Ethical Systems Table
Directions:
1. Fill in brief definitions of each primary ethical theory. ➢ Deontological- Duty based approach. Moral obligation or commitment to act in a certain manner. (“Introduction to Ethics for University of Phoenix Students,” n.d.). ➢ Teleological or consequentialism- Goal based. Ethicist’s believe people who practice this type of approach believe there is a design to the universe. Goal is to achieve the most perfect society. (“Introduction to Ethics for University of Phoenix Students,” n.d.). ➢ Rights Based- Norms in society receive their force from the idea of mutual agreement. Certain things are acceptable because the majority of people agree the behavior is acceptable. …show more content…
(“Introduction to Ethics for University of Phoenix Students,” n.d.). ➢ Human Nature- Extremes of human behavior, both good and bad. Practitioners find little room for middle ground. (“Introduction to Ethics for University of Phoenix Students,” n.d.). ➢ Relativistic- People who believe their ethical systems entirely on their feelings in a particular situation. Personalized system with no absolute rights and wrongs. More actions are subject rather than objective. (“Introduction to Ethics for University of Phoenix Students,” n.d.). ➢ Entitlement based - People base their ethical systems entirely on their feelings in a particular situation. Moral decisions based on what’s right for the individual. Relationships and the needs of the business don’t matter. (“Introduction to Ethics for University of Phoenix Students,” n.d.). ➢ Virtue- Highest standard available. Determined by community standards or religious beliefs. (“Introduction to Ethics for University of Phoenix Students,” n.d.).
2. Identify alternate names or variations of each ethical system based on your reading of the text and supplemental materials. ➢ Deontological- Pluralism, moral rights, rights based ➢ Teleological or Consequentialism- Utilitarianism, Consequentialism ➢ Rights Based- Justice, Equality ➢ Human Nature- Egoists, Hedonists, Virtue ➢ Relativistic- Morality is relative to the norms of culture. No universal moral standards. ➢ Entitlement Based- Distributive justice. Justice is Acquisition. ➢ Virtue- Community Standards, Religious training.
(“Introduction to Ethics for University of Phoenix Students,” n.d.).
Match the real-world examples listed below with the corresponding systems. The first one has been completed for you in the table.
a. I believe people should be able to eat sand if they like the taste of it. b. I believe that if sand is going to be eaten, it should be available for everyone to eat. c. I believe people should be able to eat sand because it is the right thing to do. d. I believe people should be able to eat sand because it is good for one’s health. e. I believe people should be able to eat sand if they decide they want to, regardless of whether it is someone else’s sand. f. I believe people should be able to eat sand if they want to because they are free to make the decision themselves. g. I believe I will eat sand because it is the standard meal for my community.
3. Develop your own workplace example that fits with each system. Present each workplace scenario in a substantial paragraph of approximately 40 words. Although the table field will expand to accommodate your workplace examples, you may list them at the end of the table; make a note in the table to see the attached examples, however, so your facilitator knows to look for scenarios below the table.
4. Format references according to APA standards and include them after the table.
|Ethical Theory or |Brief Definition |Other Names for Theory |Real-world Example|Workplace Example |
|System | | | | |
| | | | | |
| |Regardless of consequences, | | | |
| |certain moral principles are | | |It is my duty to follow through with |
| |binding, focusing on duty rather | | |instructions my boss gives me, even if I |
| |than results or moral obligation | | |do not agree with the concept. It is my |
| |over what the individual would |Deontology, pluralism, |C |moral obligation to respect authority |
| |prefer to do (Treviño & Nelson, |moral rights, rights-based|I believe people |figures.
|
| |2007, Ch. 4). | |should be able to | |
|Duty-based Ethics | |Categorical imperative |eat sand because | |
| |In ethics, deontological ethics, | |it is the right | |
| |or deontology (Greek: deon meaning|Golden rule |thing to do. | |
| |obligation or duty), is a theory | | | |
| |holding that decisions should be | | |
|
| |made solely or primarily by | | | |
| |considering one's duties and the | | | |
| |rights of others. Some systems are| | | |
| |based on biblical or tenets from | | | |
| |sacred. | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | |F | |
| |Goal Based, intricate design to | |I believe people | |
| |the universe, goal is to achieve | |should be able to | |
| |most perfect society possible. | |eat sand if they | |
| | |Consequentialism |want to because |It is my duty to show up to work on time. |
| |“Theory of morality that derives |Utilitariasm |they are free to |I have a responsibility to be there on |
|Consequence-based |duty or moral obligation from what| |make that decision|time and if I do not show up on time I |
|Ethics |is good or desirable as an end to | |themselves. |will be reprimanded. |
| |be achieved. Also known as | | | |
| |consequentiality ethics, it is | | | |
| |opposed to deontological ethics | | | |
| |(from the Greek deon, “duty”), | | | |
| |which holds that the basic | | | |
| |standards for an action’s being | | | |
| |morally right are independent of | | | |
| |the good or evil generated”. | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| |Norms in society stem their force | |G | |
| |from the idea of mutual agreement.| |I believe I will |Even though there is closing paperwork to |
| |Certain things are acceptable in a|Justice, Equality |eat sand because |do and we are suppose to do it I am not |
| |community because the overall | |it is the standard|going to because nobody else does it |
|Rights-based Ethics |behavior of the community is the | |meal for my |either. |
| |same. | |community. | |
| | | |d | |
| |Passions and flaws of humans as a | |I believe people | |
| |real issue. Extremes of human |Egoists, Hedonists, Virtue|should be able to |I believe the company should allow us to |
| |behavior, both good and bad. No | |eat sand because |take longer lunches. |
| |room for middle ground. | |it is good for | |
|Human Nature Ethics | | |ones health. | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| |Personalized system with no |Morality is relative to |E | |
| |absolute wrongs or rights. |the norms of culture. |I believe people | |
| |Morality is relative to the norms | |should be able to |I am offended when my boss uses profanity |
| |of one culture. |No universal moral |eat sand if they |around me. I didn’t like hearing profanity|
| | |standards. |decide they want |growing up therefore I don’t like it now. |
| |“That is, whether an action is | |to , regardless of| |
| |right or wrong depends on the | |whether it is | |
|Relativistic Ethics |moral norms of the society in | |someone else’s | |
| |which it is practiced.” | |sand. | |
| |(Velasquez, Markula Center for | | | |
| |Applied Ethics). | | | |
| | | | | |
| |People base their ethical systems | | | |
| |entirely on their feelings in a |Distributive justice. |A |I believe I am entitles to the big |
|Entitlement-based |particular situation. No absolute |Justice is Acquisition |I believe people |promotion coming up. I work harder then |
|Ethics |wrongs or rights. | |should be able to |all the other managers and I deserve it |
| | | |eat sand if they |more then all of them. I put |
| | | |like the taste of |In longer hours and have put in my time. |
| | | |it. |That is why I believe I am entitled to the|
| | | | |new position. |
| | | | | |
| |Virtue is determined by community |Community Standards |B | |
| |standards or religious training. | |I believe that if |I believe everyone should do their best to|
| |Highest standard available. |Religious Training |Sand is going to |represent the company they are working for|
|Virtue-based ethics |Integrity, character, intentions | |be eaten, it |with honesty, integrity, transparency and |
| |and motivation of a person are | |should be |loyalty. |
| |more important that act itself. | |available for | |
| | | |everyone to eat. | |
Reference
Treviño, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2007). Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do it right (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Introduction to Ethics for University of Phoenix Students. (n.d.). University of Phoenix Material, 1(1), 1.
Velasquez, M. (Markula Center for Applied Ethics). . Santa Clara University. Retrieved from http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/ethicalrelativism.html