Lesson 4

• Ethics- can be defined broadly as a set of moral principles or values that govern the actions and decisions of an individual or group
• It is common for people to differ in their moral principles or values.
• Integrity- Be principled, honorable, upright, courageous and act on convictions; do not be twofaced or unscrupulous, or adopt an endjustifies-the means philosophy that ignores principle.
• Honesty- Be truthful, sincere, forthright, straightforward, frank, candid; do not cheat, steal, lie, deceive or act deviously
• Trustworthy and promise keeping- Be worthy of trust, keep promises, full commitments, abide by the spirit as well as the letter of an agreement; do not interpret agreements in an unreasonably technical or legalistic manner in order to rationalize noncompliance or create excuses and justification for breaking commitments.
• Loyalty and Confidentiality- Be faithful and loyal to family, friends, employers, client and country; do not use or disclose information learned in confidence; in a professional context, safeguard the influences and conflicts of interes
• Fairness and Openness- Be fair and open-minded, be willing to admit error and, where appropriate, change positions and beliefs, demonstrate a commitment to justice, the equal treatment of individuals, and tolerance for acceptance of diversity; do not overreach or take advantage of another's mistakes or diversities.
• Caring for Others- Be caring, kind, and compassionate; share, be giving, be of service to others; help those in need and avoid harming others.
• Respect for Others- Demonstrate respect for human dignity, privacy, and the right to selfdetermination of all people; be courteous, prompt, and decent; provide others with the information they need to make informed decisions about their own lives; do not patronize, embarrass, or demean.
• Responsible Citizenship- Obey just laws; if all law unjust, openly protest it; exercise all democratic rights and privileged responsibly by participation (voting and expressing informed views), social consciousness, and public service; when in a position of leadership or authority, openly respect and honor democratic processes of decision making, avoid unnecessary secrecy or concealment of information, and assure that others have all the information they need to make intelligent choices and exercise their rights.
• Pursuit of Excellence- Pursue excellence in all matters; in meeting your personal and professional responsibilities, be diligent, reliable, industrious and committed; perform all tasks to the best of your ability, develop and maintain a high degree of competence, be well informed and well prepared; do not be content with mediocrity; do not "win at any cost
• Accountability- Be accountable, accept responsibility for decisions, for the foreseeable consequences of actions and inactions, and for setting an example of others. Parents, teachers, employers, many professionals and public officials have a special obligation to lead by example, to safeguard and advance the integrity and reputation of their families, companies, professions and the government itself
• Characteristics and Values associated with ethical behavior.

  • Integrity
  • Honesty
  • Trustworthiness and promise keeping
  • Loyalty and Confidentiality
  • Fairness and Openness
  • Caring for Others
  • Respect for Others
  • Responsible Citizenship
  • Pursuit of Excellence
  • Accountability
• Most people define unethical behavior as conduct that differs from the way they believe would have been appropriate given the circumstances.
• Why do people act unethically?

  • The person's ethical standards are different from those of society as a whole
  • The person chooses to act selfishly
• Person ethical standard are differ from general society- Extreme examples of people whose behavior violates almost everyone's ethical standards are drug dealers, bank robbers, and larcenists. Most people who commit such acts feel no remorse when they are apprehended, because their ethical standards differ from those of society as a whole.
• The person chooses to act selfishly- A considerable portion of unethical behavior results from selfish behavior. The Pork Barrel Scam and the other political scandals resulted from the desire for political power and wealth; cheating on tax returns and expense reports is motivated by financial greed
• Principles of Personal Ethics include among others

  • Basic justice, fairness
  • Respect for the right of others
  • Concern for the right of others
  • Concern for the well-being on welfare of others
  • Benevolence, trustworthiness, honesty
  • Compliance with the law
• Categories of Ethics

  • Personal Ethics
  • Professional Ethics
  • Business Ethics