PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

PREAMBLE

Professional ethics has become more important over the years. As we become more specialized in our occupation, the issues become that much more complex and hard.

Professional bodies have increasingly been at work developing, revising and refining professional codes of ethics.

Professionals themselves ask for more detailed codes so as to have greater guidance.

CONT… It is a sign of maturity, and of professional pride, when a

professional group is operating under a code of ethics.

What do we mean by professional ethics?

What sorts of issues are likely to come up during the career of a professional?

How does one resolve ethical dilemmas? How should one use a professional code of ethics?

CONT… Professional ethics helps a professional choose what to do

when faced with a problem at work that raises a moral issue.

One can certainly study what professionals do when faced with such problems, and confine the enquiry to the description.

Our concern here, however, is to assist with making choices an approach called prescriptive professional ethics.

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Sayings of Prophet pbuh

On the day of judgment, weight of nothing would be equal to good behavior (Tirmizi)

Through a good moral conduct, a muslim can achieve a status of a person who prays in the nights and fasts during the day (Abu Dawood)

Good moral behavior is the best of virtues given by Allah (Ibn-e-Maja)

Best Mo’amin is one whose treatment with people is best (Ibn-e-Maja)

7

بھاری • سے سب میں اعمال کے مومن بندہ دن کے قیامت کہ حدیث کی شریف ترمذی یعنیگیں۔ ہوں اخلاق عمدہ کے اس شے

اسلام • کو عبادات چند ہم ہے، آاتا سامنے مزاج کا دین سے حدیث کے شریف داود ابو اورحاصل : مقام وہ سے اخلاق عمدہ مسلمان ایک کرتے نہیں پورا بھی وہ اور ہیں بیٹھے سمجھاسلام یہ ہو۔ کرتا اہتمام کا روزوں نفلی اور نوافل کو رات روزانہ جو برابر کے اس ہے کرسکتا

بداخلاق یعنی ہے۔ اہمیت کی اخلاق اچھے اسے بمیں کہ ہے شکار کا قسمتی بد بڑی ہتہے۔ رہا کھو وہ درجات بڑے اتنے اور گی ملے نہیں جنت

ہو۔ • بہتر ساتھ ک دوسروں کارویہ جس ہے وہ مومن بہترین کہ ہے میں ماجہ ابنتکیل • کی اخلاق اعلی میں کہ ہے گیا بھیجا بہترین لئے اس مجھے کہ ہے حدیث اور ایک

کروں۔آایت • القلم کے ٤سورہ اخلاق آاپ وسلم علیہ اللہ صلی نبی اے کہ ہے ارشاد کا تعالی اللہ میں

ہیں۔ فائز پر مرتبہ ترین بلنداچھے • اخلاق یہ ہے۔ کیسا رویہ ساتھ کے کسی کا کسی یعنی ہے۔ جمع کی خلق اخلاق،

بھی۔ برے اور ہیں ہوسکتے بھی

ETHICS

It is the study of characteristics of morals.

It also deals with moral choices that are made by each person by his or her relationship with other person.

CONT…

The field of ethics involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior.

Philosophers today usually divide ethical theories into three general subject areas: metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics.

 

CONT… Metaethics investigates where our ethical principles come from, and

what they mean.

Are they merely social inventions?

Do they involve more than expressions of our individual emotions?

Metaethical answers to these questions focus on the issues of universal truths, the will of God, the role of reason in ethical judgments, and the meaning of ethical terms themselves. 

CONT…

Normative ethics takes on a more practical task, which is to arrive at moral standards that regulate right and wrong conduct.

This may involve articulating the good habits that we should acquire, the duties that we should follow, or the consequences of our behavior on others.

METAETHICS The term “meta” means after or beyond, and, consequently,

the notion of metaethics involves a removed, or bird’s eye view of the entire project of ethics.

We may define metaethics as the study of the origin and meaning of ethical concepts.

When compared to normative ethics and applied ethics, the field of metaethics is the least precisely defined area of moral philosophy.

NORMATIVE ETHICS

Normative ethics involves arriving at moral standards that regulate right and wrong conduct. In a sense, it is a search for an ideal litmus test of proper behavior.

The Golden Rule is a classic example of a normative principle: We should do to others what we would want others to do to us. Since I do not want my neighbor to steal my car, then it is wrong for me to steal his car

CONT…

Since I would want people to feed me if I was starving, then I should help feed starving people. Using this same reasoning, I can theoretically determine whether any possible action is right or wrong.

So, based on the Golden Rule, it would also be wrong for me to lie to, harass, victimize, assault, or kill others. The Golden Rule is an example of a normative theory that establishes a single principle against which we judge all actions.

VIRTUE THEORIES

Many philosophers believe that morality consists of following precisely defined rules of conduct, such as “don’t kill,” or “don’t steal.”

Presumably, I must learn these rules, and then make sure each of my actions live up to the rules. 

Virtue ethics, however, places less emphasis on learning rules, and instead stresses the importance of developing good habits of character, such as benevolence.

DUTY THEORIES

Many of us feel that there are clear obligations we have as human beings, such as to care for our children, and not to commit murder.

Duty theories base morality on specific, foundational principles of obligation.

These theories are sometimes called deontological, from the Greek word deon, or duty, in view of the foundational nature of our duty or obligation.

CONT…

The German philosopher Samuel Pufendorf, who classified dozens of duties under three headings: duties to God, duties to oneself, and duties to others.

Concerning our duties towards God, he argued that there are two

kinds:

1) A theoretical duty to know the existence and nature of God.

2) A practical duty to both inwardly and outwardly worship God.

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THE PILLARS OF ISLAM & MORAL CONDUCT

• Good moral conduct is outcome

• Forbids lewdness & bad conducts

• Teaches compassion and sympathy

• Drives towards Taqwa and sympathy

• Guides towards moral upbringing

Eemaan

Salaat

Zakaat

Sawm

Hajj

CONT…

Concerning our duties towards oneself, these are also of two sorts:

1) Duties of the soul, which involve developing one’s skills and talents.

1) Duties of the body, which involve not harming our bodies, and not killing oneself.

CONT… Concerning our duties towards others, Pufendorf divides these

between absolute duties, which are universally binding on people, and conditional duties, which are the result of contracts between people.

Absolute duties are of three sorts:

1) Avoid wronging others.

2) Treat people as equals.

3) Promote the good of others.

CONT… Conditional duties involve various types of agreements, the

principle one of which is the duty is to keep one’s promises.

The British philosopher W.D. Ross argues that our duties are “part of the fundamental nature of the universe.” However, Ross’s list of duties is much shorter, which he believes reflects our actual moral convictions:

Fidelity: the duty to keep promises

Reparation: the duty to compensate others when we harm them

CONT… Gratitude: the duty to thank those who help us.

Justice: the duty to recognize merit.

Beneficence: the duty to improve the conditions of others,

Self-improvement: the duty to improve our virtue and intelligence.

Non-maleficence: the duty to not injure others.

SOURCES OF ETHICS There are six primary sources of ethics:

1) Religion2) Genetic Inheritances3) Philosophical Systems4) Cultural Experiences5) The Legal System6) Codes of Conduct

FIVE ETHICAL APPROACHES \The Utilitarian Approach:

• Some ethicists emphasize that the ethical action is the one that provides the most good or does the least harm, or, to put it another way, produces the greatest balance of good over harm.

• The ethical corporate action, then, is the one that produces the greatest good and does the least harm for all who are affected customers, employees, shareholders, the community, and the environment.

CONT…

• Ethical warfare balances the good achieved in ending terrorism with the harm done to all parties through death, injuries, and destruction.

• The utilitarian approach deals with consequences; it tries both to increase the good done and to reduce the harm done.

CONT… The Rights Approach:

• Other philosophers and ethicists suggest that the ethical action is the one that best protects and respects the moral rights of those affected.

• This approach starts from the belief that humans have a dignity based on their human nature and or on their ability to choose freely what they do with their lives.

• On the basis of such dignity, they have a right to be treated as ends and not merely as means to other ends.

CONT…

• The list of moral rights, including the rights to make one's own choices about what kind of life to lead, to be told the truth, not to be injured, to a degree of privacy, and so on, is widely debated; some now argue that nonhumans have rights too.

• Also, it is often said that rights imply duties -- in particular, the duty to respect others' rights.

 

CONT… The Fairness or Justice Approach:

• Aristotle and other Greek philosophers have contributed the idea that all equals should be treated equally.

• Today we use this idea to say that ethical actions treat all human beings equally -- or if unequally, then fairly, based on some standard that is defensible.

CONT…

• We pay people more based on their harder work or the greater amount that they contribute to an organization, and say that is fair.

• But there is a debate over CEO salaries that are hundreds of times larger than the pay of others; many ask whether the huge disparity is based on a defensible standard or whether it is the result of an imbalance of power and hence is unfair.

CONT… The Common Good Approach:

• The Greek philosophers have also contributed the notion that life in community is a good in itself and our actions should contribute to that life.

• This approach suggests that the interlocking relationships of society are the basis of ethical reasoning and that respect and compassion for all others.

CONT…

• This approach also calls attention to the common conditions that are important to the welfare of everyone.

• This may be a system of laws, effective police and fire departments, health care, a public educational system, or even public recreation areas.

CONT…

The Virtue Approach:

• A very ancient approach to ethics is that ethical actions ought to be consistent with certain ideal virtues that provide for the full development of our humanity.

• These virtues are dispositions and habits that enable us to act according to the highest potential of our character and on behalf of values like truth and beauty.

CONT…

• Honesty, courage, compassion, generosity, tolerance, love, fidelity, integrity, fairness, self-control, and prudence are all examples of virtues.

• Virtue ethics asks of any action, "What kind of person will I become if I do this?" or "Is this action consistent with my acting at my best?"

Professional Expectations of Student Behavior

A professional institution bears a responsibility to the community at large to produce fully trained professional social workers who consciously exhibit the knowledge, values, and skills of the profession of social work.

Given this context, all students program will be expected to exhibit the following ethical standards of behavior.

CONT… Accountability:

• Attend class, arrive on time, and return from break in a timely manner.

• Participate in group activities and assignments at a comparable level to peers.

• Complete work in a timely fashion and according to directions provided.

• Come to class prepared, with readings and other homework completed.

CONT…

Respect:

• Treat all your peers, your instructors and all those you come in contact with, with dignity and respect at all times.

• Listen while others are speaking. • Give feedback to peers in a constructive manner.• Approach conflict with peers or instructors in a cooperative

manner.• Use positive and nonjudgmental language.

CONT…

Confidentiality: • Treat any personal information that you hear about a peer or

an instructor as strictly confidential.• Use judgment in self-disclosing information of a very personal

nature in the classroom.

CONT…

Competence: • Apply yourself to all your academic pursuits with seriousness

and conscientiousness, meeting all deadlines as given by your instructors.

• Constantly strive to improve your abilities.

• Come to class with books, handouts, syllabus, and pens.

CONT…

• Seek out appropriate support when having difficulties to ensure success in completing course requirements.

• Take responsibility for the quality of completed tests and assignments.

• Strive to work toward greater awareness of personal issues that may impede your effectiveness

CONT…

Integrity:

• Practice honesty with yourself, your peers, and your instructors.

• Constantly strive to improve your abilities.• Do your own work and take credit only for your own work.• Acknowledge areas where improvement is needed.• Accept and benefit from constructive feedback

CONT… Diversity:

• Strive to become more open to people, ideas, and creeds that you are not familiar with. Embrace diversity.

• Maintain speech free of racism, sexism, ableism, ethnism, or stereotyping.

• Exhibit a willingness to serve diverse groups of persons.• Demonstrate an understanding of how values and culture

interact.

CONT… Communication:

• Strive to improve both verbal and written communication skills as these skills are used heavily in interactions with clients and peers and also with creating client records.

• Demonstrate assertive communication with peers and instructors.

• Practice positive, constructive, respectful and professional communication skills with peers and instructor: (body language, empathy, listening)

CONT… Social Justice:

• Strive to deepen your commitment to social justice for all populations at risk.

• Demonstrate an understanding of how institutional and personal oppression impede the experience of social justice for individuals and groups.

• Strive to learn about methods of empowering populations and enhancing social justice at micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

CONCLUSION

• In an industry with the goal of designing society there must be liabilities.

• Engineers create pretty much everything that drives the world today. Hence, much of their work can affect the lives of many people and can be potentially harmful if done wrong.

• As a result, engineers must have certain qualities to make sure that they can do their jobs effectively.

CONT…

• Different engineering societies have developed codes of ethics and standards to regulate their engineers and make sure they do the work properly.

• Responsibility, honesty, diligence, politeness, helpfulness and respectfulness are the most important means to become an ethical engineer.

Brings more close to injunction of human equality and unityHajj

Reinvigorates the feelings of sympathy & kindness Fasting

Gives awareness of hunger & increases sympathy for the needyCharity

Opportunity of collective know how of each othersPrayer

Good moral conduct is outcomeBelief

Pillars of Islam & Human Rights

Two dimensions of Human Nature We created man in the best design

(intellectually); then turned him into the lowliest of the lowly (morally). (Teen 4-5)

The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creature that cannot. Mark Twain

The nature of man is evil; his goodness is the result of his activity. Xunsi

Anyone can be a barbarian; it requires a terrible effort to remain a civilized man.  Leonard Sidney Woolf

The person that loses his conscience has nothing left worth keeping. Izaak Walton

Foundation of Human RightsWealth is

Amant/test of AllahHadid 7

Anam 165Minimumdistribution

Tauba 60

Maximumdistribution

Baqra 219Spendingpurely for Allah

Baqra 264

فيه ستخلفين م جعلكم ا مم وأنفقواورفع األرض خالئف جعلكم الذي وهو

ما في ليبلوكم درجات بعض فوق بعضكم(Anam 165) آتاكم

(Hadid 7)عليها والعاملين والمساكين للفقراء دقات الص إنما

سبيل وفي والغارمين قاب الر وفي قلوبهم والمؤلفةحكيم عليم والله الله من فريضة بيل الس وابن الله

)٦٠((At’Tauba: 60)

(Baqra 219) العفو قل ينفقون ماذا ويسألونك(Baqra 264)

تبطلوا ال آمنوا الذين أيها ياكالذي واألذى بالمن صدقاتكم

الناس رئاء ماله ينفق

Lecture-5

ہے۔ اہمیت کی دولت میں معاملات انسانی یوںہے اہمیت کی دولت میں حقوق انسانی

ہے ہوسکتا بھی رکاوٹ اور ہے ہوسکتا بھی آامد کار یہہے جاسکتی کی بھی مدد کی بندوں سے اس

ہے جاسکتا بھی لوٹا کو اکثریت عظیم طرح اسی

دولت میں ان ہیں نعمتیں کی اللہ جو کہ ہے فرمایا میں آان قر نے اللہہے بھی مال اور

ہے کیا عطا کو انسان امتحان بطور نے اللہ یہہے۔ امین بندہ ۔۔ ہیں مالک اللہ

Why to pay? If yes, in what proportions?

Property rights Belong to

AllahHadid 6

We are custodians of property

(Wealth is a greatest test)

Anam 160

Personal use only for

basic needs(Prophet is model)

Ahzab 21

Charity is a human right (Haq)

not a favor to Allah or recipient

Maarij 24-25; Dahar 8

No criteria is given for how

much to spend on each

individual/ category

You are best judge.

But your judgment will be questioned on judgment day

Isra 36

1.Parents2.Spouse and children3.Relatives4.Neighbors5.Entertainment of guests6.Needy people7.Sick and handicapped8.Orphan & poor9.Requesting help (sail)10.Freeing of slaves11.Paying debt of people in trouble12.Welfare of new Muslims13.Human welfare14.Welfare of living creatures15.Charity in the name of Allah16.Charity for promotion of Islam

HumanRights

Anyone not spending

despite ability is committing

crime of violation of

human rights

What is Islam?

Din-ul-Haq(Delivery of Rights)

IndividualsSelf (Nafs)

Orphans/Widows

Children

Parents

Community

SpouseRelatives

Creator (Allah)

Servants/Slaves

Travelers

Sick

Anim

als

Mazloo

m

Plan

tsNa

tura

l Re

sour

ces

DevotionForgiveness

Faith

Happiness

Love

Food

Care

ServicesMedicine

Help

Obedience

Affection

Munificence

Sharing

Hard workContentment

Humanity

knowledgeSmile

Perseverance

Selflessness

MoneyShelter

Compassion

Dignity

Fellowship

DevotionReliance

Health

Freedom

Education

GuidancePiety

CompassionPositive Behavior

Tawakal

Trust

Commitment

Delivery of Rights = Islam = Discharge of Responsibility

OutcomeResponsibleRight holders

SocietyState

Lecture-5

کم از کم دیکھءے ۔ ہے حق دین ہی والدین ۳اسلام میں پاک آان قر مقاماتبعد، فورا کے ذکر اپنے حقوق، کے

دیتا زور زیادہ پر کرنے ادا حقوق کے دوسروں زیادہ سے مانگنے حق اپنے اسلام،ہے

آاخرت تو ملے نہ اگر وہ کہ کرو نہ فکر کی حق اپنے مطابق کے حدیث ایکمیں قیامات میں بارے کے ان ، چھوڑو نہ کو فراءض مگر گا جاءے مل میں

فرض پر دورے وہ حق کا ایک میں بیوی میاں مثلا گا۔ جاءے کیا سوال لازماہے اسلامی زندگی تو ہو توجہ طرف کی فرایض اپنے اب ہے،

جیسے ہیں دعویدار کے حقوق اپنے جو ہیں تو ادارے WomenایسےRights/Human Rights/Labour Rights ایسا کیا مگر

ہو۔ علمبردار کا کرنے ادا حقوق جو ہے ادارہ کوءی

Plants & Natural Resources

AnimalsServants/Slaves

Sick/in troubleRelatives

PoorNeighbours

TravellersChildren

Orphans /WidowsSpouse

Community

Self (Nafs)

Parents

Creator (Allah)

Who are the Rights Holders?

Rights of Parents1. Obedience for all lawful

orders (Luqman 14-15)

2. No rude treatment (Isra 30)

3. Good treatment even for mushrik/kafir parents (Bokhari)

4. Welfare of old aged parents (Isra 23-24)

5. Right of mother 3 times that of father(Bukhari)

6. Financial, physical and spiritual help (Muslim)

1. Dua2. Dua for their forgiveness3. Perform their

promises/contracts4. Care for relatives and

friends5. Respecting their friends6. Pay off their debt

During life time After death

Rights of Husband1. A husband has the maximum right over

his wife (Mustadrak)2. Obedience to her husband & watching

for his wealth, property and honor in his absence is incumbent upon every wife (AnNissa: 34)

3. Obedience and goodwill of the husband is way to enter paradise (Tirmizi)

Rights of Wife1. Living with them in a moderate and nice

way (AnNissa:19)2. Save them from hellfire (At-Tahreem:6)3. Better is the one who is better to his

wife (Tirmizi)4. Provide for their food, shelter and

clothes (Ibn Maaja)5. Forgiveness on their misgivings

(AtTaghabun:14)

Rights of Children1. Save them from hellfire (At-Tahreem:6)2. Adorn them with good morals by good

rearing and nurturing3. Be particularly careful with girls

regarding their rights4. Arrange for their wedding when they

reach an age.

1. A believer of Allah & hereafter should be courteous to his neighbor. (Bukhari)

2. Eemaan gets nullified on aggravating a neighbor. (Bukhari & Muslim)

3. Visit the neighbour when he is sick, attend his funeral & help him when he is in need

4. Cover his sins, congratulate when gets bounty & be kind in his adversity

5. Not to create hassle when building house and invite at meals

Rights of Neighbors

Rights of Relatives1. Give your relatives their due (Bani

Israel:26)2. Keeping the knots of blood

relationship tied brings grace to income and age

3. A breaker of these knots will not enter paradise

Rights of Weaklings1. Best home is the one where best

treatment is given to an orphan and worst is the one where an orphan is treated badly (Ibn Maaja)

2. Struggling for the right of a widow or an impoverished weakling is like fighting in the way of Allah, keeping all night awake for Allah's sake or fasting for the whole life. (Bukhari)

1. Muslims are like building blocks of a big structure each one of them supporting it. (Bukhari)

3. Five rights of fellow Muslimsa) Reciprocating Salaam when wished by Fellow Muslimb) Visiting a sick Muslim c) Attending a Muslim's funeral

d) Accepting an invitation to a feast e) Replying with (YarhamukAllah) on a sneeze (Bukhari)

2. Muslims are embodied into one figure; pain in one organ is felt by whole body. (Muslim)

Rights of Fellow Muslims

Rights of Patients1. The Prophet (saw) directed to attend a

sick person. (Bukhari)2. Consoling & praying for recovery of

sick. (AbuDawood)3. Attending a sick brings Allah's

blessings. (Muslim)

Rights of Guests1. Belief on Allah & Hereafter requires

a guest should be welcomed respectfully (Bukhari)

2. Your guest has much right on you. (Bukhari)

Rights of Mankind1. Speak nicely with fellow human

beings. (Al-Baqarah:83)2. Be gracious to earthborn and The

Ruler from sky will be gracious to you (Hakim)

3. Please for others as you would have pleased unto you (Tirmizi)

Rights of Animals1.Useless killing of animals is a sinful act

(Mustadrak)

2.A woman inflicted with wrath for tying a cat (Bukhari)

3.Rewards on caring for every thirsty living being (Ibn Maaja)

Allah’s Right Vs Human Rights

Hadeeth Qudsi"No obedience to any creation in

violation of the Creator". (Abu Dawood)

Azad 37

THE NEED Implementing a Just System

1. The very purpose of sending down Prophets (Al-Hadeed: 25)

2. The mission statement of prophethood of Prophet (saw) (As'Saff: 9)

3. The main objective of the lifetime struggle of Prophet (saw) (Ash'Shura:15)

اللہ جزاکم