2/17/2012
Ethical Choice Tool
(Most Frequently Used?)
Justification Frameworks
• Utility
– Cost / Benefit
Driven by self-interest
• Rights
– Entitlement to action
• Laws or moral standards (moral or human rights)
– Closely related to duties
– Provide individuals with autonomy and equality in the
free pursuit of their interests
– Basis for justifying actions and soliciting aid from others.
– Differs substantially from utility.
Magnitude of Consequence?
• Includes concept of negative rights
– e.g. ?
Likelihood of discovery?
Justification Frameworks
• Justice (Fairness)
– Comparative treatment
• When costs and benefits are distributed
• 3 categories
– Distributive justice
– Retributive justice
– Compensatory justice
– Consider values of egalitarianism?
– Consider how the values to value
contributions?
– Consider John Rawls’ framework
• Liberty
• Difference
• Ethics of Care
Values to Frameworks
Utility Rights Justice Care
Achievement
x
x
Family
x
x
Work (Finance)
x
Self-Esteem
x
x
Loyalty
x
Altruism
x
x
x
Fairness
x
Self-Improvement
x
x
x
Social Status
x
Competition (Winning) x
Respect
x
Trust
x
x
Power
x
Freedom (Autonomy)
x
Stability (certainty)
x
Money
x
Comparing Ethical Perspective and Reference Frameworks
Ethical Cross-Check
Method
Utilitarian
Rights
Justice
Care
Rule-Based
Values
Self-Discipline
Achievement
Tolerance
Honesty
Integrity
Responsibility
Fidelity
Charity
Honesty
Integrity
Ethical Perspective
Utilitarianism Justice
Ethical Reference (consequences) Test
Front Page test:
Would I be embarrassed if my decision became a headline in the local newspaper?
Would I feel comfortable describing my actions or decision to a customer or stockholder?
Golden rule test:
Would I be willing to be treated in the same manner?
Dignity and liberty test
Are the dignity and liberty of others preserved by this decision?
Is the basic humanity of the affected parties enhanced?
Are their opportunities expanded or curtailed?
Equal treatment test:
Are the rights, welfare, and betterment of minorities and lower-status people given full consideration?
Does this decision benefit those with privilege but without merit?
Personal gain test:
Is an opportunity for personal gain clouding my judgment?
Would I make the same decision if the outcome did not benefit me in any way?
Congruence test:
Is this decision or action consistent with my espoused personal principles?
Does it violate the spirit of any organizational policies or laws?
Procedural justice test:
Can the procedures used to make this decision stand up to scrutiny by those affected?
Cost-benefit test:
Does a benefit for some cause unacceptable harm to others?
How critical is the benefit?
Can the harmful effects be mitigated?
Good night’s sleep test
Whether or not anyone else knows about my action, will it produce a good night's sleep?
Rights
Care
1
2/17/2012
Ethical Decision-Making Process
Selection of Tools (cont)
Identify Action,
Decision, or Behavior
• Screening method
to be Taken
Ethics Screening
Articulate all dimensions of proposed
Action, decision, or behavior
Conventional
Approach
Principles
Approach
Standards Norms
• Personal
• Organizational
• Societal
• International
– Based on
Care
Approach
Ethical Principles
• Justice
• Rights
• Utilitarianism
• Golden Rule
Ethical Tests
Approach
• Conventional approach
•
•
•
•
•
• Principles approach
• Common Sense
• Relational
ontology & ideal
• Attentiveness
• Contextual
One’s Best Self
Public Disclosure
Ventilation
Purified Idea
Gag Test
Do Not Proceed
Passes
Ethics Screens
Fails Ethics
Screens
Proceed / Engage
viable alternatives
– Fully thought out and developed
Identify new
course of Action
– Tied to Deontology
– Utilitarian, Justice, and Rights (incl. Golden Rule)
• Relational / Situational approach
– Care and custody
• Ethics test(s)
– Tied to consequences
Bremer’s “big picture” perspective
Question
Level
Using Philosophical Framing
1
2
3
4
What is?
What ought to be?
Getting from 1 - 2?
Motivation?
Philosophy
Alternative(s)
Utilitatian
Deontological
Character
Action - Consequences
Action - consistency
Values / Principles
Consistency
Personal
Organizational
Industry or
Professional
Societal
More of a “goal” oriented process
Simplified Ethics Justification Test
Alternative
Feasibility Test
Reversibility Test
Harm Test
Publicity Test
Check time, money,
technical, and social
factors
Apply reversibility test
to alternatives
Apply harm test to
alternatives
Apply publicity test to
alternatives
1
2
3
4
5
2