Values and Ethics
- Principles or standards that guide behavior, reflecting what is important to an individual or group.
- Moral principles that govern behavior, determining what is right or wrong.
- Values and ethics are essential in guiding human behavior and decision-making.
- They help us distinguish between right and wrong, fair and unfair, just and unjust, legal and illegal, proper and improper.
- Culture is the ideas, laws, customs, and social behavior that people or societies live by.
- Cultures usually shape values and ethics.
Differences Between Values and Ethics
- Values are the principles and ideas that individuals or groups consider important.
- Ethics are the moral principles that guide behavior, often based on values.
A code of conduct for a professional organization may include principles like honesty, integrity, and respect.
Purpose and Impact
Values and ethics:
- Influence and shape ideas, practices, systems, and spaces.
- Guide choices and actions in every aspect of human activity.
Ethical Frameworks
Ethical frameworks help us make decisions by focusing on:
- The person performing the action.
- The action itself.
- The consequences of the action.
There is no universal agreement on which perspective is most important, leading to ethical conflicts.
Virtue/Character-Based Ethics
- Focuses on the type of person performing the action.
- Assumes that a good person will make the right decision.
A shopkeeper who protects their store from a thief may be considered virtuous.
Deontological/Rule-Based Ethics
- Focuses on the action itself.
- Assumes that certain actions are always right or wrong, regardless of the circumstances.
Killing is always wrong, so the shopkeeper who shot the thief should be punished.
Utilitarian/Consequential-Based Ethics
- Focuses on the overall consequences of the action.
- Assumes that the right action is the one that maximizes overall good.
The shopkeeper removed a dangerous person from society, so their actions were justified.
Challenges in Settling Ethical Issues
- Different ethical frameworks can lead to contradictory conclusions.
- Compromises are often necessary, but they may not satisfy everyone.
- What are the differences between values and ethics?
- How do ethical frameworks influence decision-making?
- Why are ethical issues often difficult to settle?
Can values and ethics be universal, or are they always context-dependent?
