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Understanding Ethical Dilemmas

An ethical dilemma is a situation that presents two equally undesirable alternatives. It involves making a difficult choice between options that could both be considered right. For example, deciding whether to lie about harboring a fugitive in your home who committed a double homicide presents an ethical dilemma, as it involves weighing protecting human life against obeying the law. When facing an ethical dilemma, one must consider how their decision will affect others, which values are relevant, and ensure the means and goals are ethical. There is no single right approach, as different philosophies may guide different solutions.

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1K views24 pages

Understanding Ethical Dilemmas

An ethical dilemma is a situation that presents two equally undesirable alternatives. It involves making a difficult choice between options that could both be considered right. For example, deciding whether to lie about harboring a fugitive in your home who committed a double homicide presents an ethical dilemma, as it involves weighing protecting human life against obeying the law. When facing an ethical dilemma, one must consider how their decision will affect others, which values are relevant, and ensure the means and goals are ethical. There is no single right approach, as different philosophies may guide different solutions.

Uploaded by

vishal916a8662
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Ethical Dilemma

Ethics
 plural but sing or plural in constr :the
discipline dealing with what is good and
bad and with moral duty and obligation2
a: a set of moral principles : a theory or
system of moral values
Dilemma:
 an argument presenting two or more
equally conclusive alternatives against an
opponent
OR
a problem involving a difficult choice
Ethical Dilemma is:

 NOT a choice between right and wrong


 IS a choice between two things that could
both equally be right
 A situation that, although offering potential
benefits, is unethical.
For Example
 Deciding whether to lie about harboring a
criminal in your home who committed a
double homicide.
 THIS IS NOT A ETHICAL DILEMMA –
WHY?
 Deciding, in Nazi Germany, to lie about
harboring Jews in your home knowing they
would be killed if you turned them in.
 THIS IS A ETHICAL DILEMMA –
WHY?
Example:
“When a used car salesman tells you, ‘This is
the car for you,’ you fully expect the salesman
to be motivated primarily by self-interest:
he wants to sell you the car to put a few
dollars in his pocket.”
 “But when an audiologist tells you, ‘This is
the hearing aid for you,’ you assume that
recommendation stems from the
audiologist’s independent judgment that
this particular hearing aid would be best for
you.”
 “The used car salesman is a businessman;
the audiologist is a ‘professional.’
Professionals distinguish themselves from
‘mere’ businessmen or tradesman by
holding themselves to a higher standard
than self-interest.”
 “Because professionals ‘profess’ to hold the
client’s or patient’s interest paramount,
clients or patients seek out professionals
and repose their confidence in them in order
to find the added measure of safety and
comfort inherent in such relationships.”
Characteristic of ethical dilemma
Choice between equally undesirable
alternative
Different courses of action possible
Involves valid judgments about action or
consequences
Data will not help resolve issue
Different sources (psychology, theology) offer
resolution
Unfavorable outcomes will result
Choices have for effecting on person,
relationship and
society
Resources which must be allocated are finite or
Solving an Ethical Dilemma

When making a decision we must consider:


• The people and things that will be affected, not only
ourselves.
• The values that deal with the problem and its
solution.
• The means used and the goals we want to
accomplish.
Therefore, in every moral
act there must be:
 Conscience of the reasons for doing it (Why do I do this
action?).
 • Conscience of the intentions (What for?).
 • Conscience of the means (How am I going to do it?).
 • Conscience of the possible outcomes (What do I wish to
accomplish?).
 • Conscience of the results (What happened in reality?)
and the consequences (Were there any negative effects?).
Checklist for dealing with ethical
dilemmas
 Step 1. Recognize the ethical dilemma.
 Step 2. Get the facts.
 Step 3. Identify your options.
 Step 4. Test each option: Is it legal? Is it right? Is it
beneficial?
 Step 5. Decide which option to follow.
 Step 6. Ask the “Spotlight Questions”: To double check
your decision.
 “How would I feel if my family found out about my decision?”
 “How would I feel if the local newspaper printed my
decision?”
 Step 7. Take action
Ethics and Work
The Wall Street Journal reports:
• 36% of workers calling in sick are lying.
• 35% keep quiet about co-worker
misconduct.
• 12% of job resumes contain falsehoods.
• Managers are more likely than other
workers to report wrongdoing.
• Managers with 0–3 years experience feel
most pressure to violate personal ethics.
Ethical philosophy
 There are three different ethical
philosophies that individuals follow under
different situations in an organizational set-
up.

 These are- utilitarianism, individual rights,


and justice.

 Organizations attempt to ensure that their


employees behave ethically by using
control systems
 The individual rights philosophy deals
with safeguarding the rights of individuals,
such as the right to be informed, right to
free speech, right to free consent, the right
to privacy, and the right to due process.

 Utilitarianism recommends that a course of


action that achieves the greatest good for
the greatest number of people is ethical
 Justice requires that the rules of the
organization be enforced fairly and
impartially. Individuals should be
accountable only for factors which are
under their control.

 Utilitarianism is the most commonly


followed ethical philosophy
Individual factors External Environmental factors

Ethical philosophy Organizational


& Position related
Decision ideology factors

Ethical
Decision
Making

Ethical
Decision
behavior
history

Reinforcement/
Reward systems
Whistleblowers
 Persons who expose organizational
misdeeds in order to preserve ethical
standards and protect against wasteful,
harmful, or illegal acts.
 Many whistleblowers were / are fired for

their actions.
 State and federal laws now offer some

protection
We have an increasing number of
dilemmas due to erosion of values
Mainly because:
 Dominance of economic considerations in the materialistic
world
 Exposure to much ethnic multi cultural and plural society
depicted in satellite
 Religion has been politicized and loss of faith
 Increased influence of western thoughts on younger
generations
 Relative ease of cutting corners
 Difficulty in thinking about consequences of alternate
courses
 Different from rashness or stubbornness.
The final test as to whether an
action is ethical or not are answers
to the following questions
1. If the answers are all negative, then the
chances are you are being ethical.
2. Is it in conflict with values deep religious
beliefs?
3. Does it hurt my conscience?
4. Do I feel guilty?
5. Will I feel bad to admit in public?
“Character doesn’t stay
at home
when we go to work”

A code of moral standards of conduct for


what is “good” and “right” as opposed to
what is “bad” or “wrong”.
 "If you refuse to fight this righteous war
then, shirking your duty and loosing your
reputation, you will incur sin. Nay, people
will also pour undying infamy on you;
infamy brought on a man enjoying popular
esteem is worse than death.“
Lord Krishna
Quoting from Bhagavad Gita

 Karmanyeva adhikaraste maphaleshu kadachana


makarma phala heturbhu mate sangotswa karmani

 When we are dealing with management and


human action we cannot take absolute positions
on passions like greed and intolerance
Ethics
Ethicsonly
onlycan saveyou
cansave you

Common questions

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Ignoring ethical considerations in decision-making can lead to loss of trust, legal penalties, and damaged reputation. It can result in decreased morale and increased turnover if employees feel pressured to compromise personal ethics. Ultimately, it risks long-term organizational harm and may encourage a culture where unethical behavior becomes normalized .

A systematic approach to solving ethical dilemmas involves recognizing the dilemma, gathering the facts, identifying options, testing each option's legality, righteousness, and benefits, deciding on the best option, and asking 'Spotlight Questions' to verify the decision. These steps ensure thorough evaluation of all aspects and perspectives, promoting a well-reasoned and ethically sound decision .

Professional ethics involve holding one's clients' or patients' interests paramount, contrasting with a businessman's ethics, which primarily focus on self-interest. Professionals, like audiologists, are expected to provide recommendations based on independent judgment rather than personal gain. This distinction is crucial as clients seek professionals for the added measure of safety and comfort in such relationships, relying on a higher standard of conduct .

Organizations can reinforce ethical behavior by implementing robust control systems that highlight the importance of ethical conduct, offering regular training on ethical standards, and creating a safe environment for reporting misconduct. Managers should model ethical behavior, and reward systems can be aligned to encourage integrity, thus fostering a culture that discourages misconduct .

An ethical dilemma involves a situation where one must choose between equally undesirable alternatives, while valid judgments about actions or consequences are necessary. Unlike a simple moral choice, an ethical dilemma is not about choosing between right and wrong but between equally valid moral outcomes. Data will not help resolve the issue, and decisions can have significant impacts on individuals, relationships, and society .

Societal changes such as the dominance of economic considerations, exposure to multicultural environments, and the politicization of religion complicate ethical dilemmas by eroding traditional values. These shifts lead to increased dilemmas as traditional guidelines become less clear, requiring individuals to navigate more complex ethical landscapes without a straightforward moral compass .

Resolution of an ethical dilemma often requires more than factual data because such dilemmas involve values, morals, and principles that data cannot resolve. They require a deep understanding of the consequences and ethical reasoning. Alternative resolutions might involve guidance from disciplines like psychology and theology, which offer perspectives that can help navigate the complexities of moral duties and obligations .

The individual's conscience plays a critical role in ethical decision-making by guiding them to consider the reasons, intentions, means, outcomes, and results of their actions. It ensures an internal moral compass guides the decision, promoting responsibility and self-reflection, thus avoiding actions that could lead to regret or negative consequences .

Whistleblowing serves as a mechanism to maintain ethical standards by exposing organizational misconduct to protect against wasteful, harmful, or illegal acts. Despite the risk of being fired, whistleblowers play a crucial role in preserving ethical standards by highlighting unethical practices. State and federal laws provide some level of protection, encouraging transparency and accountability within organizations .

Utilitarianism influences organizational decision-making by advocating for actions that achieve the greatest good for the greatest number, often prioritizing overall outcomes. The philosophy of individual rights emphasizes safeguarding individuals' rights, impacting organizational policies to ensure rights such as privacy and free consent are respected. Justice as an ethical philosophy demands that organizational rules be enforced fairly, holding individuals accountable only for factors under their control, thus promoting fairness and equity in decision-making processes .

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