STR 581 - Week 1

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Values and Perspectives EAI

Values Underlying the CORE Ethical Perspectives

In most personal and professional situations, it is important to overcome communication problems that occur when people approach ethical problems, questions or concerns from different ethical perspectives. An often effective way to do this is to find common ground for agreement by identifying the underlying values of the ethical perspectives that are shared by the people involved. Each of TWI’s CORE perspectives has several underlying values. Some of these values are quite similar and can be a point from which to work toward common agreement on how to approach the ethical issue or concern involved, such as setting priorities or agreeing on what the results could be. An important thought to keep in mind is that, in most cases, each of us is trying to make the best ethical decision in the situation given the information we have and how we prioritize our values. The path that each of us takes in prioritizing the values of a particular perspective informs the reasoning used in deciding what is the right thing to do and how we ought to do it. Recognizing this fact is a first step in mutual ethical problem solving. When applying the four step ethical decision making process presented in the Ethical Awareness Inventory, it is important to understand that these values inform our reasoning at each step, especially in step four. Knowing and using these values will make your ethical reasoning more effective in determining the best ethical decision available to you, and others. They will help you more productively communicate the ethical choices you make. Character

 Fairness

 Integrity

 Honor

 Exemplary reputation

 Commitment to virtue and decency

 Focus on what it is good to be, rather than to do

 Justice

 Respect for ideals/values

 Equal goodwill toward others

 Personal excellence

Results

 Fairness toward society as a whole

 Commitment to the greatest good for greatest number

 Bottom line oriented

 Willingness to sacrifice for the good of the whole

 Achievement of goals/productivity

 Effectiveness/efficiency

 Achievement of the good life for the majority

 Respect for technical expertise

 Equal opportunity for all

 Excellence of outcomes

Obligation

 Fairness to others

 Commitment to duty

 Primacy of universal principles of right and wrong

 Reliability

 Dignity

 Personal fortitude

 Rational thought

 Respect for individual decision making

 Equal respect for others

 Excellence in principles and duty

Equity

 Fairness to individual others

 Opposition to prejudice and discrimination

 Pragmatism

 Commitment to hear the perspectives/voices of others

 Participatory decision making

 Commitment to community

 Future oriented

 Respect for diversity

 Equal advantage for all

 Excellence in outcomes for everyone

Please note that while the above list of representative values is not intended to be comprehensive and does not presume to imply that these values are only within the perspectives identified, it serves to provide the user with a set of values that tend to be dominant within each perspective.