Week 11 - Ethics

Lecture

What are “ethics”?

Etiquette
- Codes of behavior and courtesy
- Failure to observe may lead to embarrassment
Law
- Series of rules that are enforced by the police and the courts
- Failure to observe these can result in fines or imprisonment
Morals
- Standards of right and wrong generally accepted by a culture or society
- We develop a system of morals throughout our life
Personal ethics
- The set of an individual’s own ethical commitments, usually acquired in early home or religious training but often modified by later reflection.
Professional ethics
- A set of standards adopted by professionals to apply when they are acting in their professional capacity

Teleology
- Decide on actions based on goal
Consequentialism
- Decide on action based on outcome
Egoism
- Value of a state is based on your individual situation
- How other people will respond, and how that will in turn effect you
Utilitarianism
- Value of a state is based on total situation of all people
- Tradeoff between a few people suffering much vs many people suffering a little

Decide on actions based on duty.

How much does a company’s ethical approach affect your choice.

Beneficence
- Beneficence guides the decision maker to do what is right and good.
Least harm
Respect for autonomy
- Allowing people to be able to make decisions that aply to their lives.
Justice

Deontology
- Decision making based on duties.
- Sometimes, a person’s duties are in conflict.
Utilitarianism
- Bring greatest benefit to the most people.
- Act utilitarianism
  - Regardless of personal feelings or the societal constraints.
- Rule utilitarianism
  - Through the fairest and most just means available.
- Limitations
  - No certain prediction.
  - Difficult to measure intangible gains.
  - One individual’s rights may be infringed upon in order to benefit a great number of people.
Rights
Virtue
- Judge a person by his character.
- People can change in moral character