Introduction to Ethical Reasoning-Donald and Werhane

Introduction to Ethical Reasoning-Donald and Werhane

Ethical-decision making refers to the process of assessing the choices at hand and selecting the best alternative in a manner that is coherent with ethical standards. An ethical decision is reached at after elimination of the unethical alternatives available. Good ethical decision making requires competency, commitment, and consciousness. Ethics outlines the manner in which individuals should act. Values guide these actions. Ethical standards are important as they ensure adherence of employees in a business or any other organization. Ethical standards comprise of rights, virtues, utilitarian, fairness, and common good.

The ethical standard of fairness is about treating everyone equally regardless of their position or influence in an organization. The rights approach seeks to respect and protect the morals and rights of every individual who could be affected by an ethical decision. This approach seeks to treat individuals with dignity and fairness, and not as a measure to the end. The ethical standards on virtue necessitate that leaders should establish ethical standards on universal virtues such as tolerance, compassion, and honesty. These virtues should make people improve themselves and success. The common good ethical standard stresses on relationships and the need to have compassion for fellow individuals. Approaches to ethical reasoning include consequentialism, deontology, and human nature ethics.

Consequentialism focuses on the outcomes of human actions, which are assessed in terms of the magnitude to which they attain the desired results. This theory determines if an action is right by the results it has. Consequentialism holds that the better outcome an action produces, the more that act is right (Donaldson and Werhane 5). When faced with a moral dilemma, this theory offers guidance that one should take into account the action that capitalizes on good consequences. This theory is termed as flexible because it can take account of any circumstance. This theory, however, is criticized because it is impossible to determine what the end result of an action will be. Applying this approach can lead to decisions that are unpleasant. In real life use, it is deemed impractical. Utilitarianism is an example of consequentialism

Deontology utilizes rules in differentiating between right and wrong. The Kantian deontology theory states that ethical actions are guided by moral laws. Deontology necessitates that individuals obey rules and follow their duties (Donaldson and Werhane 8). Deontology does not evaluate the benefits and risks of a circumstance. This aspect aids in evading uncertainty and subjectivity because following rules is the only thing required. Kant believed that ethical reasoning should employ principles that apply commonly to all human activities and regard actions that are logically motivated. Deontology holds that the moral worth lies in the act and not on the outcomes of the actions. One disadvantage of this theory, however, is that it can make an individual ignore probable outcomes of his/her actions in establishing what is right and wrong

The human nature ethics theory holds that human beings have intrinsic capabilities that comprise the basic foundation for ethical concerns. In this approach, actions are assessed by whether they advance or obstruct these capabilities. Human nature ethics approach was popularized by Aristotle, who argued that individuals have innate capacities and that man is a social animal. Human nature ethics theory emphasis on the character of individuals in helping to evaluate what can be defined as right or wrong. Individuals exercise moral virtue by restricting harmful cravings and nurturing the advantageous ones. Good education and upbringing are necessary for aiding an individual to promote good behaviors. This theory is however criticized because these capacities are not similar to all humans and one cannot guarantee that humans are generally good. Additionally, critics hold that this theory cannot be used in ethical reasoning because it lacks straightforward rules.

Work cited

Donaldson, Thomas, and Patricia H. Werhane. “Introduction to ethical reasoning.” Ethical Issues in Business. A Philosophical Approach. New Jersey: Prentice May (2016): 1-11.

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