EAI
Introduction & Objectives
Ethics Awareness Inventory -
Gain New Insight Into Your Ethical Perspective
A commitment to personal ethics is about developing a moral self capable of dealing with ethical issues
as they arise. The Ethics Awareness Inventory presents the A3 approach to ethical decision making—
AWARENESS—ARTICULATION—APPLICATION
 AWARENESS of the foundational principles that define our ethical perspectives and those of
others.
 ARTICULATION, or the ability to express the basis for your position and to justify your
decision making process—the critical skill that enables you to communicate your perspective
to others.
 APPLICATION or ACTION — using your understanding of the basis for making good choices
(Awareness) and your ability to explain the principles behind your position (Articulation) to
integrate ethical decision making into your daily activities (Application or Action).
Inventory Objectives
A certain number of ethical standards will always be a part of our professional experience. However, an
emphasis on rules and regulations downplays the importance of individual judgment in ethical decision
making. A focus on the rules alone can cause a person to lose sight of the role ethical principles play
when individuals are faced with ethical decisions.
The EAI is designed to assist you in achieving specific objectives, enabling you to—
 Understand and care about the basis for what is right or good;
 Compare and decide among alternatives;
 Form opinions regarding what actions are morally appropriate for you (personally) to take;
 Acquire the skills necessary to justify your decisions on ethical grounds.
These objectives will lead you through the A3 approach -- from AWARENESS to ARTICULATION to
APPLICATION – and lead you to discover how you are likely to approach ethical issues -- and why.
Four Categories of Ethical Thought Measured by the EAI
The Ethics Awareness Inventory refers to a series of broad characterizations representing four
prominent categories of ethical philosophy. These categories include:
 Character based on personal virtue (in philosophy, virtue theory)
 Obligation based on a sense of duty to do what is right (in philosophy, deontology)
 Results based on the consequences of actions taken (in philosophy, utilitarianism)
 Equity based on practical analysis rather than absolute standards of right and wrong (in
philosophy, postmodernism)
For more information on The Williams Institute:
www.ethics-twi.org
info@ethics-twi.org
480-517-1891