Brydon and Scott (2008) listed some norms for ethical communication:
1. be Truthful. Truthfulness is fundamental to all forms of
Communicators who are caught lying will bse their credibility and the goodwi
of the audience, which are essential to influencing them.