The Kidder Overview of
Understanding Ethics
Part I
This presentation is based on Kidder
(2003).
www.bolenderinitiatives.com
© 2010 Bolender Initiatives, LLC
Right vs Wrong versus Right vs Right
• There are many examples of individuals
choosing wrong over right in various
organizations.
• However, the real challenge regarding ethics is
dealing with right versus right.
www.bolenderinitiatives.com
© 2010 Bolender Initiatives, LLC
Right vs Right
• Kidder (2003, pp. 13-15) presents the example
of the librarian.
www.bolenderinitiatives.com
© 2010 Bolender Initiatives, LLC
The Four Dilemmas of Right vs Right
•
•
•
•
Truth versus Loyalty
Individual versus Community
Short-Term versus Long-Term
Justice versus Mercy
(Kidder, 2003, pp. 18-22)
www.bolenderinitiatives.com
© 2010 Bolender Initiatives, LLC
Three Principles for Right vs Right
1.
End-based Thinking
– Utilitarianism
– Consequentialism
– Teleological
•
2.
Ends based thinking—what is the greater good?
Rule-based Thinking
– Immanuel Kant
– The categorical imperative
•
Act on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
– Nonconsequentialism
– Deontological
•
3.
Duty
Care-based Thinking
– Putting love for others first
– Do to others what you would have them do to you.
– Reversibility
•
How would it feel if you were the recipient, rather than the perpetrator, of your actions.
www.bolenderinitiatives.com
© 2010 Bolender Initiatives, LLC
Analysis of the Librarian Right vs Right
• Of the four dilemmas, the “Individual versus
the Community” is the best fit for this
scenario.
• End-based thinking
• Rule-based thinking
• Care-based thinking
www.bolenderinitiatives.com
© 2010 Bolender Initiatives, LLC
Right vs Right
This is an example of how one resolves the
dilemmas of ethical living.
www.bolenderinitiatives.com
© 2010 Bolender Initiatives, LLC
References
Kidder, R. M. (2003). How good people make
tough choices: Resolving the dilemmas of
ethical living. New York: Harper.
www.bolenderinitiatives.com
© 2010 Bolender Initiatives, LLC
Dr. Ronald Keith Bolender, Presenter
Dr. Bolender' s Portfolio
To contact Dr. Bolender, ronald_bolender@yahoo.com
www.bolenderinitiatives.com
© 2010 Bolender Initiatives, LLC