Compare and Contrast Five Ethical Models
Compare and Contrast Five Ethical Models
Ethics and Society, MPA 607
Alexis E. Anthony
Belhaven University February 28, 2013 Ethics play an integral and necessary part in our lives. An individual’s course of action is dictated by which ethical model they adhere to. Ethics answers the question, "What do I do?" It is the study of right and wrong. “At a more fundamental level, it is the method by which we categorize our values and pursue them. Do we pursue our own happiness, or do we sacrifice ourselves to a greater cause? Is that foundation of ethics based on the Bible, or on the very nature of man himself, or neither?” (Hursthouse, 2012) A proper foundation of ethics requires a standard of value so that an individual can compare their goals and actions to it. This standard of value allows us to achieve happiness as it provides a measurement of what is right and what is wrong. This standard is our own lives, and the happiness which makes them livable. This is our ultimate standard of value, the goal in which an ethical man must always aim. It is arrived at by an examination of man's nature, and recognizing his peculiar needs. “A system of ethics must further consist of not only emergency situations, but the day to day choices we make constantly. It must include our relations to others, and recognize their importance not only to our physical survival, but to our well-being and happiness. It must recognize that our lives are an end in themselves, and that sacrifice is not only not necessary, but destructive,” Landauer & Rowlands, 2001). Ethics has always been a cornerstone for personal life, but recent years have seen an increase focus on ethics in business. There are many who believe that their actions in business are separate from their home life and should be held to a different standard. This learner does not believe this is a good practice. Adults spend the majority of their working hours in their business settings. It would be
Ethics and Society, MPA 607
Alexis E. Anthony
Belhaven University February 28, 2013 Ethics play an integral and necessary part in our lives. An individual’s course of action is dictated by which ethical model they adhere to. Ethics answers the question, "What do I do?" It is the study of right and wrong. “At a more fundamental level, it is the method by which we categorize our values and pursue them. Do we pursue our own happiness, or do we sacrifice ourselves to a greater cause? Is that foundation of ethics based on the Bible, or on the very nature of man himself, or neither?” (Hursthouse, 2012) A proper foundation of ethics requires a standard of value so that an individual can compare their goals and actions to it. This standard of value allows us to achieve happiness as it provides a measurement of what is right and what is wrong. This standard is our own lives, and the happiness which makes them livable. This is our ultimate standard of value, the goal in which an ethical man must always aim. It is arrived at by an examination of man's nature, and recognizing his peculiar needs. “A system of ethics must further consist of not only emergency situations, but the day to day choices we make constantly. It must include our relations to others, and recognize their importance not only to our physical survival, but to our well-being and happiness. It must recognize that our lives are an end in themselves, and that sacrifice is not only not necessary, but destructive,” Landauer & Rowlands, 2001). Ethics has always been a cornerstone for personal life, but recent years have seen an increase focus on ethics in business. There are many who believe that their actions in business are separate from their home life and should be held to a different standard. This learner does not believe this is a good practice. Adults spend the majority of their working hours in their business settings. It would be
References: Manuel Velasquez, M., Andre, C. Shanks, Myer, Michael & Myer, S.J. Ethical Relativism. Retrieved from: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/ethicalrelativism.html The Holy Bible Houser, Rick, Wilczenski, Felicia L., Ham, MaryAnna. 2006. Culturally Relevant Ethical Decision-Making in Counseling. Sage Publications, Inc. Retrieved from: http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/10976_Chapter_4.pdf Rainbow, Catherine. 2002. Descriptions of Ethical Theories and Principles. Department of Biology, Davidson College. Retrieved from: http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/kabernd/Indep/carainbow/Theories.htm Cline, Austin. Deontology and Ethics: What is Deontology, Deontological Ethics? Ethics as Obedience to Duty and God: Is Being Ethical just Being Obedient?. Retrieved from: http://atheism.about.com/od/ethicalsystems/a/Deontological.html Hursthouse, Rosalind. Virtue Ethics. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2012 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Retrieved from: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue/ Kraut, Richard. 2008. Aristotle’s Ethics. Retrieved from: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-ethics/#EthVirDis Stanley, Charles. How Should Christians Act in the Workplace? Retrieved from: http://www.jesus.org/following-jesus/evangelism-and-missions/how-should-christians-act-in-the-workplace.html