EthicsEthics

Ethics Glossary LRE3-5Ethics Glossary LRE3-5

EthicsEthics

““that branch of philosophy dealing with that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such badness of the motives and ends of such actions” (Ethics Glossary)actions” (Ethics Glossary)

Business EthicsBusiness Ethics

““that branch of philosophy dealing with that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct as it values relating to human conduct as it applies to business transactions”applies to business transactions”

(Ethics Glossary”(Ethics Glossary”

Situational EthicsSituational Ethics

““moral principles that vary with moral principles that vary with circumstances”circumstances”

(Ethics Glossary)(Ethics Glossary)

Ethics and LawEthics and Law

EthicsEthics Imposed internally.Imposed internally.

Concerned with motives.Concerned with motives.

Concerned with interest Concerned with interest of individual and society.of individual and society.

LawLaw Imposed externally.Imposed externally.

Concerned with acts and Concerned with acts and conduct.conduct.

Concerned with the Concerned with the interest of society.interest of society.

ABFSEABFSE

““The basic premise that ethics is a major The basic premise that ethics is a major part of funeral service practice is derived part of funeral service practice is derived from the idea that the funeral professional from the idea that the funeral professional is entrusted with serving the bereaved is entrusted with serving the bereaved survivors and the proper treatment and survivors and the proper treatment and disposition of remains.”disposition of remains.”

University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota(1996)(1996)

““ethical conduct and practice ranked ethical conduct and practice ranked highest among 404 task statements that highest among 404 task statements that funeral directors evaluatedfuneral directors evaluated

1996 and 1997 Gallop polls showed that 1996 and 1997 Gallop polls showed that the public ranked FDs among the top 10 the public ranked FDs among the top 10 professions with high or very-high ratings professions with high or very-high ratings for honesty and ethicsfor honesty and ethics

Funeral Ethics OrganizationFuneral Ethics Organization

www.funeralethics.org Nonprofit educational organizationNonprofit educational organization Purpose: “promote ethical dealings in all Purpose: “promote ethical dealings in all

death-related transactions by working for death-related transactions by working for better understanding of ethical issues……better understanding of ethical issues……as well as a better understanding between as well as a better understanding between these and the general public.”these and the general public.”

FEO MissionFEO Mission

““Ethical dealings respect the feelings and Ethical dealings respect the feelings and emotions of the bereaved, provide respect emotions of the bereaved, provide respect to the deceased’s body, and refrain from to the deceased’s body, and refrain from taking economic advantage of consumers taking economic advantage of consumers making funeral or memorial purchases.”making funeral or memorial purchases.”

Manual of Professional PracticeManual of Professional Practice Sections:Sections:

sphere and function of FS practitionersphere and function of FS practitioner ethical practiceethical practice responsibility to: family, clergy, cemetery/crematory, responsibility to: family, clergy, cemetery/crematory,

governmental and public agencies, press, and publicgovernmental and public agencies, press, and public respect for the deceasedrespect for the deceased operation of the funeral homeoperation of the funeral home publicity and promotionpublicity and promotion deference to family’s choice of FDdeference to family’s choice of FD funeral involving joint director responsibiltiesfuneral involving joint director responsibilties defamation of othersdefamation of others inducing breach of agreementinducing breach of agreement

Models for Ethical Decision-makingModels for Ethical Decision-making

Most people do not have much difficulty in Most people do not have much difficulty in telling what’s telling what’s absolutelyabsolutely right from what’s right from what’s absolutelyabsolutely wrong. wrong.

It is the “gray” areas that are a challenge.It is the “gray” areas that are a challenge.

Kohlberg’s Moral Development Kohlberg’s Moral Development ModelModel

3 developmental levels (each level has 2 3 developmental levels (each level has 2 stages)stages)

Pre-moral Stage: “a stage of moral Pre-moral Stage: “a stage of moral development in which the individual is development in which the individual is characterized as not understanding the rules characterized as not understanding the rules or feeling a sense or obligation to them. or feeling a sense or obligation to them. Looking to experience only that which is good Looking to experience only that which is good or pleasant or to avoid that which is painful.”or pleasant or to avoid that which is painful.”

Pre-conventional LevelPre-conventional Level(Stages 1 and 2)(Stages 1 and 2)

““a stage of moral development in which a stage of moral development in which moral reasoning is based on reward and moral reasoning is based on reward and punishment from those in authority”punishment from those in authority”

Conventional LevelConventional Level(Stages 3 and 4)(Stages 3 and 4)

““a stage of moral development in which a stage of moral development in which the expectations of the social group the expectations of the social group (family, community, and nation) are (family, community, and nation) are supported and maintained”supported and maintained”

Postconventional/Principles Postconventional/Principles Level (Stages 5 and 6)Level (Stages 5 and 6)

““a stage of moral development in which a stage of moral development in which the individual considers universal moral the individual considers universal moral principles which supersede the authority of principles which supersede the authority of the group”the group”

Dr. Carol GilliganDr. Carol Gilligan

Kohlberg’s theories biased against womenKohlberg’s theories biased against women ““Theory of Moral Development in Women”Theory of Moral Development in Women” women: “morality of care”women: “morality of care” men: “morality of justice and rights”men: “morality of justice and rights”

Morality of CareMorality of Care

emphasized interconnectednessemphasized interconnectedness girls early connection in identity formation girls early connection in identity formation

with their motherswith their mothers girls are less concerned with “fairness”girls are less concerned with “fairness”

Morality of JusticeMorality of Justice

concerned with the interactions of concerned with the interactions of autonomous individualsautonomous individuals

boys separate and individuate themselves boys separate and individuate themselves from their motherfrom their mother

concerned with issues of “power” and concerned with issues of “power” and “inequality”“inequality”

Dr. Albert SchweitzerDr. Albert Schweitzer

5 basic criteria:5 basic criteria: human nature: how would different “times” human nature: how would different “times”

view the ethical questionview the ethical question consequences of the actconsequences of the act universal convictionsuniversal convictions moral feelingsmoral feelings religious/philosophical convictions religious/philosophical convictions

Robert NinkerRobert Ninker

Executive Director of the FEOExecutive Director of the FEO 4 ways:4 ways:

What do the laws, rules or regulations dictate What do the laws, rules or regulations dictate in this situation?in this situation?

What would the community think of the action What would the community think of the action I am about to take if it were to become I am about to take if it were to become common knowledge?common knowledge?

The conscience check.The conscience check. Summarize.Summarize.

Rotary International “Four Way Rotary International “Four Way Test”Test”

Is it the truth?Is it the truth?

Is it fair to all concerned?Is it fair to all concerned?

Will it build goodwill and better Will it build goodwill and better friendships?friendships?

Will it be beneficial to all concerned?Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Individual (Personal) EthicsIndividual (Personal) Ethics

Foundation for a person’s moral compassFoundation for a person’s moral compass Develop over time and influenced by:Develop over time and influenced by:

CultureCulture Theism/Non-theismTheism/Non-theism CitizenshipCitizenship Family RelationshipsFamily Relationships ExperienceExperience

CultureCulture

““the rules, ideas, beliefs shared by the rules, ideas, beliefs shared by members of society” “learned directly and members of society” “learned directly and indirectly” (Ethics Glossary)indirectly” (Ethics Glossary)

dictates ethical normsdictates ethical norms customs and traditions become ingrained customs and traditions become ingrained

in a person’s psychein a person’s psyche

Theism/Non-theismTheism/Non-theism

Theism: “belief in a god or gods”Theism: “belief in a god or gods” Non-theism: “ a philosophy that does not Non-theism: “ a philosophy that does not

focus on the worship or a god or gods”focus on the worship or a god or gods”

(Ethics Glossary)(Ethics Glossary) religion provides an established set of religion provides an established set of

moral rules/spiritual lawsmoral rules/spiritual laws rewards in the afterliferewards in the afterlife

CitizenshipCitizenship

““the character of an individual viewed as a the character of an individual viewed as a member of society; behavior in terms of member of society; behavior in terms of duties, obligations and functions of a duties, obligations and functions of a citizen”citizen”

(Ethics Glossary)(Ethics Glossary) society creates laws that citizens are society creates laws that citizens are

expected to followexpected to follow ““dutiful citizen”dutiful citizen”

Family RelationshipsFamily Relationships

Parents are usually the first to voice and Parents are usually the first to voice and demonstrate ethical boundaries.demonstrate ethical boundaries.

Children absorb the actions of their family Children absorb the actions of their family which contributes to their sense of which contributes to their sense of morality.morality.

ExperienceExperience

Life events can alter or change personal Life events can alter or change personal ethics.ethics.

Emotions and personal understanding Emotions and personal understanding may cause a powerful shift in beliefs.may cause a powerful shift in beliefs.

ProfessionalismProfessionalism

4 “easy” ways to compromise professional 4 “easy” ways to compromise professional ethical obligations:ethical obligations: ““If it’s not illegal, it must be ethical”.If it’s not illegal, it must be ethical”. ““Do whatever it takes, the end justifies the Do whatever it takes, the end justifies the

means”.means”. ““Nobody will find out.”Nobody will find out.” ““It must be alright if my boss says it is (or the It must be alright if my boss says it is (or the

competition does it)”.competition does it)”.