2. 2
Ethics Awareness Inventory
I learned from the exercise that I base my ethical perspective on what is good to be
instead of what is good to do. If I was ever asked to judge someone’s actions, I would look
beyond what they did and examine who they are as a person. It says that I believe that virtue is
“not just an abstract principle” and “reflected in the quality of an individual’s character, and
character is more important than an individual’s actions.” I absolutely agree with this because
good people make bad choices sometimes, I am a prime example. I have made many bad
choices and wrong decisions in my lifetime. The difference between a good and bad person is
whether or not they try to learn from their mistakes and better themselves. The inventory says I
get frustrated whenever I realize that not everyone has the same values. I think that the
development of character is a slow process that has been neglected in recent years. This is so
true: “…you may work for an organization that relies heavily on some system of ethical rules
and sanctions. You view this as an artificial ethical environment that is less than sincere.”
I will apply this info to the workplace by trying to look at their actions as well as their
character because no matter how good of a person they are, just like in my case, people still
make bad decisions and might continue to make bad decisions if there are no repercussions.
Social pressures have influenced me greatly in the past with business and personal ethics.
I have made a decision to do a favor for a friend instead of listen to company rules and I have
made countless bad, personal ethics decisions while being pressured socially. I guess you can
say I “learn the hard way.” I am now learning that I do not have to.
https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/Vendors/TWI/EAIv1/EAI%20Docs/EAI%20Character.
pdf
