Funeral Service Ethics Set 1

The Golden Rule

"Do onto others as you would have them do to you" Foundation for Ethics Universally accepted Consistency Principle Contained in all religions

Ethical (Moral)

Conforming to accepted standards of conduct

Level 2

Convention: Moral development in which the expectations of the social group are supported and maintained (Stages 3 and 4)

Descriptive Ethics

Describes the way we live, presents facts or moral choices "What is the case"

Non-Consequentialism (Deontological)

Empirical consequences have nothing to do with the worth of an act. Moral acts are based on broad absolute "Universal Principles"

Integrity

Fidelity to moral principles

Virtue Ethics

Focus on the integrity of the moral actor, not the act Character, motives, and other personal attributes defined by our community

Normative Ethics (Prescriptive)

Formulating moral standards of conduct "Treat all decedents with respect" "What ought to be the case"

Deontological

From Greek words Deon (duty to bind, obedience) and Logos (reason, explanation)

Teleological

From Greek words telos: (end, goal or purpose) and logos (reason, explanation)

Challenges to Utilitarianism

Gaining all the facts, thinking outside of yourself, what about the "few"

Stage 3

Good Interpersonal Relationships: Reasoning is based on the norm of the group to which the person belongs (Peer Pressure)

Challenges to Virtue Ethics

Has the community made the right decision?

Honesty

Having a sense of honor; upright and fair dealing

Immanuel Kant

Humans can reason which leads to a respect for rules

Stage 2

Individualism and Exchange-Self Interest: Defines right or moral action as that which satisfies one's own desire (Acting in one's own interest)

Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

Individuals make different decisions in similar ethical situations because they are in different stages of moral development. Knowledge and learning contribute to moral development (more educated person can have a higher insight of morality)

Dr. Lawrence Kohlberg (Larry)

Kohlberg Stages of Moral Development (Justice)

Situational Ethics

Moral principles that vary with circumstances

Consequentialism (Teleological)

Morality is determined by consequences. Right action is the one that leads to the best balance of good over bad consequences

Level 2: Conventional-Responsibility

More care shown for other people (How mothers and wives act)

Stage 1

Obedience and Punishment: Defines right or moral action as literal obedience to rules

Level 1: Pre-Conventional

Person only cares for themselves in order to ensure survival (How children act)

Level 3

Post-Convention: Focus on general ethical principles. The individual considers universal principles which supersede authority of a group (Stages 5 and 6)

Level 1

Pre-Convention: Corresponds with immediate self interest, moral reasoning is based on reward and punishment for those in authority (Stages 1 and 2)

Dr. Carole Gilligan (Carole)

Presented "A Different Voice" (Caring)

4 Cardinal Rules

Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance

Utilitarianism (Teleological)

Seeks to maximize benefits to all and minimize harms

Stage 5

Social Contract and Individual Rights: Rules exist for good of greater number but there are some that work against people (Feel a sense of obligation to the welfare of society)

Stage 4

Social System and Conscience: Obey rules and uphold the law

Motives

Something, as a reason or desire, acting as a spur to action

Women and Moral Decisions

Tend to be more situational in their approach, base their actions on relationships with people involved

Men and Moral Decisions

Tend to be more task oriented and base their decisions on inflexible, yet abstract concepts, like justice

Citizenship

The character of an individual viewed as a member of society; behavior in terms of the duties, obligations and functions of a citizen

Culture

The rules, ideas and beliefs shared by members of society of and for living and dying, which are learned directly and indirectly

Reverence for the dead

The ultimate psycho-social values which the community at large realize through the caring for the dead, and the process of Funeralization by Todd Van Beck

Duty Bound

To follow ethical or "right" practices

Confidentiality

To hold certain information in trust and not disclose without proper authorization or authority

Stage 6

Universal Principles: Right is determined by Universal ethical principles that everyone should follow (Dr. Martin Luther King, Gandhi)

Challenges of Gilligan's Theory

Unreliable evidence, small samples, anti-male

Issue With Kohlberg's Theory

Used all males

Funeral Service Ethics

Values related to human conduct as applied to the care of the deceased, family, funeral home operations and society

Challenges to Non-consequentialism

Which duty or obligation/principle takes precedent? What about "devastating consequences" of fulfilling our duty

Absolute Moral Standard

a moral principle followed consistently regardless of the situation

secular

denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis.

Professionalism

professional character or spirit.

Philosophy

the set of values, ideas and opinions of an individual or group.

Business Ethics

what is good or moral in business transactions

Code of Ethics

A declaration or public statement of professional standards of right and wrong conduct.

Lifestyle

A particular way of living; the way a person lives or a group of people live

Golden Rule

A rule of ethical conduct found in some form in most major religions usually phrased, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Level 3: Post Conventional

Acceptance of the principle of care for self and others is shown

Plato (4 Ideas)

1. People desire happiness 2. Contrary actions are mistakes caused by ignorance 3. If moral virtue leads to happiness, people will act 4. 4 Cardinal Rules

Aristotle (4 Ideas)

1. Practical knowledge 2. Attain happiness by attaining a function 3. Moral virtue falls between extremes 4. "Golden Mean"

Religion (3 aspects)

1. Shared beliefs 2. Emotional feelings accompanying beliefs 3. Overt Conduct presumably implementing the beliefs

Socrates (3 ideas)

1. Wrong arose from ignorance 2. Inductive Reasoning 3. Move from general to specific knowledge to discover Universal rules

Meta-Ethics (Prescriptive)

Analyze the meaning and rational for the moral standard set for in normative ethics "Why treat all decedents with respect"

Theism

Belief in God or Gods

Values

Beliefs that are held in high esteem

Ethics

Branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such ethics