The Nature and Purpose of Ethical Reflections:

Ethical Reflections

The word ethics derived from the Greek word “ethos”, which refers to character, guiding beliefs, standards or ideals that pervade (encompass) a group, community of people. All individuals are accountable to their community for their behaviour.Webster: “Ethics is the discipline dealing with what is good and bad, with moral duty and obligations”.Peter F. Drucker : “There is only one ethics, one set of rules morality, one code: that of individual behaviour in which the same rules apply to everyone alike”.Philip W. Wright: “Ethics is a branch of philosophy which is the systematic study of selective choice of the standards of right and wrong by which it may be ultimately directed.

Nature of Ethical Reflections:

•The concept of ethics is applied to human beings only as they have freedom of choice and means of free will.

•Experts were of the opinion that ethics is more a science than an art.

•It is about moral behaviour and human conduct.

•The of ethics is a normative science. It is a search for an ideal litmus test of proper behaviour.

Purpose of Ethical Reflections• To gather the necessary information to understand the

situation fully.• To identify the ethical issues and frame the ethical

questions that are raised by the issues.• Construct the ethical arguments and counter-arguments

that answer the ethical questions posed.• Generate a range of options for action and test each

option using the ethical criteria developed in the analysis.• Address the practical problem by selecting the option for

action that best addresses the combined practical and ethical issues raised.

• Evaluate the outcomes of the decision and adjust future responses accordingly.

Importance of Ethics

Regulating Human

Behaviour

Inhibits knowledge

Benefit in Long-Term

Corresponds to Basic

Human Needs

Assists in Dealings

Better Decision-Making

Enhances Cooperation

Promotes Moral and

Social Values

Ethics & Related Terms

•Ethics & ReligionThomas M. Garrett: “The religion derives

their moral percept not only from human experience but from divine revelation. It must rely on the unaided human reason.”

•Ethics & Law

Ethics

Law

Ethics & ValuesLaw

knowledge

Ethics