Ethics

CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO DISTRICT

(DISTRICT LEADERS TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMME)

Learning Objectives

The objectives of the discourse are:

To define ethical leadership

To describe ethics as it contrast with morals

To discuss the process involved in making ethical choices

To examine the need for ethical leadership

To demonstrate the complexity of ethical dilemmas

What is Ethical Leadership?

The word Ethics originated from the Greek word ‘ethos’ which means ‘moral character’

It also relates to the stimuli that influence ideas of right and wrong

Ethical leadership therefore refers to the body of rules and standards of conduct, which govern the behaviour of individual leaders

The Heritage Dictionary offers the following

definition: Ethics: “A set of principles of right conduct; A

theory or a system of moral values; The rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession”

That’s why we could read about national ethics, social ethics, organizational ethics, professional ethics

Ethical leadership therefore, is leadership that is based on beliefs and values that reflect:

The lifestyle influenced by morals, rules, duty and obligation of and to society

Principles, such as, trust, honesty, rightness, fairness or equity, when considering the ethical and moral perspectives of a situation

What are Morals?

Morals deal with right and wrong, good and bad

They are the standards of right and wrong behaviour and expressions of character that one has personally embraced

Thus, Morals are influenced by higher persuasions, rules or habits of behaviour expected of individuals

The Columbia Encyclopedia states: “Moral principles may be viewed either as the standard of conduct that individuals have constructed for themselves or as the body of obligations and duties that a particular society requires of its members.”

What is the difference between Ethics and Morals?

Ethics and morals both deal with right and wrong behaviour and character and are often used interchangeably

However, they bear distinguishing elements

Ethics refer to rules provided by an external source, e.g. codes of conduct for a profession or the constitution of a religions body

Morals refer to an individual’s own principles and convictions regarding right and wrong

Ethics Morals

Ethics involves the systematic pattern for setting and evaluating morals

Morals are regarded as the motives (drivers) behind ethics

Ethics are concerned with the society or organization’s determination of what is right and wrong

Morals relate to the individual’s acceptance of what is ethically right and wrong

Ethics change over time and influence morals

Morals also change over time, even as they influence Ethics

John Noonan, Jr. (1984) wrote “Moral concepts found enshrined in traditions do not stay the same. They undergo transformation. They are subject to investigation and criticism. They expand, shrink, or disappear”

James Wallace (1996) wrote “...what we call morality is a body of practical knowledge....The character at any particular time of a body of practical knowledge such as medicine or music is the result of historical circumstances....morality is a human creation that changes through time...

These references strongly suggest that morality (and ethics) may change over time

What are your thoughts…do you believe ethics and morals may change over time?

We may recall changes in the:

Legality of slave-ownership Abolition of slavery Possession of personal firearms Legality of judicial torture – renounced in the

UK in 1640 Long fight for religious liberty Family planning & birth control The struggle for civil rights– USA, South Africa Agitations for women's rights (to vote and

own property); the rights of the child etc.

Measure Ethics Morals

What are they? Principles or habits related to right or wrong behavior/conduct as determined by a group, organization or society

They define how things are suppose to operate according to the rules

The personal acceptance of principles and rules of conduct for living

Where are their roots located?

Externally - Social system Internally – Individual’s convictions

Why should leaders be guided by them?

Because the group, organization or society accepts them as the right and acceptable behaviour

Because the individual has embraced them as his/her lifestyle convictions or moral-compass (GPS)

What if leaders are not guided by them?

They would likely face societal or peer disapproval and sanctions - even to the point of being ostracized

Behaviour that is contrary to one’s moral-compass can create internal dissonance, distress, unease, remorse, depression etc.

Measure Ethics Morals

Responsibility & Flexibility

Ethics are dependent on others for definition

They tend to be consistent within certain context, but may vary in multiple contexts

Usually consistent, but can change if an individual’s belief-pattern changes

The ‘Gray’ area A person may strictly follow Ethical Principles, yet fail to have a solid Moral compass

Likewise, one could violate Ethical Principles within a given ‘system of rules’ in order to maintain Moral Integrity

A Moral Person is bound by a higher covenant, and may choose to follow a ‘code of ethics’ as it applies to a given system

Acceptability Ethics are governed by professional and legal guidelines within a particular time, place, organization and society

Morality transcends cultural norms

An individual's personal morals may clash with the ethics he is expected to practice in the group or organization

– e.g. A criminal defense attorney may view murder as immoral but the ethics of his profession demand that he defend a murderer to the best of his ability

- e.g. A doctor is required to do all in his power to care for and save the life of a wounded criminal who may have just murdered a loved one earlier

How do we make Ethical choices as leaders?

A Prize Winning Image

On March 01, 1993 a photographer, Kevin Carter, took the picture of a vulture watching a starving child. It was a heart-breaking scene of a starving child collapsed on the ground, struggling to get to a Food Centre during a time of famine in Sudan. In the background a vulture stalks the hungry, starving and weak child

Are there Ethical Issues in the taking of this Picture?

Kevin Carter was part of a group of fearless photojournalist known as the “Bang Bang Club” who travelled throughout South Africa capturing the atrocities committed during apartheid. Haunted by the horrific images from Sudan, Carter committed suicide in 1994 soon after receiving an award

Ethical theories are generally presented in literature as being in two (2) common categories:

Teleological (aka Consequential)or Results Ethics

Deontological (aka Non-consequential)or Duty Ethics

Some authorities include a 3rd category, generally referred to as Virtue Ethics, but it also bears other names

Comparison: Teleological Vs. Deontological Ethics

Teleological Ethics or Consequentialism identifies the result of a decision as the most important consideration in choosing an action

That is, the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by the most likely consequences of that action, or the end justifies the means

Deontological Ethics or Non-Consequentialism identifies duty as the primary factor in determining the rightness of an action

That is, an action is right independent of the outcome or resulting consequences, or ‘the end does not justify the means’

Virtue ethics focuses on the development of good character traits, such as kindness, benevolence, generosity etc.

These character traits would be expected to enable the individual to make ethical decisions throughout life

In other words, Good character traits, rather than actions or outcome, are central to this category

Critics complain that Virtue ethics present a vague concept

Situations to Consider

“The officer tricked her into admitting her guilt”—would you say the end justified the means here

What about lying…is it ever permissible? Is it correct to lie in order to save dozens of persons from sure death?

Is it morally correct to kill one person in order to save five persons?

Ethical leadership 101

The leader must first examine the platform from which he initiates his moral reasoning and set ethical principles that commonly influence his decision making

Divine Command Theory purports that behaviour which complies with God’s commands constitutes right behavior

Also note that your ethical and moral positions could cost you something…lost of friends, hostile labels, marginalization etc.

Ethics of Responsibility

The assessment of an ethical situation includes three essential factors:

1. Knowledge of what is responsible and irresponsible action in a given situation

2. Moral freedom to choose between the alternatives

3. Moral responsibility for the choices made

A Framework for Thinking Ethically

Ethic is not: The same as feelings

Religion and dogmas

Subscription to the Law

Following culturally accepted norms

Science

Ethical Dilemmas

An ethical dilemma is a situation which requires a decision about appropriate behavior

When morals are imposed, there may be friction between the imposed morals and an individual’s perception of right and wrong

This discrepancy may create ‘ethical dilemmas’ for an individual

Getting the Facts

What are the relevant facts of the case? What facts are unknown?

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

Do some have a greater stake because they have a special need or because others have special obligations to them?

  What are the options for acting? Have all the relevant

persons and groups been consulted

Conclusion &…

Thank You