Ethics in Law Enforcement LEA 4343 Quiz

Overview of Ethical Systems

• The chapter covers the ethical system in general, including two main approaches to ethics: normative approach and descriptive approach to ethics.

Normative Approach to Ethics

• Examines what ought to be and how one ought to act.
• A system of moral principles that guide decision-making in difficult situations.
• Importance: serves as a guide in making decisions about what to do in difficult situations.
• Three main types of normative ethical theories:
  • Consequentialism
  • Deontology
  • Virtue ethics

Descriptive Approach to Ethics

• Studies people's views regarding moral beliefs, values, and standards.
• Analyzes what society thinks is right and wrong.
• Different beliefs are categorized into their own classes.
• Examples of descriptive ethics: anthropology, psychology, and sociology.

Integrity in Ethical Systems

• Definition: "strict adherence to moral values and principles" (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary).
• Integrity is the consistency between beliefs, decisions, and actions, and continued adherence to values and principles.
• Types of integrity:
  • Self-integration (self-constitution): integrating various aspects of one's personality into a harmonious whole.
  • Integrity as moral purpose: commitment to living a moral life despite differing views from others.
  • Organizational integrity: ability of organizations to develop and implement an integrity management framework.

Ethical/Moral System and Its Mistakes

• Common Morality System by Bernard Gert: a system of deciding what to do based on common sense and rational decision-making.
• Components of Common Morality:
  • Not to kill
  • Not to cause pain
  • Not to deceive
  • Not to cheat
• Five basic harms in Common Morality:
  • Death
  • Pain
  • Disability
  • Loss of freedom
  • Loss of pleasure

Ethical Systems as Moral Theories/Philosophies

• Attempts to provide a clear account of ethical obligations and clarify what is right or wrong to do in particular situations.
• Some philosophical ethical theories:
  • Utilitarianism: doing what will produce the best outcomes while considering the interests of all concerned parties.
  • Consequentialism: whether an act is moral depends on its consequences.
  • Deontology: following rules that must be respected, such as privacy and respect for others' autonomy.
  • Virtue Theory: focusing on what kinds of people we want to be and what kinds of ethical examples we ought to follow.
  • Feminist Ethics: emphasizing interpersonal concerns such as caring, interdependence, and the ethical requirements of particular relationships.