A Framework for Ethical Decision Making PDF

HOW TO MAKE AN ETHICAL DECISION / --- RECOGN IZE AN ETHICAL ISSU E G ETTHE FACTS 1. Could this decision or situation be...

HOW TO MAKE AN ETHICAL DECISION / --- RECOGN IZE AN ETHICAL ISSU E G ETTHE FACTS 1. Could this decision or situation be damaging to someone 3. What are the relevant facts of the case? What facts are or to some group? Does this decision involve a choice not known? Can I learn more about the situation? Do I between a good and bad alternative, or perhaps between know enough to make a decision? two "goods" or between two "bads"? 4. What individuals and groups have an important stake in 2. Is this issue about more than what is legal or what is most the outcome? Are some concerns more important? Why? efficient? If so, how? 5. What are the options for acting? Have all the relevant persons and groups been consulted? Have I identified creative options? EVALUATE ALTERNATIV E ACT IONS 6. Evaluate the options by asking the following questions: Which option will produce the most good and do the least harm? (The Utilitarian Approach) 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) MAKE A DEC ISION ANDTEST IT ACT AND REFL ECT ON THE OUTCOM E A FRAMEWORK FOR 7. Considering all these approaches, which option best 9. How can my decision be implemented with the greatest addresses the situation? care and attention to the concerns of all stakeholders? 8. If I told someone I respect-or told a television audience­ 10. How did my decision turn out and what have I learned ETHICAL DECISION MAKING which option I have chosen, what would they say? from this specific situation? FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: This Framework for Ethical Decision Making is the product of dialogue and This document is designed as an introduction to debate at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. 1J www.facebook.com/MarkkulaCenterForAppliedEthics Primary contributors include Manuel Velasquez, Dennis Moberg, Michael J. thinking ethically. We all have an image of our better www.twitter.com/scuethics Meyer, Thomas Shanks, Margaret R. McLean, David DeCosse, Claire Andre, selves-of how we are when we act ethically or are and Kirk 0. Hanson. va@ www.youtube.com/appliedethicscenter "at our best." We probably also have an image of www.bit.ly/ethicsblogs what an ethical community, an ethical business, an ml www.linkedin.com/company/markkula ethical government, or an ethical society should be..,A.__. Santa Clara I Ethics really has to do with all these levels-acting www.instagram.com/markkulaethicscenter ,, University ethically as individuals, creating ethical organizations and governments, and making our society as a whole ethical in the way it treats everyone. Copyright ©2018. Santa Clara University. SCU.EDU/ETHICS