Develop an ethical decision making philosophy

Describe the three major ethical theories provided. Develop your own ethical decision making philosophy.

Instructions

Major ethical theories, as well as other ethics principles . Write your personal ethics and philosophical theory based on either: Virtue Ethics, Teleological, and Deontological. Explain which theory guides your decision-making in your personal life, as well as in your current/future professional employment. Include personal experiences that have helped shape your ethical philosophy and decision-making skills. As future professional leaders, provide your leadership style that will help ensure moral conduct in your workplace. Identify specific practices you would employ to guide better decision-making. Base your personal philosophy on your background, experiences, and choices made. These theories may also be researched further on the Internet if desired.

Minimum four (4) double-spaced pages .Follow APA format. Provide references if used.

 

 

 

Ethical Decision-Making

1. Identify the correct problem/issue to be solved/decided

2. Gather all info from all resources

3. Explore codes of conduct/ethics

4. Examine personal values and beliefsreflection

5. Consult peers- similar situations? Ethical Decision-Making

6. List all options (choices that can be made)

7. Look for win-win situation (for all sides)

8. What if this was in newspaper? Will it affect your decision?

9. Sleep on it- no hasty or impulsive decisions

10. Make best decision

11. Evaluate your decision

 

 

 

 

Virtue ethics

Virtue-based ethical theories place much less emphasis on which rules people should follow and instead

focuses on the development of good character traits, such as kindness, honesty and generosity.

1. General moral excellence. 2. A specific moral quality regarded as good. 3. Chastity.

Historically, virtue theory is one of the oldest normative traditions in Western philosophy, having its roots in ancient Greek civilization

Plato emphasized four virtues in particular, which were later called cardinal virtues:

Wisdom

Courage

Temperance

-Justice

Other important virtues mentioned by virtue ethics theorists are fortitude, generosity, self-respect, good temper, and sincerity

These character traits will, in turn, allow a person to make the ethical decisions throughout life.

Virtue theorists also emphasize the need for people to learn how to break bad habits of character, like greed anger, malice, or dishonesty.

Virtue theory emphasizes moral education since virtuous character traits are developed in one’s youth.

Adults (parents/guardians), therefore, are responsible for instilling virtues in youth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teleological: Origin

Teleological, from the Greek word telos, or end, since the end result of the action is the sole determining factor of its morality.

Teleological moral systems are characterized primarily by a focus on the consequences which any action might have (for that reason, they are often referred to as consequentalist moral systems)

An action is morally right if the consequences of that action are more favorable than unfavorable.

Consequentialist theories became popular in the 18th century by philosophers who wanted a quick way to morally assess an action by appealing to experience, rather than by appealing to gut intuitions or long lists of questionable duties.

Consequentialist or teleological normative principles require that we first tally both the good and bad consequences of an action.

Second, we then determine whether the total good consequences outweigh the total bad consequences.

If the good consequences are greater, then the action is morally proper. If the bad consequences are greater, then the action is morally improper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deontological

Deontological is derived from duty theories that base morality on specific, foundational principles of obligation.

These theories are sometimes called deontological, from the Greek word deon, or duty, in view of the foundational nature of our duty or obligation.

Deontology is a highly principled ethic which does not concern itself directly with consequences.

They are also sometimes called nonconsequentialist since these principles are obligatory, irrespective of the consequences that might follow from our actions.

Assumption: Certain moral rights exist prior to social conventions and laws

Rule: Respect the rights of others

Rights are correlated with duties or responsibilities

Thus, in order to make the correct, moral choices, we simply have to understand what our moral duties are and what correct rules exist which regulate those duties.

When we follow our duty, we are behaving morally. When we fail to follow our duty, we are behaving immorally.

In a classic example, suppose I borrow my neighbor’s gun and promise to return it when he asks for it. One day, in a fit of rage, my neighbor pounds on my door and asks for the gun so that he can take vengeance on someone. On the one hand, the duty of fidelity obligates me to return the gun; on the other hand, the duty of nonmaleficence obligates me to avoid injuring others and thus not return the gun.