ethical decision making priciples and concepts.pptx

1. Ethical decision making principles and
concepts

4. Ethical behavior theories and models
1 utilitarianism
 action is judged as right or good on the basis of its consequences
 Utilitarianism also includes the following tenets:5
 1. An action is morally right if it produces the greatest good for the greatest
number of people.
 2. An action is morally right if the net benefits over costs are greatest for all
affected, compared with the net benefits of all other possible choices.
 3. An action is morally right if its benefits are greatest for each individual
and if these benefits outweigh the costs and benefits of the alternatives

5. 2 universalism deontological duty based
approach
 ends do not justify the means of an action—the right thing must always be
done, even if doing the wrong thing would do the most good for the most
people
 The term “deontology” is derived from the Greek word deon, or duty.
Regardless of consequences, this approach is based on universal principles,
such as justice, rights, fairness, honesty, and respect.

6. Rights : a moral and legal approach
 Legal rights are entitlements that are limited to a
particular legal system and jurisdiction
 legal rights—for example, the right to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness, and the right to freedom of speech.
 Moral (and human) rights, on the other hand, are universal
and based on norms in every society—for example, the
right not to be enslaved and the right to work.

7. types
 special rights and duties, or contractual rights. Contracts provide individuals
with mutually binding duties that are based on a legal system with defined
transactions and boundaries.
 A negative right refers to the duty others have to not interfere with actions
related to a person’s rights. For example, if you have the right to freedom of
speech, others—including your employer—have the duty not to interfere with
that right.
 Positive rights : the duty of others to facilitate you
 Education health security

8. Justice
 The principle of justice deals with fairness and equality. Here, the moral
authority that decides what is right and wrong concerns the fair distribution
of opportunities, as well as hardships
 representative of the principle of justice:18 1. Each person has an equal right
to the most extensive basic liberties that are compatible with similar liberties
for others. 2. Social and economic inequalities are arranged so that they are
both (a) reasonably expected to be to everyone’s advantage and (b) attached
to positions and offices open to all.

9. types
 1. Compensatory justice concerns compensating someone for a past harm or injustice. For
example, affirmative actions, are justified, in part, as compensation for decades of
injustice that minorities have suffered.
 2. Retributive justice means serving punishment to someone who has inflicted harm on
another. A criterion for applying this justice principle is: “Does the punishment fit the
crime?”
 3. Distributive justice refers to the fair distribution of benefits and burdens. Have certain
stakeholders received an unfair share of costs accompanying a policy or action? Have
others unfairly profited from a policy?
 4. Procedural justice designates fair decision practices, procedures, and agreements
among parties. This criterion asks, “Have the rules and processes that govern the
distribution of rewards, punishments, benefits, and costs been fair

10. Virtues ethics character based ethics
 Virtue ethics emphasizes moral character in contrast to moral rules
(deontology) or consequences of actions (consequentialism).
 Virtue ethics is grounded in “character traits”—that is
 The concepts of virtue ethics derived from ancient Greek philosophy
are the following: virtue, practical wisdom, and eudaemonia (or
happiness, flourishing, and well-being). Virtue ethics focuses on the
type of person we ought to be, not on specific actions that should be
taken. It is grounded in good character, motives, and core values.
Virtue ethics argue that the possessor of good character is and acts
morally, feels good, is happy, and flourishes.

11. Relativism : A self interest based
approach
 This view argues that people set their own moral standards for judging their
actions. Only the individual’s self-interest and values are relevant for judging
that person’s behavior

12. Ten hazard ethical signs