The Ethics Position

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Document3.ethics.docx

Please indicate if you agree or disagree with the following items. Each represents a commonly held opinion and there are no right or wrong answers. We are interested in your reaction to such matters of opinion. Rate your reaction to each statement by writing a number to the left of each statement where:

1 = Completely disagree

2 = Largely disagree

3 = Moderately disagree

4 = Slightly disagree

5 = Neither agree nor disagree

6 = Slightly agree

7 = Moderately agree

8 = Largely agree

9 = Completely agree

1. People should make certain that their actions never intentionally harm another even to a small degree. 8

2. Risks to another should never be tolerated, irrespective of how small the risks might be. 9

3. The existence of potential harm to others is always wrong, irrespective of the benefits to be gained. 8

4. One should never psychologically or physically harm another person. 9

5. One should not perform an action which might in any way threaten the dignity and welfare of another individual. 8

6. If an action could harm an innocent other, then it should not be done. 9

7. Deciding whether or not to perform an act by balancing the positive consequences of the act against the negative consequences of the act is immoral. 7

8. The dignity and welfare of the people should be the most important concern in any society. 8

9. It is never necessary to sacrifice the welfare of others. 8

10. Moral behaviors are actions that closely match ideals of the most “perfect” action. 4

11. There are no ethical principles that are so important that they should be a part of any code of ethics. 5

12. What is ethical varies from one situation and society to another. 8

13. Moral standards should be seen as being individualistic; what one person considers to be moral may be judged to be immoral by another person. 8

14. Different types of morality cannot be compared as to “rightness.” 7

15. Questions of what is ethical for everyone can never be resolved since what is moral or immoral is up to the individual. 8

16. Moral standards are simply personal rules that indicate how a person should behave, and are not be be applied in making judgments of others. 8

17. Ethical considerations in interpersonal relations are so complex that individuals should be allowed to formulate their own individual codes. 7

18. Rigidly codifying an ethical position that prevents certain types of actions could stand in the way of better human relations and adjustment. 6

19. No rule concerning lying can be formulated; whether a lie is permissible or not permissible totally depends upon the situation. 7

20. Whether a lie is judged to be moral or immoral depends upon the circumstances surrounding the action. 7

Idealism scores are calculated by summing responses from items 1 to 10. Relativism scores are calculated by summing responses from items 11 to 20. The original response scale used was a 9point scale, although people often trim it back to a true Likert 5-point scale.

Please indicate if you agree or disagree with the following items. Each represents a

commonly h

eld opinion and there are no right or wrong answers. We are interested

in your reaction to such matters of opinion.

Rate your reaction to each statement by

writing a number to the left of each statement where:

1 = Completely disagree

2 = Largely disagree

3 = Moderately disagree

4 = Slightly disagree

5 = Neither agree nor disagree

6 = Slightly agree

7 = Moderately agree

8 = Largely ag

ree

9 = Completely agree

1. People should make certain that their actions never intentionally harm another

even to a small degree.

8

2. Risks to another should never be tolerated, irrespective of how small the risks

might be.

9

3. The existence of potential

harm to others is always wrong, irrespective of the

benefits to be gained.

8

4. One should never psychologically or physically harm another person.

9

5. One should not perform an action which might in any way threaten the dignity

and welfare of another indi

vidual.

8

6. If an action could harm an innocent other, then it should not be done.

9

7. Deciding whether or not to perform an act by balancing the positive

consequences of the act against the negative consequences of the act is immoral.

7

8. The dignity and

welfare of the people should be the most important concern in

any society.

8

9. It is never necessary to sacrifice the welfare of others.

8

Please indicate if you agree or disagree with the following items. Each represents a

commonly held opinion and there are no right or wrong answers. We are interested

in your reaction to such matters of opinion. Rate your reaction to each statement by

writing a number to the left of each statement where:

1 = Completely disagree

2 = Largely disagree

3 = Moderately disagree

4 = Slightly disagree

5 = Neither agree nor disagree

6 = Slightly agree

7 = Moderately agree

8 = Largely agree

9 = Completely agree

1. People should make certain that their actions never intentionally harm another

even to a small degree. 8

2. Risks to another should never be tolerated, irrespective of how small the risks

might be. 9

3. The existence of potential harm to others is always wrong, irrespective of the

benefits to be gained. 8

4. One should never psychologically or physically harm another person. 9

5. One should not perform an action which might in any way threaten the dignity

and welfare of another individual. 8

6. If an action could harm an innocent other, then it should not be done. 9

7. Deciding whether or not to perform an act by balancing the positive

consequences of the act against the negative consequences of the act is immoral. 7

8. The dignity and welfare of the people should be the most important concern in

any society. 8

9. It is never necessary to sacrifice the welfare of others. 8