PHIL 102: Professional & Public Service Ethics
Frankel describes a few pitfalls and dangers in drafting a code of conduct. One pitfall is arriving at a description of the profession's values, roles, and functions in a way that is inconsistent with the reality experienced by its members. What is the remedy for this pitfall suggested by Frankel? Outsiders should be involved in the process of drafting the code of conduct. A code of ethics should be empirically grounded and the procedures for its interpretation should account for the different contexts in which professionals work. There should be wide participation by different members of the profession in drafting the code of conduct. None of the above
A code of ethics should be empirically grounded and the procedures for its interpretation should account for the different contexts in which professionals work.
Richard Rowson's principles approach for professional ethics is very similar to Tom Beauchamp and James Childress' approach for biomoedical ethics. They share all the same principles except __________________________. Fill in the blank. A principle of respect for Autonomy A principle of justice A principle of nonmaleficence A principle of integrity
A principle of integrity
As discussed in Module 3.2 Lecture Video, which of the following are general ways that professionals or public servants fail to seek their clients' best interests? Committing acts of intentional harm Committing acts of negligence Violations of law Violations of ethical duties All of the above A and C only
All of the above
Brien offers prudential and moral justifications for selecting a particular goal in professional life. Which of the following is one of his moral reasons. Choose all that apply. The utilitarian justification that adopting trust will benefit the professions, society, and individuals. The justification that when one enters into a profession, one is making an implied or explicit promise to be trustworthy. The Aristotelian justification that trustworthiness enables a person to participate and flourish in a community. A (utilitarian justification) and C (Aristotelian justification) only All of the above
All of the above
Which of the following are functions of a code of conduct, as described by Frankel? Choose all that apply. Expresses a profession's common purpose and reinforces a profession's identity and solidarity. Promotes trust and enhances a profession's status. Deters unethical behavior by linking codes to sanctions and making it an affirmative duty to report errant colleagues. All of the above
All of the above
According to Rowson, because there are different views of well-being, what should a professional do in seeking the best results? Apply Aristotle's view of well-being. Apply his or her own view of well-being Be sensitive to the views of well-being of those affected (or being served) Apply the majority view of well-being
Be sensitive to the views of well-being of those affected (or being served)
Which of the following statements best describes the main difference between Bentham's and Mill's version of utilitarianism? Bentham distinguishes pleasures both quantitatively and qualitatively; Mill distinguishes pleasures only quantitatively. Bentham distinguishes pleasures only quantitatively; Mill distinguishes pleasures both quantitatively and qualitatively. Bentham distinguishes pleasures only qualitatively; Mill distinguishes pleasures both quantitatively and qualitatively. Bentham distinguishes pleasures only quantitatively; Mill distinguishes pleasures only qualitatively.
Bentham distinguishes pleasures only quantitatively; Mill distinguishes pleasures both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Rowson considers possible grounds for professional ethics, including religion. "Religious beliefs can of course provide a powerful basis for ethics....Religion gives them a world-view that has emotional and intellectual coherence and a sense of purpose: as individuals they know who they are, where they are intended to go, adn where to look for guidance on their journey" (p. 23). Rowson explains, however, that there are problems with basing ethics on a set of religious beliefs. What is/are these problems? Religious beliefs provide no guidance for those who do not share the set of religious beliefs. Religions often disagree on what is or is not good behavior. Both A and B None of the above
Both A and B
Module 3.1 Lecture Video discusses the value of seeking the best results and an example from which profession? Nursing Law Enforcement Business Counseling
Business
According to the lecture videos, which philosopher/ethicist offers a virtue ethics approach to role morality? Edmund Pellegrino Tom Beauchamp James Childress Mark Siegler
Edmund Pellegrino
Brien proposes a different way of addressing the problems with professional self-regulation. What does he call this approach? Enhanced external regulation Enforced self-regulation Strict codes of conduct None of the above
Enforced self-regulation
In making their point that the professions have a responsibility to the common good as well as the public interest, the authors provide examples from several specific professions. Which of the following is not one of their main examples? Journalism Law Medicine Social work Engineering
Engineering
As discussed by Rowson, what is Aristotle's conception of human well-being? As much pleasure and as little pain as possible. Pleasure from striving for something worthwhile. Happiness of fulfillment experienced over a lifetime. The ability to choose and live out one's own life plans.
Happiness of fulfillment experienced over a lifetime.
Which of the following is NOT one of the strategies suggested by Frankel to encourage professionals to report violations? Publishing decisions by ethics committees. Establishing a telephone hotline for reporting complaints. Adopting procedures for addressing complaints. Imposing harsher punishments for violators.
Imposing harsher punishments for violators.
Dr. Jones committed an error during a surgical procedure and acted inconsistently with the community standard. Several members of the surgical team witnessed the error. The patient died and the family filed a complaint with the hospital. The hospital conducted an internal investigation of the doctor's alleged negligence. The committee responsible for conducting the internal investigation questioned the entire surgical team, but no one came forward and testified about the error. They instead testified that Dr. Jones acted property and consistently with community standards.Despite this, the hospital is able to determine that Dr. Jones acted negligently. The hospital quietly settles the case with the patient's family. Dr. Jones does not suffer any consequences for this action and does not receive even a letter reprimanding him for his behavior. These additional details provide an example of which of the following problems with self-regulation? Reluctance to report ethical violations. Reluctance to discipline ethical violations. Lack of adequate sanctions. None of the above
Lack of adequate sanctions.
As professionals play an increasingly greater role in leadership and in shaping public and private policies, these professional leaders need specialized expertise and __________________. Fill in the blank. Leadership training Advance degrees Moral vision Years of experience
Moral vision
As discussed in the lecture videos, the principle of seeking the best results includes which two components? Nonmaleficence and beneficence Beneficience and justice Justice and respect for autonomy Respect for autonomy and professional integrity
Nonmaleficence and beneficence
Virtue-based professional ethics guides professionals in situations that may not be strictly illegal or immoral, but are at the margins of moral responsibility. As described by Pellegrino, which of the following is not one of these questionable practices at the margins of moral responsibility? Not disclosing to patients the truth about their condition and prognosis. Opportunities for profit from the illness of others. Narrowing the scope of one's service for personal convenience. Taking a proprietary attitude with respect to medical knowledge.
Not disclosing to patients the truth about their condition and prognosis.
As discussed in the lecture videos, professionals and public servants serve different individuals who are entitled to determine their own life plans and pursuits, so their actions and decision should be respectful of these individuals and their life plans and pursuits. This justification is the basis for which one of Rowson's principles? Principle of seeking the best results. Principle of treating individuals justly and fairly. Principle of respecting autonomy. Principle of acting with professional integr
Principle of respecting autonomy.
Professionals and public servants serve different individuals who are entitled to determine their own life plans and pursuits, so their actions and decision should be respectful of these individuals and their life plans and pursuits. This justification is the basis for which one of Rowson's principles? Principle of seeking the best results. Principle of treating individuals justly and fairly. Principle of respecting autonomy. Principle of acting with professional integrity.
Principle of respecting autonomy.
Using Frankel's classification, a set of detailed rules to govern professional conduct and to serve as a basis of adjudicating grievances is which type of code of conduct? Aspirational Educational Regulatory Constitutional
Regulatory
Dr. Jones committed an error during a surgical procedure and acted inconsistently with the community standard. Several members of the surgical team witnessed the error. The patient died and the family filed a complaint with the hospital. The hospital conducted an internal investigation of the doctor's alleged negligence. The committee responsible for conducting the internal investigation questioned the entire surgical team, but no one came forward and testified about the error. They instead testified that Dr. Jones acted property and consistently with community standards. This is an example of which of the following problems with self-regulation? Reluctance to report ethical violations. Reluctance to discipline ethical violations. Lack of adequate sanctions. none of the above
Reluctance to report ethical violations.
According a virtue ethics approach to role morality, all professional medical codes are based on a three-tiered system of obligations related to a physician's special role in society. What are the three tiers? The Constitution, federal law, and state law. The Constitution, state and federal statutes, and administrative regulations. The law, consequentialist ethics, and deontological ethics. The law, rights and duties, and the practice of virtue.
The law, rights and duties, and the practice of virtue.
Professionals and public servants must be concerned with meeting the objectives of their profession and, particularly, that their decisions and actions advance the well-being of those whom they serve. This justification is the basis for which one of Rowson's principles? Seeking the best results Treating individuals justly and fairly Respecting autonomy Acting with professional integrity
Seeking the best results
Which of the following is one of the important philosophical debates discussed by Lynch et al. in their article, "Secularization of Public Administration"? The debate between determinism and free will. The debate between the empiricists and the rationalists. The debate between the physicalists and the dualists. The debate between atheism and theism.
The debate between the empiricists and the rationalists.
Which two principles of logical positivism, which grew out of empiricism as developed by the philosophers of the Vienna Circle, had a profound effect on public administration? Logical atomism and the verification principle (or the verifiable theory of meaning). The verification principle and the analytic character of a priori knowledge. The verification principle and the emotive theory of value. Logical atomism and the rationalist theory of value.
The verification principle and the emotive theory of value.
As discussed in the lecture videos, under which view may a professional override a patient's or client's will on the grounds of the patient/client's diminished autonomy or likelihood of presenting a danger to himself or others? Weak paternalism Strong paternalism Patient's/client's rights approach None of the above
Weak paternalism
According to Mark Frankel, a profession can be viewed as a kind of _____________________. Fill in the blank. a private club a moral community a social network an elite group of experts
a moral community
As discussed in the lecture videos, philosopher Tom Beauchamp defines harm as ______________________________. Fill in the blank. a violation of right a setback to interest a dereliction of duty physical injury
a setback to interest
Professional ethics is often maintained through certain rules and mechanisms. As discussed in the lecture videos, which of the following mechanisms or steps are required for those planning to practice law? Taking a course in professional responsibility. Passing the bar exam, including the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam. Keeping up with one's continuing legal education requirements. all the above B and C only
all of above
Rowson argues that, in order for the professions to achieve their objectives, the members of the professions must subscribe to at least a minimal set of shared ethical values. Which of the following are the reasons he provides for this? Select all that apply. The work of a profession would be self-defeating if its members operated according to different ethical agendas. Clients will not seek the services of a profession that does not adhere to known ethical values or strive for known objectives. A profession needs the goodwill of the society in which it operates and it would have this only if members strive toward values consistent with the interest of the society as a whole. All the above. A and B only.
all of the above
According to Brien, codes of conduct are ineffective in reducing unethical behavior and should not play an important role in professional life. True or false?
false
According to Frankel, most professional codes of conduct impose a responsibility on its members to report violators and professionals have a strong track record for reporting violators. True or false. True False
false
According to Jennings et al., discussions of professional ethics should focus on the public duties of the professions, and not the private duties of professionals to clients or organizations. True or false? True False
false
According to Kant, imperfect duties are duties of narrow obligation that must be complied with at all times without exception. True or false? True False
false
According to Lynch et al., spiritual wisdom has no place in public administration. True or false? True False
false
According to the virtue ethics approach to role morality, a professional who observes the law and the ethics of rights and duties is doing enough to act virtuously. True False
false
As discussed in the lecture videos, a common morality approach tackles head on the debates at the fundamental level (e.g., what is the right conception of the good) and offers a common answer in these debates. True or false? True False
false
As stated in the lecture videos, conventialism is defined as the view that there is at least one objective moral value, but most values vary from culture to culture. True False
false
Bentham and Mill's believe in normative hedonism. According to them, pleasure and the absence of pain is one intrinsic good or value, but there are other intrinsic goods or values. True or false? True False
false
Rowson considers certain indisputable facts as a potential basis for ethics, including facts about ourselves and about the world. In considering human nature as a potential basis for ethics, Rowson explains that there are disagreements about human nature, human behavior, and human needs and wants. According to Rowson, cultures may disagree on what are human wants, but cultures generally agree on a set of essential human needs. True or false? True False
false
Rowson offers two views of the general nature of ethical obligations: (1) ethics as obedience to a set of rules; and (2) ethics as involving discretion in making judgments consistent with certain ethical values. Rowson tends to agree with (1) and not (2). True or false? true false
false
Rowson offers two views of the general nature of ethical obligations: (1) ethics as obedience to a set of rules; and (2) ethics as involving discretion in making judgments consistent with certain ethical values. Rowson tends to agree with (1) and not (2). True or false? true false
false
According to lecture videos, which of the following is one formulation of Kant's categorical imperative? Humanity formulation The Golden Rule The Greatest Happiness Principle The virtue formulation
humanity formulation
Brien discusses two different views of the professions. Under one view, the professions are considered to be self-conscious communities with members engaged in an occupation that addresses real human problems or needs and has a kind of altruistic orientation. This describes which view of the professions? The power approach the functionalist approach The virtue approach None of the above
the functionalist approach
Richard Rowson discusses several different sources of guidance in determining what is right or wrong or what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. These sources of guidance include law, social convention, professional codes of conduct, religious beliefs, aesthetics, politics, and practicality. When we judge an act as right because it is the best way to achieve a particular objective, we are relying on which standpoint or source of guidance? Professional codes of conduct Social convention Practicality Law
practicality
"The aggregation of the private interests of individuals who join together in an association dedicated to the pursuit of mutual advantage." This is a definition for which of the following terms? Public interest Common good Free market Prisoner's Dilemma
public interest
Brien writes "Under ESR, self-regulation would be enforced by ___________________." Fill in the blank. members of the profession the leaders of the profession society the clients served by the profession
society
In chapter 3 of Working Ethics, Rowson writes that, by providing such social goods as health and social care, education, a fair trial, and safe communities, professionals promote __________________________ that all citizens are valued and respected. Fill in the blank. the libertarian ideal the democratic ideal the socialist ideal the pragmatic ideal
the democratic ideal
According to Lynch et al., there is a difference between speaking from the viewpoint of a particular religion and removing faith entirely from one's perspective. Secularization involves the latter, removing faith entirely from one's perspective. True or false? True False
true
As characterized by Jennings et al., to be a professional, in ethical terms, is to be dedicated to a distinctive set of ideals and standards of conduct. True or false? True False
true
As discussed in the lecture videos (and also discussed by Rowson), the obligation to do no harm can be interpreted as an absolute rule or as a general rules. Rowson's view is that the obligation to do no harm should be interpreted as a general rule. True or false? True False
true
As stated in Brien's article, the standard way of addressing the problems of professional self-regulation is by tackling the problems directly. True or false.
true
Dr. Jones committed an error during a surgical procedure and acted inconsistently with the community standard. Several members of the surgical team witnessed the error. The patient died and the family filed a complaint with the hospital. The hospital conducted an internal investigation of the doctor's alleged negligence. The committee responsible for conducting the internal investigation questioned the entire surgical team, but no one came forward and testified about the error. They instead testified that Dr. Jones acted property and consistently with community standards. This is one example of a reason why self-regulation is ineffective. True or false. True False
true
Lynch et al. recognize that probably the most troublesome challenge to their approach is the challenge of not promoting one particular religion over another. True or false? True False
true
One way that Brien characterizes the problem addressed by his article is the problem of policing the the asymmetry of power, the power possessed by professionals because of their specialized knowledge and the vulnerability of other members of society who depend on this knowledge. True or false?
true
The statement "young children should go to school and not be recruited as soldiers" is a normative statement. True or false? True False
true
According to Brien, it is ineffective to aim directly at ethical conduct. An organization or institution instead should aim at some more proximate goal, which would be attained only through ethical conduct. Which proximate goal does Brien propose? Solidarity Loyalty Trust Virtue
trust