Ethics

What is it? How would you define it?

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Ethics refers to well-founded standards of right and wrong that indicate what people or organisations should and should not do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, welfare, fairness or specific virtues. Ethics is different to values. Values are what we believe to be right; ethics is also about what we actually do.

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10 issues to think about, when talking about ethics.

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1. As individuals, we can only influence our own personal behaviour, not the behaviour of our organizations or the systems in which we live. Do you agree?

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1. We can always influence our own personal behaviour, but we can also affect the behaviour of our organizations and society. When we vote for someone who shares our principles, we are affecting the behaviour of our society. When we develop a reputation for honesty in our work, we affect the ethics of our organization and how it is perceived by others.

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2. Ethics is about behaviour the intention I have in acting the feelings I have about what is right laws and regulations

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2. Ethics is about behaviour, not just what you intend to do or feel would be right, but what you actually do. Laws and regulations may be based on ethical principles, but some things, such as slavery, may be legal in some countries, but they are still not ethical.

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3. Ethics makes society possible.

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3. Ethics does make society possible. Without trust, people cannot engage in contracts with each other or live at peace with their neighbours.

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4. Human welfare is about: making peoples lives better making people happier and more fulfilled giving people the freedom to decide about their own lives all of the above

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4. Human welfare is about all three things: making peoples' lives better, making people happier and more fulfilled and giving people the freedom to decide about their own lives.

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5. The goal of ethical behaviour is: getting people to obey the law bettering human welfare eliminating the need for laws and regulation

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5. The goal of ethical behaviour is human betterment. Ethics and law are not the same; laws may address minor issues, which are not primarily ethical. Ethics will never eliminate the need for laws and regulation because the behaviour of those who are not ethical will always need to be constrained by the law.

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6. Values and ethics are the same thing.

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6. Values and ethics are NOT the same. Values are things like the belief in freedom or equal opportunities, which we hold to be worthwhile. Ethics is about how we behave, based on our values.

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7. We can study ethics at three levels: personal organizational the system or societal level.

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7. Ethics relates to personal conduct, organisations and society.
Personal - ethics asks us to do what is right and treat others well. Organisations - ethics ensures our institutions are fair, that their behaviour is transparent & that they provide an environment where people can be at their best. System/society - ethics deals with how we, as a society, behave, how we treat the vulnerable & whether our laws are fair, etc.

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8. Without ethics, it is harder to trust others.

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8. It is harder to trust others without ethics. If people adhere to an ethical code, it's easier to trust them because we know that they are more likely to treat us with dignity, respect, and fairness.

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9. Your values are fixed early in life and cannot be changed later.

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9. Values can change over time. As people mature, experience and environment continue to shape their values.

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10. Your values are shaped by: your family your religion or beliefs the society you are from your experience all of the above

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10. Values are shaped by family, religion, society and experience. Values influence ethics but do not dictate them. It is possible to act unethically, knowing that you are going against your own values.

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Common ethical issues confidentiality transparency conflicts of interests inducements/bribes corruption corporate social responsibility abuse of position nepotism

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Common ethical issues confidentiality - not giving private information to others when that would go against your professional or personal obligations.

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Common ethical issues transparency - acting in a way that is clear to all, without unnecessary secrets. This is especially important with governments, large companies and institutions.

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Common ethical issues conflicts of interest - when what is good for one person or organisation would be bad for another you are involved with. E.g. a politician may have shares in a large company and have influence over laws that could benefit the company but be bad for others he or she represents.

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Common ethical issues inducements/bribes - offering financial gain to someone in return for them doing something for you. bribes - money given directly in return for doing something wrong inducements - less direct, offering the opportunity to benefit from a wrong action, e.g. the offer of a future job

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Common ethical issues corruption - dishonest, illegal, or immoral behaviour, especially from someone with power. For example, using public money to fund criminal enterprises.

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Common ethical issues corporate social responsibility (CSR) - the idea that big businesses should act in a way that recognises the importance of the people affected by it, the environment, society, etc.

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Common ethical issues abuse of position - misusing a position of power to unfairly benefit yourself or others, or to harm others in some way. E.g. a government official using the police to spy on opponents.

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Common ethical issues nepotism - unfairly giving the best jobs to relatives (With close friends, this is known as favouritism or cronyism)