GOV-RES M1 PDF - Ethics in Decision Making

GOV-RES Ethics is the philosophical study of looking at human conducts as right Topic 1: Ethics in Decision Making or wrong that is why we use the...

GOV-RES Ethics is the philosophical study of looking at human conducts as right Topic 1: Ethics in Decision Making or wrong that is why we use the word ethical and unethical to refer to Socrates (469-399 BC) right or wrong respectively in human conducts This question was posted by Aristotle Methodology of Ethical Reasoning (levels of How should one live? looking at ethics) Few questions about Ethics: Meta Level (Meta Ethics) Is ethics a set of principles to be Descriptive Level (Descriptive Ethics) used as guide for our actions? Normative Level (Normative Ethics) Is it a set of objective knowledge to Meta Level or Meta Ethics be learnt and understood? Is it simply a practical question about deals with deep, basic and sometimes “acting out” correct behavior, rather perplexing questions on the nature and than a theoretical question of one’s foundations of ethics itself of particular moral knowledge? basically deals with what ethics is all about How do we determine what is right example and what is wrong? Is objective moral knowledge possible? The questions are some of the Is morality based on feelings? things that are asked about ethics from the time of Aristotle to the Descriptive Level (Descriptive Ethics) present. Can be compared to scientific Ethics inquiry in the field of natural science Scientific theories attempt to Etymology : Greek word “ethos” which describe and explain phenomena means way of doing things or body of existing in the real world customs Scientific process is based on Ethics is the science of morality of observations of empirical evidences human acts; a study of human customs Experiments are performed to test validity of theories To explain briefly:  Methodology of observation and We ought to keep our promises. (Norm) factual verification is akin to scientific Audrey ought to attend Ellaine’s birthday inquiry party. (Norm) Ethics in the descriptive level is to In this level the concern are no longer on describe ethical norms of a society just facts but on what norm dictates, what or community ought to be Example: Consistency and Impartiality in Ethics Filipinos are religious oriented. Filipinos greatly respect the elders Principle of Consistency Describing what Filipinos are in the external level Ethics requires that we act At purely descriptive level, there is no consistently in similar circumstances judgment of what ought to be the ethical Ethical principles are either universal norms of Filipinos or sufficiently general in scope to The objects of inquiry would involve the apply to human conduct in a study of human behavior and phenomena consistent manner the point in the descriptive level is that Examples: human conducts or behaviors are describe Ethical principle of keeping promises based what is observable, there is never a Principle against employment discrimination judgment on what is ethical and unethical Application of rules or policies should be consistent in similar situations. If an office Normative Level (Normative Ethics) manager rejected that application for leave of an employee due to the unfinished report, Moving away from mere factual the same should be applied to all verification or sociological employees who will apply for leave but are observation with an unfinished report. Concerned with what ought to the appropriate ethical conduct in a Principle of Impartiality given situation Answers do not lie in the scientific facts Connected with the principle of alone consistency is the principle of Example: impartiality Audrey promised to attend Ellaine’s birthday party. (fact)  Impartiality demands that the right of women to personal decision-makers treat the affected autonomy over their body. persons in an equal and fair manner pro-life advocates stands that abortion is Example: wrong or evil because it involves killing, and Natural human inclination is to favor the killing an innocent individual interests of the decision-makers or those of In looking at abortion whether right or his family and friends wrong, good or evil: Indiscriminately favoring own interest or family and friends over those other If reason is important, is it the only thing members of the community or society is necessary to determine the outcome? against the criterion of impartiality Is there a role that emotion plays in ethical Interest of each member of the community decision-making? or society must be given the same weight Two Extremes: without preference to special relationship or connection Emotivism (Pure Emotion) Impartiality does not necessitate a particular Pure Reason set of outcomes Emotivism (Pure Emotion) Office policies should be applied with impartiality to all. A manager would normally Emotion dominate the ethical approve the application for leave of an decision-making employee who is also a friend. But, regularly Moral judgements are based on emotion approving the application for leave of the alone friend yet rejecting the application for leave Reason is and ought only to be slave of of other employees is against the principle passion – David Hume of impartiality. A particular action cannot be to objectively right or wrong Topic 2: Rationality and Emotions in Abortion is wrong because I feel that it is a Decision Making disgusting act. Rationality and Emotions The teacher walked-out from the class Abortion Issue because she felt disrespected by their behavior. Pro-choice advocates believe that abortion is right because it promotes The manager decided to deny the leave Danger in Pure Reason application of an employee because the manager was in a bad mood at that time. Decisions arrived at are somehow inhuman / inhumane The mother decided to suspend the gadget Disregard moral conscience which time of her child because she was angry at is connected to emotion and guides what the child did. decision-making. If emotion without reason is blind, Danger with Emotivism then reason without emotion is impotent - Peter Singer Decision reached may be The Middle Ground - Moral Imagination inconsistent, arbitrary or subjective It would appear that we are not rational Involves both rational and emotional animals if we will not use reason in faculties in order to make ethical important ethical decisions decision “Dramatic Rehearsal” – John Pure Reason Dewey Pragmatic approach to ethical Decision is arrived without emotions decision-making at all. The moral actor deliberates on the Ethical decisions and actions are ethical problem with a series of guided purely by sound reasoning. imaginary experiments in which all A business owner decided to lay off preferences, interests and emotions employees without any feeling of are into the mix compassion or empathy to the The moral actor imagines what worker and his family. would happen when a particular action is undertaken The teacher decided not to give Both emotional and rational considerations to his/her students who were perspectives late coming to class. Topic 3: Ethical Dilemma and Decision The mother decided to penalize her Making daughter for coming late last night. Ethical Dilemma drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times what the is a choice between two options, drug cost him to make. He paid $400 for the both of which will bring a negative radium and charged $4,000 for a small dose result based on society and personal of the drug. The sick woman's husband, guidelines whatever the decision, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow there is always a negative the money and tried every legal means, but consequence he could only get together about $2,000, The Trolley Problem which is half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying, and asked To what extent do you think your him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. emotions played a part in your But the druggist said, "No, I discovered the response on whether to pull the drug and I'm going to make money from if." switch or the lever and/or push the So, having tried every legal means, Heinz fat man over the bridge? gets desperate and considers breaking into Where is the difference? the man's store to steal the drug for his wife. Psychological experiments The Dilemma conducted on human responses - MRI results shows more activity in If Heinz will not have the drugs, his the brain region associated with wife will die. higher cognitive functions as If Heinz steals the drug, his wife compared to more prominent might get well but his action is emotional responses to the “fat man” unethical and unlawful and has its adaptation consequences. - Significantly higher activity in brain Data Access regions associated with response-conflict Tony, a data analyst for a major casino, is Kohlberg's Dilemma working after normal business hours to finish an important project. He realizes that In Europe, a woman was near death from a he is missing data that had been sent to his special kind of cancer. There was one drug coworker Robert. Tony had inadvertently that the doctors thought might save her. It observed Robert typing his password was a form of radium that a druggist in the several days ago and decides to log into same town had recently discovered. The Robert's computer and resend the data to himself. Upon doing so, Tony sees an open (excerpts from email regarding gambling bets Robert https://www.scu.edu/media/ethics-center/res placed over the last several days with a ources/making.pdf)Links to an external site. local sports book. All employees of the casino are forbidden to engage in gambling 1. Recognize an Ethical Issue activities to avoid any hint of conflict of Could this decision or situation be interest. Tony knows he should report this damaging to someone or to some but would have to admit to violating the group? Does this decision involve a company's information technology choice between a good and bad regulations by logging into Robert's alternative, or perhaps between two computer. If he warns Robert to stop his “goods” or between two “bads”? betting, he would also have to reveal the Is this issue about more than what is source of his information. What should Tony legal or what is most efficient? If so, do in this situation? how? (https://examples.yourdictionary.com/ethical 2. Get the Facts -dilemma-examples.html) What are the relevant facts of the case? What facts are not known? The Dilemma Can I learn more about the If Tony revealed to management situation? Do I know enough to what he discovered about Robert, or make a decision? advised Robert to stop he would What individuals and groups have also be in the hot seat for he used an important stake in the outcome? and accessed information without Are some concerns more important? proper permission. This is a violation Why? of company regulation and is illegal What are the options for acting? If Tony will not report what he Have all the relevant persons and discovered about Robert, he is groups been consulted? Have I violating company regulations. If identified creative options? discovered that he knew of Robert's 3. Evaluate Alternative Actions activities, he would be in the hot seat. Evaluate the options by asking the Making ethical Decisions following questions:  Which option will produce the most How did my decision turn out and good and do the least harm? (The what have I learned from this Utilitarian Approach) specific situation? Which option best respects the rights of all who have a stake? (The Rights Approach) Which option treats people equally or proportionately? (The Justice Approach) Which option best serves the community as a whole, not just some members? (The Common Good Approach) Which option leads me to act as the sort of person I want to be? (The Virtue Approach) 4. Make a Decision and Test It Considering all these approaches, which option best addresses the situation? If I told someone I respect—or told a television audience—which option I have chosen, what would they say. 5. Act and Reflect on the Outcome How can my decision be implemented with the greatest care and attention to the concerns of all stakeholders?