Ethics and Morality
Assignment Module 2—Ethics
Analysis of Assignment 2 Scenario
Leadership and Ethics
Introduction
Every day people are confronted with decisions, from the simplest to high morality. No one can affirm to have an unblemished record of always making the right decision. In addition, we regularly question how people make decision and what types of factors or cognitive process led them to their choice. It is a question which has been studied by many scholars and many theories have been developed on this subject. There are many factors that can influence someone decision’s process and they would differ based on one’s belief, religion and upbringing to name only a few. The majority of people will be able to live a fulfilling life by using a basic cognitive decision-making model which has four interrelated stages: (1) perception; (2) evaluation; (3) decision; and (4) implementation of the decision.[1]
However, when it comes to decision of high morality, the righteous of your decision must rest on more than the basic cognitive model. For example, in high morality situation, such as having to make the decision as acting commanding Officer (CO) to save the boat by ordering the hatch of a flooding compartment close, knowing that the three men inside will die within minute of your order, requires higher moral reasoning and strong ethics. Fortunately, the study of ethics recognizes various methods of reasoning. These methods have developed over centuries, with one famous thinker elaborating on what another has written, or on the argument that another has refined.[2] To demonstrate the various method the scenario describe above will be processed through Kohlberg cognitive-developmental approach of moral reasoning and study the moral justification of the decision according to the utilitarianism, Kant’s categorical imperative and doctrine of double effect ethical theory. Finally, we will investigate how Jones’ model
Analysis of Assignment 2 Scenario
Leadership and Ethics
Introduction
Every day people are confronted with decisions, from the simplest to high morality. No one can affirm to have an unblemished record of always making the right decision. In addition, we regularly question how people make decision and what types of factors or cognitive process led them to their choice. It is a question which has been studied by many scholars and many theories have been developed on this subject. There are many factors that can influence someone decision’s process and they would differ based on one’s belief, religion and upbringing to name only a few. The majority of people will be able to live a fulfilling life by using a basic cognitive decision-making model which has four interrelated stages: (1) perception; (2) evaluation; (3) decision; and (4) implementation of the decision.[1]
However, when it comes to decision of high morality, the righteous of your decision must rest on more than the basic cognitive model. For example, in high morality situation, such as having to make the decision as acting commanding Officer (CO) to save the boat by ordering the hatch of a flooding compartment close, knowing that the three men inside will die within minute of your order, requires higher moral reasoning and strong ethics. Fortunately, the study of ethics recognizes various methods of reasoning. These methods have developed over centuries, with one famous thinker elaborating on what another has written, or on the argument that another has refined.[2] To demonstrate the various method the scenario describe above will be processed through Kohlberg cognitive-developmental approach of moral reasoning and study the moral justification of the decision according to the utilitarianism, Kant’s categorical imperative and doctrine of double effect ethical theory. Finally, we will investigate how Jones’ model