A Framework For Thinking Ethically

A Framework For Thinking Ethically - http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/framework.html

           a. May 2009

           b. Santa Clara University

           c. From a debate at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University.

• Ethics are not the same as feelings
• Ethics is not religion
• Ethics is not following the law
• A good system of law does incorporate ethical standards
• Indentifying ethical standards is hard due to what we base our ethical standards on
• 5 sources of ethical standards include: The Utilitarian Approach, the Rights Approach, the Common Good Approach, the Fairness or Goodness Approach, and the Virtue Approach
• Each approach helps determine what behavioral standards can be considered ethical
• Many approaches don't answer the question, "What is ethical?"
• Having a method for ethical decision making is essential
• Framework for Ethical Decision Making includes these steps: Recognize an Ethical Issue, Get the Facts, Evaluate Alternative Actions, Make a Decision and Test It, and Act and Reflect on the Outcome