Chapter 1

Understanding
Ethics

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 Reflection

What is “Ethics”?

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 “Ethics is about how we meet
the challenge of doing the right
thing when that will cost more
than we want to pay”
The Josephson Institute of
Ethics

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 What is Ethics?

How people try to live their lives

according to a standard of “right” or
“wrong” behaviors -- in both how we
think and behave toward others and how
we would like them to think and behave
toward us.

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 Understanding Right and Wrong
We are instructed to:
•developing our own ‘Moral
Compass’
•do what is “right”!!!
•follow our values
– Intrinsic value – pursued for its
own sake: Health, Happiness,
Self-respect
– Instrumental value – pursued to
help reach another value: Money
for shopping to be “happy”

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 Value Conflicts

Lying – R or W? to protect the life of your loved one?

Stealing – R or W? to steal food for starving people?

Killing – R or W? to self-defend your own life or to save

other lives?

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 Ethical Theories

The Golden Rule

Universal Ethics Virtue Ethics

Utilitarianism

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 Ethical Theories
• Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you or treat
others as you would like to be
treated.
• Found in Buddhism, Christianity,
Hinduism
• How about Vietnamese culture?

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 Ethical Theories
• Virtue Ethics: individual character and integrity
established a concept of living one’s life
• Aristotle (Greek philosopher):

Wisdom – Courage – Justice

In contrast, Christian societies value faith, hope, and

charity.

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 Ethical Theories
• Utilitarianism (David Hume – Scottish philosopher)
Greatest good for greatest number of people
• The ends justify the means

EXPLAIN: Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by

focusing on outcomes. It is a form of consequentialism. Utilitarianism holds that the
most ethical choice is the one that will produce the greatest good for the greatest
number.
EX: Utilitarianism is therefore concerned with actions that produce benefit and avoid
harm. Utilitarian workplace values include honesty, keeping promises,
professionalism, caring for others, accountability and avoiding conflicts of interest.

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 Ethical Theories
• Universal Ethics (Immanuel Kant –German philosopher):
certain universal principles should apply to all ethical
judgments
• Actions are taken out of duty and obligation to a purely
moral ideal rather than based on the needs of the
situation, since the universal principles are seen to apply
to everyone, everywhere, all the time.

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 Ethical Relativism

Where the traditions of your society,

your personal opinions, and the
circumstances of the present moment
define your ethical principles.

This offers a degree of flexibility for

different circumstances.
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 Ethical Dilemmas

Sometimes the decision you must make requires you to make

a ‘right’ choice knowing full well that you are: (face tradeoffs)
– Leaving an equally ‘right’ choice undone.
– Likely to suffer something bad as a result of that choice.
– Contradicting a personal ethical principle in making that choice.
– Abandoning an ethical value of your community or society in making
that choice.

Applied ethics is putting theory into practice. It becomes a

question of what will/did you do instead of what would you
do.
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 Resolving Ethical Dilemmas - I
• Step One: Analyze the consequences.
– Consider short vs. long run
– Consider benefit vs. harm

• Step Two: Analyze the actions.

– Are they fair, equal, honest, respectful?

• Step Three: Make a decision.

– Can you live with the outcome?
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 Resolving Ethical Dilemmas - II
• What are the facts?
• What can you guess about the facts you don’t know? (refer to Johari
Window)
• What do the facts mean? Search by definitions and give examples
• What does the problem look like through the eyes of the people
involved?
• What will happen if you choose one thing rather than another?
• What do your feelings tell you?
• What will you think of yourself if you decide one thing or another?
• Can you explain and justify your decision to others?

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