What are ethics?
The term ethics originates from the Greek word ethikos and later translated into Latin as moralis. Therefore it is easy to see the link between ethics and morals. When we refer to irresponsible behaviour we refer to it as immoral or unethical. The focus is on the character and mannerism of a person. Ethics is based on the fact that it is unselfish and balances what is good for one’s self and what is good for others. An action is therefore unethical if the person doing the action is only concerned about the self and not about the good and the other.
Ethics and values
There is a very close relationship between ethics and values. Values can be described as convictions about what is good or desirable. Differences in people’s values are due to a variety of factors culture, religion, climate, social and economic status, personal experiences, age, gender and a host of other factors can all have an impact on our values. These differences lead to differences in ethical judgement that we typically find among people. Although they are closely related they cannot be equated to each other as our values don’t have to be ethical. This brings me onto my next point of.
Moral Dilemmas
A moral dilemma occurs when an ethical evaluation of a situation produces two or more conflicting judgements. Such moral dilemmas can be of either personal or a social nature.
Business ethics
Economic activity always has an ethical aspect. No matter what type of business is taking place there is always an aspect of ethics. A business transaction occurs when people exchange a product or service for money. If the exchange is fair then both parties benefit and therefore both parties’ interests are served. Therefore this interaction between parti...
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Ethical Decision Making
We need to test our actions against the following criteria is it legal? Does it meet company standards? Is it fair to all stakeholders? Can it be disclosed? A decision making process consists of identifying possible solutions and then considering which of these possibilities has the best potential of solving the problem at hand. To find an optimal solution for a problem, it is important to explore as many alternative options as possible. There are 5 steps in the decision process these are discern the ethical issue, Identify possibilities, determine impact on stakeholders, appraise against ethical criteria and select a viable ethical option. In the disclosure process one would need to explain their reason for the option chosen and if a person can do this in a public forum then they reasonably believe that their choice is ethical.
An ethical dilemma is defined as a moral issue, where a situation has two equivalent undesirable alternatives and neither choice will resolve the ethical predicament.
Ethics are the principles that shape individual lives in modern society. It is a subjective idea that seems to have a standard in society. Ethics and morals are the major factors that guide individuals to make right and wrong choices. Something that is morally right to one person might be the very opposite of what another person would view as right. There are many factors that can trigger a change in an individual’s view of morality.
Ethics: while defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the discipline dealing with what is good or bad [through] moral duty”, this concise phrase does not seem to encompass the word’s full connotation. The way ‘ethics’ is defined in the dictionary alludes that there is a black-and-white answer to whether an action, belief, or opinion is ethical. Unfortunately, when applying this term to real life, decisions are almost never as clear cut as right or wrong. Why then, are we so quick to judge things as right or wrong, good or bad, ethical or unethical?
Ethics in business is a highly important concept, as it can affect a company’s profits, salaries paid to employees and CEOs, and public opinion, among many other aspects of a business. Ethics can be enforced by company policies and guidelines, set a precedent when a company is faced with an important decision, and are also evolving thanks to new technology and situations that arise due to technology usage. Businesses have a duty to maintain their ethical responsibilities and also to help their employees enforce these responsibilities in and out of the workplace. However, ethics and the foundation for them are not always black and white. There are many different ethical theories, however Utilitarianism, Kant’s Deontological ethics, and Virtue ethics are three of the most well known theories in existence. Each theory is distinct in that it has a different quality used to determine ethicality and allows for a person to choose which system of ethics works best with both the situation and his or her personal ethical preferences.
Question of morality is a controversial one and usually occurs when things take a turn for the worse. What do people considered being morally right and what is morally wrong? Does law dictate it or do we follow ethics? Where people believe that there is not other solution but to commit a deed that can ultimately lead to destruction, question of faith and sometimes death. Each person has his or her very own opinion of what is deemed moral and what is not.
Ethics or being ethical is simply based on a person’s capability to choose what is right or wrong or good or bad. Ethics can be defined as the body of moral principles or values governing or distinctive of a particular culture or group. (Banks C. , 2009). Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the study of questions of right and wrong and how we ought to live our lives; A system of moral principles (Banks C. , 2009). Over all, morality rests squarely on the shoulders one’s early social environment.
It is important to note that morals only apply to individual action and consequence. Ethics, however, apply to the actions of two or more people. Ethics are meaningless unless applied in a social context. Ethics serve to define the acceptable actions of the individual within the social structure. Ethics are established through the consensus of many people and with the guidance of human experience. Ethics serve the purpose of deciding what is right in society according to your peers, subordinates, and superiors.
In the profession of Dental Hygiene, ethical dilemmas are nearly impossible to avoid, and most hygienists at some point in their professional life will have to face and answer ethical questions. Some ethical conflicts the dental hygienist may encounter can be quite complex and an obvious answer may not be readily available. In the article Ethical Decision Making, Phyllis Beemsterboer suggests an ethical decision-making model can aide the dental hygienist in making appropriate decisions when confronted with an ethical situation, and that the six-step model can serve dental hygienists in making the most advantageous ethical decision (2010).
An ethical dilemma is a complicated situation that involves an evident conflict between moral rules, in which to obey one would result in disobeying another. Sometimes called ethical paradoxes in moral philosophy, ethical dilemmas are often invoked in an attempt to contradict an ethical system or moral code, or to improve it so as to resolve the paradox.
An ethical dilemma is a form of problem facing an individual, which includes complex and often conflicting principles of ethical behaviour. A typical example of an ethical dilemma is a salesman; when selling a certain type of product he may face the dilemma of telling the truth about a product and end up losing a sale and his commission. However, he may feel that being truthful reveals he wants the best for the customers and is being more considerate about them. It all depends on how you deal and understand a situation.
The term “ethics” refers to an external set of rules that have been established by an institution or organization, for example, a university, and the members are expected to follow them. On the other hand, integrity refers to an individuals’ internal set of principles that guides their actions and behavior (Czimbal and Brooks n.p.). As a rule, people are usually rewarded when they follow ethical codes of conduct by an external committee or board that monitors their behavior. For a person of high integrity, the benefits are usually intrinsic. Moreover, such individuals always make the right decisions even when they are not being watched. Therefore, this feature of character is often influenced by a person’s upbringing. In
[1] Ethics is defined as “the code of moral principles and values that governs the behaviour of a person or a group with respect to what is right or wrong” (Samson and Daft, 2005, p.158)
In the business world there are many fundamental aspects and situations that can lead to several issues. In order to find an optimal and professional solution, business decision makers need to apply moral and ethical standards. And it is at that moment in which business ethics perform its role. Business ethics, which is in charge of examine how companies and individuals should act in business situations, is very essential in order to reach a common agreement and to work within the laws of business and solve an arisen dilemma. Working of the hand of ethical business companies, employees, investors, directors, and even individual officers can be beneficiated and obtain most favorable outcomes.
"According to Norman E. Bowie, "Ethics is two things. First, 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, fairness, or specific virtues. Ethics, for example, refers to those standards that impose the reasonable obligations to refrain from rape, stealing, murder, assault, slander, and fr...
Moral ethics is the belief that all human beings are born to know right from wrong. We come into this world as good people, but the temptations and challenges in life influence our mind set to as it will. Every person on Earth chooses if they’re to follow through with their life of good or go down the path of bad. “A person’s moral ethics” (unknown.)