Kant Code Of Ethical Decision Making
In the process of decision making there are various processes that are followed by the decision makers and the stakeholders involved. In organizations, the management and the major stakeholders have the responsibility of decision making. Decisions made at an organizational level may have wide effects in the future. Therefore, it is always important for decision makers to ensure they take into consideration all the factors that may affect the decision making process (Ess, 2002). Having consultations from other professions in similar fields is one of the most fundamental principles that professionals use when caught between important decisions that have to be chosen. There are professional code of ethical that are provided for professionals to be used in the provision of products and services. A constant reference to the
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professional code of ethics helps the professionals to come up with the best decisions to particular problems. There are also philosophical approaches that are relied on at both organizational and individual levels. They offer great insights into the process of decision making and the important factors to be considered sin the long run (Husted & Husted, 2007). This a paper focuses on highlighting the approaches use by three selected philosophers in making decisions during dilemma situations. A comparison of the three ideologies presented by the philosophers will be included.
Kant approach.
Event after 200 years after his death, Kant remains to be a celebrated and popular philosopher.
He had many ideologies that are related to how people are required to relate to each other at individual and organizational levels. The introduction of the Kant principles which required that the individual caught up in dilemma situation should consider particular concepts (Husted & Husted, 2007). First off, Kant argued that before making a decision, one should analyze the situation and try to understand and make out what duty requires. According to him the best decision to make should be what duty requires one to do. This basically means that in the decision making process when caught in dilemma people should refer to professional code of ethics. The professional code of ethic as described by Kant should be the primary source of reference to determine what duty requires one to do. For instance, aim a medical situation, a doctor should refer to what their duty requires and should stick to that to help them make their decisions (Husted & Husted, 2007). They should be guided by the professional code of ethics for doctors in selecting the best
choices.
Mill approach.
John Stuart is considered to be the pioneer in the creation of the utilitarian approach to decision making, the philosopher based his argument of ethical decision making as coming up with a distinction between what is good and evil. According to him, before making a decision an individual should be able to differentiate what is right and wrong or what is good or evil (Markham, Buchanan & AoIR, 2012). Upon mastering this, it is then possible to decide on the most appropriate choices that can be used in different situations. There are a number of steps that should be followed in the execution of the Utilitarian approach of decision making. First off, all the available options are analyzed. This includes checking on the implications of all the available alternatives. Secondly the benefits and the harms that may be realized from adopting any of the available approaches should be analyzed. All the individuals that are likely to be affected by the decision selected should also be identified and the extent of harm or benefits analyzed (Markham, Buchanan & AoIR, 2012; Husted & Husted, 2007). The last step in this approach includes selecting the most suitable approach that has the least harm and the most benefits.
Aristotle
Aristotle created the fairness approach that is used in decision making. According to Aristotle, his approach focused on whether the actions taken by individuals were fair and justifiable to all the subjects involved. He argued that all decisions made should be based on whether they promote favoritism or discrimination in the long run (Markham, Buchanan & AoIR, 2012). If the decision to be made promoted either of the two, then it was not fair at all and not worth to be considered.
Held’s approach.
This is an approach that is primarily based on making decisions based on the virtues of an individual. People are expected to rely on their moral virtue in decision making (Husted & Husted, 2007). Their conscience should guide them in selecting what is right and wrong. When caught in a dilemma, the principles of personal virtues should be consulted to come up with the most appropriate.
Comparing all the four approaches of decision making, it is evident that all of them are inclined towards making the right decisions, there are factors and procedures that should be followed by the decision makers to come up with the most appropriate decisions for different situations. However, John Mill offers the best approach of making decisions when caught in dilemma situations. The process of decision making according to mill should involve the decision makers analyzing all the possible alternative. The benefits and the harm Stuart may be caused by selecting the most suitable alternatives should also be weighed and the one with the least harm and most benefits should be adopted.
professional code of ethics helps the professionals to come up with the best decisions to particular problems. There are also philosophical approaches that are relied on at both organizational and individual levels. They offer great insights into the process of decision making and the important factors to be considered sin the long run (Husted & Husted, 2007). This a paper focuses on highlighting the approaches use by three selected philosophers in making decisions during dilemma situations. A comparison of the three ideologies presented by the philosophers will be included.
Kant approach.
Event after 200 years after his death, Kant remains to be a celebrated and popular philosopher.
He had many ideologies that are related to how people are required to relate to each other at individual and organizational levels. The introduction of the Kant principles which required that the individual caught up in dilemma situation should consider particular concepts (Husted & Husted, 2007). First off, Kant argued that before making a decision, one should analyze the situation and try to understand and make out what duty requires. According to him the best decision to make should be what duty requires one to do. This basically means that in the decision making process when caught in dilemma people should refer to professional code of ethics. The professional code of ethic as described by Kant should be the primary source of reference to determine what duty requires one to do. For instance, aim a medical situation, a doctor should refer to what their duty requires and should stick to that to help them make their decisions (Husted & Husted, 2007). They should be guided by the professional code of ethics for doctors in selecting the best
choices.
Mill approach.
John Stuart is considered to be the pioneer in the creation of the utilitarian approach to decision making, the philosopher based his argument of ethical decision making as coming up with a distinction between what is good and evil. According to him, before making a decision an individual should be able to differentiate what is right and wrong or what is good or evil (Markham, Buchanan & AoIR, 2012). Upon mastering this, it is then possible to decide on the most appropriate choices that can be used in different situations. There are a number of steps that should be followed in the execution of the Utilitarian approach of decision making. First off, all the available options are analyzed. This includes checking on the implications of all the available alternatives. Secondly the benefits and the harms that may be realized from adopting any of the available approaches should be analyzed. All the individuals that are likely to be affected by the decision selected should also be identified and the extent of harm or benefits analyzed (Markham, Buchanan & AoIR, 2012; Husted & Husted, 2007). The last step in this approach includes selecting the most suitable approach that has the least harm and the most benefits.
Aristotle
Aristotle created the fairness approach that is used in decision making. According to Aristotle, his approach focused on whether the actions taken by individuals were fair and justifiable to all the subjects involved. He argued that all decisions made should be based on whether they promote favoritism or discrimination in the long run (Markham, Buchanan & AoIR, 2012). If the decision to be made promoted either of the two, then it was not fair at all and not worth to be considered.
Held’s approach.
This is an approach that is primarily based on making decisions based on the virtues of an individual. People are expected to rely on their moral virtue in decision making (Husted & Husted, 2007). Their conscience should guide them in selecting what is right and wrong. When caught in a dilemma, the principles of personal virtues should be consulted to come up with the most appropriate.
Comparing all the four approaches of decision making, it is evident that all of them are inclined towards making the right decisions, there are factors and procedures that should be followed by the decision makers to come up with the most appropriate decisions for different situations. However, John Mill offers the best approach of making decisions when caught in dilemma situations. The process of decision making according to mill should involve the decision makers analyzing all the possible alternative. The benefits and the harm Stuart may be caused by selecting the most suitable alternatives should also be weighed and the one with the least harm and most benefits should be adopted.