Ethical Theories
Ethical TheoriesForms of Ethical Theories• Deontology – people should adhere to their obligations and duties
• Utilitarianism – the choice that yields the greatest benefit to the most people is ethically correct
• Rights – rights established by society are protected and given the highest priority
• Virtue – judges a person by his/her character rather than an action that may deviate from normal behavior
Ethical Theories
Ethical TheoriesSELECTED PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL CONDUCT KANT’S CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE: Act in a way that you
believe is right and just for any other person in a similar situation.
CARR’S CONVENTIONALIST ETHIC: Bluff and take advantage of all legal opportunities and widespread practices and customs
THE DISCLOSURE RULE: Ask how it would feel to see the thinking and details of the decision disclosed to a wide audience
THE GOLDEN RULE: Look at the problem from the position of another party affected by the decision and try to determine what response the other person would expect as the most virtuous
Ethical Theories
Ethical TheoriesSELECTED PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL CONDUCT THE HEDONISTIC ETHIC: Do whatever you find to be in your own self-
interest
MOORE’S INTUITION ETHIC: Go with your “gut” feeling or what you understand to be right in a given situation
SMITH’S MARKET ETHIC: Take selfish actions and be motivated by personal gains in business dealings
MACHIAVELLI’S MEANS-END ETHIC: Ask whether some overall good justifies any ethical transgression
NIETZSCHE/MARX MIGHT-EQUALS-RIGHT ETHIC: Seize what advantage you are strong enough to use without respect to ordinary social conventions and laws
Ethical Theories
Ethical TheoriesSELECTED PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL CONDUCT THE ORGANIZATION ETHIC: Ask whether actions are consistent
with organizational goals and do what is good for the organization
GARRETT’S PRINCIPLE OF PROPORTIONALITY: Do whatever you will if there is a proportional reason for doing so
THE PROTESTANT ETHIC: Do only that which can be explained before a committee of your peers
THE REVELATION ETHIC: Pray, mediate, or otherwise commune with a superior force or being
BENTHAM/MILL’S UTILITARIAN ETHIC: Determine whether the harm in an action is outweighed by the good
Ethical Theories
Ethical TheoriesETHICAL TYPES DESCRIPTORS
Hedonist1. Make physical pleasures the supreme goal in their
lives. KEY QUESTION: Which course of action will yield the
greatest pleasure?
Profit-maximizer
2. Goal of making as much money as possible KEY QUESTION: which course of action will make the
most money? All their feelings and associations can be melted down
to dollars
Socialite
3. A social butterfly, a party animal KEY QUESTION: Which course of action will help me
best get along with the group? If you want to know what this person thinks, find out
who spoke to him or her most recently
Ethical Theories
Ethical TheoriesETHICAL TYPES DESCRIPTORS
Politician
4. Life centers around power and glory. KEY QUESTION: Which course of action will increase
my power and glory? These people have enormous egos, boundless
ambitions, and undertake reckless actions.
Self-actualizer
5. Spiritual values predominate KEY QUESTION: Which course of action will help me
become a better person? These people have new insights, reform old ways,
initiate new ways of thinking, strike out on new paths
Craftsman
6. A technician POSITIVES: Creative, knowledgeable, independent,
self-reliant, hardworking NEGATIVES: Sadistic, forceful, manipulative, non-
trustworthy
Ethical Theories
Ethical TheoriesETHICAL TYPES DESCRIPTORS
Company Person
7. Main goal in life to belong to an organization POSITIVES: Service oriented, loyal, responsible,
humble, sensitive to the needs of others, dependable, pleasant, trustworthy
NEGATIVES: Fear, worry, dependency, lacking vision, risk aversive, low drive, indecisive, change resistant
Gamesman
8. Dominant goal in life to gain prestige, glory, fame POSITIVES: Inventive, flexible, change oriented,
competitive, team player, independent, risk taker, impartial, high energy, idealistic
NEGATIVES: Lack of conviction, rebellious, manipulative, lack of intimacy, lonely
Ethical Theories
Ethical TheoriesPersonal Ethical Development Organizational Ethical Development
1. Physical consequences determine ethical behavior. Avoidance of punishment and deference to power are typical of this stage
Social Darwinism - Fear of extinction and the urgency of financial survival dictate ethical conduct. The direct use of force is the acceptable norm.
2. Individual pleasure needs are the primary concern and dictate attitudes toward behavior
Machiavellianism - Organizational gain guides actions. Successfully attaining goals justifies the use of any effective means, including individual manipulation
Ethical Theories
Ethical TheoriesPersonal Ethical Development Organizational Ethical Development
3. The approval of others determines behavior. The good person is one who satisfies family, friends, associates.
Cultural conformity - A tradition of standard operating procedures and caring groups. Peer professional pressure to adhere to social norms dictates what is the right and wrong behavior
4. Compliance with authority, upholding of the social order, and “doing one’s duty” are primary concerns
Allegiance to authority - Directions from legal authority determine ethical standards. Right and wrong are based on the decisions of those with legitimate hierarchical power
Ethical Theories
Ethical TheoriesPersonal Ethical Development Organizational Ethical Development
5. Tolerance for rational dissent and acceptance of majority rule become primary ethical concerns
Democratic participation - Participation in decision-making reliance on majority rule become organizational ethical standards. Participative management becomes institutionalized
6. What is right and good is a matter of individual conscience and responsibly chosen commitment. Ethicality is based on principled personal convictions
Organizational integrity - Justice and individual rights are the ethical ideals. Balanced judgment between competing interests shapes organizational character which, in turn, determines the validity of the behavior