Introduction to Ethics PDF

By: Ms. Saumya Jayawardane Department of Public Administration Faculty of Management To provide an overall understanding and conceptual explanations of the fundamentals of ethics and Law in order to develop the ability of the student to assimilate ethical framework, legal theories, concepts a...

By: Ms. Saumya Jayawardane Department of Public Administration Faculty of Management To provide an overall understanding and conceptual explanations of the fundamentals of ethics and Law in order to develop the ability of the student to assimilate ethical framework, legal theories, concepts and data in any working environment.  Introduction to Ethics Ethics in religious context Ethics in social context Ethics in global context  Method Number Allocated marks Written Exam 1 60 Group Assignment 1 20 Spot test 1 20 Total - 100  Introduction to Ethics  Ethics is the rational reflection on what is right, what is wrong, what is just, what is unjust, what is good and what is bad in terms of human behavior.  Ethics covers the following dilemmas:  How to live a good life  Our rights and responsibilities  The language of right and wrong  Moral decisions – what is good and bad?  Some ethical principles are :  Truthfulness  Honesty  Loyalty  Respect  Fairness  Integrity  Lecture Room Ethics Be punctual Keep your mobile phones off. During the lecture cross talks are not permitted. Give full attention to the lecture. Keep the lecture hall clean & tidy before you leave. Types of Ethics Meta-ethics Normative ethics Applied ethics Meta-ethics  Meta-ethics is the branch of ethics that seeks to understand the nature of ethical properties, statements, attitudes and judgements. It deals with the nature of goodness and badness. E.g. What does “good” mean? What does “bad” mean? Can ethical judgments be objective, or are they just based on opinion. Normative ethics  Normative ethics is the study of ethical action. They are basically the guidelines we use to live our lives. They help us to determine what is right and wrong, and they shape our decision making. e.g. honesty, respect and fairness Applied ethics Applied ethics, also called practical ethics, is the application of ethics to real-world problems. They attempt to answer the question of how people should act in specific situations. e.g. Business ethics (Organizational ethics) Engineering ethics Bio-medical ethics Environmental ethics Military ethics  Code of Ethics Code of ethics refers to a written set of guidelines issued by an organization to its worker and management to help them to conduct their actions in accordance with its primary values and ethical standards. WHO (Word Health Organization) Code of Ethics Integrity Accountability Independence and impartiality Respect of dignity, worth, equality, diversity and privacy of all Professional conduct Business ethics – Business ethics is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applied to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organization. Military ethics – Military ethics are intended to guide members of the armed forces to act in a manner consistent with the requirements of combat and military organization. E.g. Respect – Mutual and Self Respect Integrity – Moral courage, Honesty, Responsibility, Justice Service - Physical Courage, Loyalty, Commitment, Teamwork Excellence – Personal Excellence, Discipline, Pride  Ethics in particular field of application Bioethics – study of controversial ethics bought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethics are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, low and philosophy. E.g. abortion, consent in medical issues Geo ethics – Genetics is an interdisciplinary field between Geosciences and Ethics which involves Earth and planetary Sciences as well as applied ethics. It deals with the way of human thinking and acting in relation to the significance of the Earth as a system and as a model. Political ethics – Political ethics is the practice of making moral judgments about political action and political agents. E.g. Reconciliation after conflict and war – Different attitudes and institutional processes, Opposite results Environmental challenges Citizen rights – Information, freedom and respect Public sector ethics – Public sector ethics is a set of principles that guide public officials in their service to their constitutes, including their decision-making on behalf of their constituents. E.g. Integrity and impartiality Promoting the public good Commitment to the system of government Accountability and transparency Examples of universal ethical principles/norms Honesty Trustworthiness Treating people with dignity and respect Respecting rights of others Avoiding unnecessary harm to ✓Workers ✓Users of a company’s product or services Do we need ethics?  In 2020 – Covid Pandemic Country Total Cases New Cases Total Deaths Place USA 7,005,686 +918 204,122 1 India 2 5,491,410 +5,798 87,933 Brazil 3 4,544,629 136,895 138 Sri Lanka 3,287 13  Intelligence Quotient (IQ) An IQ, or intelligence quotient, is a score you receive on a test that assesses intelligence. IQ is a number meant to measure people cognitive abilities (intelligence) in relation to their age group. An I.Q between 90 and 110 is considered average; over 120, superior. Roughly 68% of the population has an IQ between 85 and 115. The average range between 70 and 130, and represents about 95% of the population. A score below 70 may indicate problems in understanding the IQ questions or some type or retardation, and a score above 130 may indicate intellectual giftedness. Wechsler (WAIS–III) 1997 IQ test classification IQ Range ("deviation IQ") IQ Classification 130 and above Very superior 120–129 Superior 110–119 High average 90–109 Average 80–89 Low average 70–79 Borderline 69 and below Extremely low According to Guinness Book of Records, The highest IQ was 228, the ‘smartest’ person in the world Marilyn vos Savant who scored it when she was 10 year old. IQ 185 at adult age-the chess player and champion Bobby Fisher which was 187, Kim Ung-Yong (S. Korea) with a score over 200.  Ted Kaczynski  (A.K.A. The Unabomber) - Ted Kaczynski is hard to top. Labeled not merely a serial killer, but a 'domestic terrorist' by the FBI, Kaczynski skipped the 5th grade after testing 167 on an IQ test.  He entered Harvard at the age of 16 where he earned his undergraduate degree by age 20. He earned his PhD in mathematics at the University of Michigan, where he focused on geometric function theory.  After this, he was hired by the University of Berkeley, becoming their youngest professor.  He won the University of Michigan's Sumner B. Myers prize, thanks to a PhD thesis on boundary functions, recognized as that year's best mathematics dissertation.  Charlene Williams  is well-known for having been involved in the famous "sex-slave murders" of 1978- 1980. Williams would lure women into her husband's car so he could rape and murder them, claiming 10 victims before their arrest in 1980.  Charlene Williams spent around 17 years in prison, but has since been released.  Strictly speaking, it was her husband who committed the murders, though Charlene aided in the acquisition of the his victims.  She pleaded guilty to counts of first and second degree murder, though was able to receive the minimum sentence of 16 years and 18 months for her crimes by testifying against her husband.  A smart woman all other things considered, she is reported to have an IQ of 160.  Rodney Alcala  Alcala was a graduate of UCLA. He was arrested when the seriously injured body of an 8-year-old girl was found in his home. He fled to New York, where he became a student of NYU film school. Alcala pled guilty to child molestation for this crime, and was given an indeterminate sentence. He was released after 34 months.  None of Alcala's friends would have suspected him of these killings. He was charming, attractive, academically successful and intelligent, with a recorded IQ of 160.  This was only the beginning of Alcala's criminal career. It was not long after his release that he kidnapped and murdered a 12-year-old girl. Her remains were found around 40 miles from where she had last been seen, at which point only her bones were left.  Human Intelligence. Stephen Covey’s concept of 4 intelligences is the most accepted theory in the modern world. Physical intelligence (PQ) (ability to maintain and develop our physical fitness), Mental intelligence (IQ) (ability to analyze, reason, think abstractly, use language, visualize, and comprehend. It corresponds to mind), Emotional intelligence (EQ) (Our self-knowledge, self-awareness, social sensitivity, empathy and ability to communicate successfully with others. It corresponds to heart), Spiritual intelligence (SQ)(Our drive for meaning and connection with the infinite. It corresponds to spirit) Basic needs /Capacity/Intelligence of Individual Physical Mental Social Spiritual Physical Needs /Capacity/Intelligence Physical Needs /Capacity/Intelligence Mental Needs / emotional (Psychological Needs /Capacity/Intelligence  Universal Psychological Needs  The need for attachment  The need for orientation and control  The need for self esteem enhancement  The need for increasing pleasure and avoiding pain Social Needs Parents /Capacity/Intelligence Teachers Clergy Friends  Employees \Employer Spouse Spiritual Needs /Capacity/Intelligence The need for meaning and purpose The need for forgiveness The need for a sources of hope and a strength The need for trust The need for spiritual practices, expressions of concept of God or Deity and creativity Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Our ethics are based on Our Personal concept – the mental Image you have of your self. Self-concept is the image we have of ourselves. It is influenced by many forces, including our interaction with important people in our lives. It is how we perceive our behaviors, abilities, and unique characteristics. E.g. Beliefs such as "I am a good friend" or "I am a kind person" are part of an overall self-concept. E.g.  How you view your personality traits, such as whether you are an extrovert or introvert.  How you see your roles in life, such as whether you feel that being a parent, sibling, friend, and partner are important parts of your identity.  The hobbies or passions that are important to your sense of identity, such as being a sports enthusiast or belonging to a certain political party.  How you feel about your interactions with the world, such as whether you feel that you are contributing to society.  Ideal self: The ideal self is the person you want to be. This person has the attributes or qualities you are either working toward or want to possess. It's who you envision yourself to be if you were exactly as you wanted.  Self-image: Self-image refers to how you see yourself at this moment in time. Attributes like physical characteristics, personality traits, and social roles all play a role in your self-image.  Self-esteem: How much you like, accept, and value yourself all contribute to your self-concept. Self-esteem can be affected by a number of factors— including how others see you, how you think you compare to others, and your role in society.  Our Personal concept is based on ❖ Heredity (Biological Factors) – e.g. Physical and Psychological traits such as our eye color, height, temperament, and personality ❖ Social Factors - ❖ Psychological Factors – e.g. Our cognitive processes, such as memory, attention, and perception ❖ Environmental Factors - The cultural, economic, and political climate of our society can influence how we view ourselves and our place in the world. The opportunities and challenges we encounter in our lives can also impact our sense of self. Ex. 1 Write down 5 values you learn from your family 5 values you learn from your religion  Ex. 2 Write down How do you practice these 5 values you learn from your family How do you practice these 5 values you learn from your religion  Ex. 3 Write down 10 points for each role Role of the man in the Society Role of the woman in the Society How we learn Morals & Ethics? Right Result Pleasant Experience Wrong Result Bad Experience Key aspects of how we learn ethics and morals: 1. Family and Upbringing: 2. Cultural and Religious Influences: 3. Education: 4. Socialization: 5. Personal Reflection and Critical Thinking: 6. Philosophical and Ethical Education:  Ex. 4 Write down what are the brands you are using in following items and why? Soft drink Milk powder Washing powder Tooth past Tooth brush What is your favorite song film Tele Drama Book Stage Drama Who is your Favorite Singer Film Star Why we learn ethics?  Satisfying Basic Human Needs  Moral Development  Uniting People and Leadership  Professional Conduct  Improving Decision Making  Personal Accountability  Securing the Society  Cultural Understanding Why we learn Ethics ? 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 Good Luck