Ch. 1- What is Ethics?

Moral Character

or the courage, determination, and confidence to execute ethical behavior

Socrates

-if a person knows what is right, he or she will act on what is right. -implies, that wrongdoing is involuntary and based on unawareness, which illustrates the reason for some examples of unethical behavior

9 Steps in Ethical Decision Making

1. It is an ethical issue and it consists of x, y, and z. 2. This person/these people are responsible for making the decision. 3. The relevant facts are x, y, and z. 4. It is truly a matter of right or wrong, ethical or unethical. 5. Is it a choice between competing ethical or "right" actions? 6. Common theories should be applied to determine what is at stake. 7. Look at both options to see if a third option, or compromise, transpires. 8. Make a decision. 9. Evaluate the situation to learn what would or would not be done if the situation occurred again.

Three Ethical Theories

1. Metaethics 2. Normative ethics 3. Applied ethics

Four Processes for Ethical Behavior

1. Moral Sensitivity 2. Moral Judgement 3. Moral Motivation 4. Moral Character

If ethics deal with right and wrong in terms of ideals, then:

1. what constitutes morals? 2. how do these differ from ethics?

There are 5 key elements to personal ethics:

1.) Discretion 2.) Duty 3.) Honesty 4.) Loyalty 5.) Respect for others

Summum bonum

Ethical decision making prescribes that a person should strive for the greatest good, or the lowest harm. Many times, ethical decisions are not a matter of right versus wrong; typically they are a matter of what option is more right or more wrong.

Noninherent goods

are objects, actions, or qualities whose value depends on the ability to bring about intrinsic good, such as money or loyalty

1st Step in the Study of Ethics

encourages awareness and receptiveness to moral and ethical issues

Inherent (or intrinsic)

goods are valuable objects, actions, or qualities, such as life, liberty, justice and happiness

3rd Step in the Study of Ethics

in studying ethics occurs when people become more personally responsible

Social Context

involves how people relate to others based on the given circumstances

Existentialism

is a 20th-century concept that focuses on an individual's freedom to make choices w/o the influence of others (free will)

Criminal justice context

is a process-specific context used to study ethics as it relates to law and enforcement procedures

Forensic ethics

is studied by understanding personal, social, and criminal justice contexts

Aristotle's virtue theory's perspective

is that the goal of ethics is the development of moral goodness.

Morality

is the "operational side" of ethics that provides a basis of right and wrong for ethical application

Ethics

is the general study of the ideals regarding human behavior & the guiding principles -not meant to dictact actions

Applied ethics

is the study of ethical dilemmas, choices, and standards of application in particular contexts including occupations, professions, and situations -Investigations of moral conduct based on facts and are the focus when discussing the ethics of forensic science

Normative ethics

is the study of moral standards, principles, concepts, values, and theories and seeks to determine what is right or wrong to justify standards for behavior

Metaethics

is the study of the nature of moral standards, principles, values, and theories

Goal of ethics

is to protect the rights and needs of professions (or groups) when situations are not just "black and white"

4th Step in the Study of Ethics

is to recognize how professional cultures operate

Determinism

means that all thoughts and actions are beyond human control

Moral Judgement

or the ability to decide which act is morally justified

Moral Sensitivity

or the ability to interpret situations, recognize the ethical issue, and understand consequences

Moral Motivation

or the commitment to doing what is ethical, using ethical standards, and taking responsibility for consequences

Right and Wrong

refers to behaviors or conduct

Good and Bad

refers to outcomes & consequences of behaviors

2nd Step in the Study of Ethics

supports the development of critical thinking and analytical skills

Morals

tend to be specific and generally agreed on standards of conduct in society -Ethics are applicable to situations and are "practiced" while moral are "known".

Persona context

the objective testing and questioning of personal values and ethics

Intentionalism

the opposite of determinism in that it maintains that people possess free will and are accountable for their actions.