ETHICS

ETHICS AND COMMUNITY STANDARDS

Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution

SEMINAR OUTLINE

 Introduction

 Defining Ethics

 Values, Morals, and Moral Theory

 Ethical Approaches

 Ethical Standards

 Putting Ethics Into Action

 Review and Wrap-Up

SEMINAR EXPECTATIONS

•Seminar attendance and active participation in discussion are expected and essential to student learning. Attendees are expected to arrive on time and be present for the entire seminar. In addition, completion of pre - seminar activities is required for participation. Failure to complete or turn-in the activities will result in the student not being allowed to attend the seminar.

Seminar Attendance and Participation

•This seminar consists of multiple activities and group discussions. It is expected that all attendees treat each other with courtesy and respect. Any attendee that fail to adhere to this or creates a disruption that prevents the seminar from functioning in its intended manner may be asked to leave the seminar and not receive approval of completion of the seminar.

In-Seminar Conduct

•Respect of statements, ideas, and beliefs is important to successful reflection and learning. Confidentiality is one of the most important rights, thus the disclosure of information regarding the reason or purpose of an attendees required participation is not advised or condoned. To promote comfort and exchange of ideas it is expected that any information disclosed by another attendee be regarded as confidential and specific to the purpose of the seminar.

Confidentiality

•As a final component of this seminar there will be an assigned reflection paper. This paper must be completed and received by the Office of Student conduct and Conflict Resolution by the prescribed deadline. This paper must be reviewed and approved by the seminar facilitator before it is considered complete and credit for the seminar is granted. Failure to submit the paper by the prescribed deadline or a paper that is not approved may result in the attendee not receiving credit for the seminar.

Post-Seminar Assignment

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 Provide students with information that will promote an understanding of ethics and the role that ethics has in everyday life.

 Evoke the evaluation of personal morals and values as they relate to the formation of an ethical foundation.

 Learn principles that guide good decision making.

 Apply strategies of decision making that reflect your personal values and ethics.

WHAT IS ETHICS?

 “Ethics refers to standards of behavior that tell us how human beings ought to act in the many situations in which they find themselves as friends, parents, children, citizens, businesspeople, teachers, professionals, and so on.”

Brainstorming Activity

VALUES, MORALS, AND MORAL THEORY

KITCHENER’S FIVE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

Respect Autonomy

1

Do No Harm

2

Benefit Others

3

Be Just

4

Be Faithful

5

KOHLBERG’S THEORY OF MORAL JUDGMENT

 Preconventional Level:

 (Moral constructs are derived from individual needs)

 Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation

 Stage 2: Naively Egoistic Orientation

 Conventional Level:

 (Morality based on shared norms and values)

 Stage 3: ‘Good Boy’ Orientation

 Stage 4: Law-and-Order Orientation

 Postconventional Level:

 (Reflective perspective on moral principles that is universal in application)

 Stage 5: Contractual Legalistic Orientation

 Stage 6: Conscience or Principle Orientation

VALUES ASSESSMENT AND REFLECTION

ETHICAL APPROACHES

ETHICAL APPROACHES

 Utilitarian Approach

 Ethical action is one that provides the most good or does the least harm.

-This approach focuses on consequences; it seeks to increase the good done and reduce the harm done.

 Rights Approach

 Ethical action is one that best protects and respects the moral rights of those affected.

-This approach starts from the belief that every person has a dignity based on their human nature per se; every person has a right to be treated as ends and not merely as means to other ends.

 Fairness or Justice Approach

 Ethical action is one that treats all human beings equally. If unequally, then action is based on some standard that is defensible.

-This approach to ethics has its roots in the teachings of Aristotle. The basic moral concern centers around equal treatment of all persons.

ETHICAL APPROACHES

 Common Good Approach

 Life in a community is good in itself and our actions should contribute to that life.

-This approach suggests that interlocking relationships of society are the basis of ethical reasoning this approach calls attention to the common conditions that are important to the welfare of everyone.

 Virtue Approach

 Ethical actions ought to be consistent with certain ideal virtues that provide for the full development of our humanity.

-This approach to ethics encourages dispositions and habits which enable us to act according to the highest potential of our character and on behalf of the values we hold most dear.

Ethics Ran

Ethics Rank Please look over the following list and ran each scenario. 1 being the most ethical and 12 being the least ethical in your opinion.

Looking on someone’s test for help with an answer

Playing a joke on a friend and he/she gets slightly hurt

Taking food out of the residence hall cafeteria

Hiding a book in the library so no one else can find it except for you

Using a fake ID Lying to a police officer

when asked for more information

Using another student’s ID card to get into a FIU athletic event

Copying computer software

Missing class and then making up an excuse to give

ETHICAL STANDARDS

ETHICAL STANDARDS

 Principles, when followed, that promote values, such as trust, good behavior, fairness, and kindness.

 What are some examples of ethical standards?

 What is the purpose of set and defined ethical standards?

PUTTING ETHICS INTO ACTIONS

Heinz Dilemma

DECISION-MAKING

DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

• Recognize the Ethical IssueRecognize

• Get the FactsGet

• Evaluate Alternative OptionsEvaluate

• Make a Decision and Test ItMake

• Act and Reflect on the OutcomeAct and Reflect on

ETHICAL DECISION MAKING

Recognize the Ethical Issue:

 Could this situation or decision be damaging to a person or group?

 What is my motive in doing this act? What is my intention?

 What is the applicable law or University policy?

 What are the possible consequences of my actions?

 What are my moral principles regarding this action?

Get the Facts:

 What are the relevant facts of the case?

 Do I know enough to make a decision?

 Can I learn more about the situation?

 What individuals and/or groups have an important stake in the outcome?

 Have I identified creative options?

ETHICAL DECISION MAKING

 Evaluate Alternative Options:

 Questions based on a specific ethical approach

 Make a Decision and Test It:

 Which option is best, considering all approaches?

 Talk to others you respect and what would they say?

 Act and Reflect on the Outcome:

 How did my decision turn out and what have I learned from this specific situation.

Case Study

“BECOMING A PERSON OF CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY

MEANS NARROWING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN WHAT YOU

SAY AND WHAT YOU DO AND INCREASING THE AMOUNT YOU

CARE FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS.”

(The Education of Character: Lessons for Beginners)

FIU’S CIVILITY INITIATIVE

The Civility Initiative is a collaborative effort by students, faculty and staff to promote civility as a cornerstone of the FIU community. We believe that civility is an essential component of the core values of our University. We strive to include civility in our daily actions and look to promote the efforts of others that do the same. Civility is…Respect, Integrity, Community.

· Show respect to all people, regardless of differences · Always act with integrity, even when no one is watching · Be a positive contributing member of the FIU community

WHAT IS CIVILITY?

“Civility is claiming and caring for one's identity, needs and beliefs

without degrading someone else's in the process.”1

1 Institute for Civility in Government Co-Founders, Rev. Cassandra Dahnke and Rev. Tomas Spath

CIVILITY IN SOCIAL NETWORKING

“What you say and write TODAY, can be used against you TOMORROW.”

• Pictures & Videos

• Memes

• Posts

• Groups & Associations

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.

CIVILITY MATTERS, WHY?

• Future Employment (60% of employers research perspective employees on social media*)

• Classroom Discourse

• Your role in community/ organization/committee

• Keep in Mind: What are your goals?

• 3-5 years

• 10 years

TAKEAWAYS:

Promoting R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

o Recognize the inherent worth of all with whom you encounter

o Eliminate derogatory words and phrases from your vocabulary

o Speak WITH people - not AT them or ABOUT them

o Practice empathy.

o Earn the respect of your peers through your behavior.

o Consider the impact of your actions on others (in advance)

o Treat everyone with dignity and courtesy

- ADAPTED FROM “START RIGHT, STAY RIGHT,” BY STEVE VENTURA

 Take The Pledge!

 conduct.fiu.edu

 Take the Civility Survey

 http://tinyurl.com/gpgnqvz

 Or use this QR Code →

Thank you for your time…please take the Civility Pledge!

REFLECTION PAPER:

 Topic:  Using this seminar as a basis of knowledge, reflect on the situation that

resulted in your being assigned this seminar. Why did you make the choices you did? Were your choices ethical? If faced with a similar situation in the future, would you do anything differently? If so, what? If not, why not?

*Please incorporate topics and information presented and discussed during the seminar.

Due: May 10, 2021 to [email protected]