Ethics Essay Examples

What is Ethics

Ethics are defined by the Oxford dictionary as being “the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation” (“Ethic”, 2018). In other words, Ethics helps to distinguish what is morally right from what is morally wrong. Ethics forms the basis of nearly every aspect of modern day life and can dictate nearly anything. In the science community ethics can refer to the benefits versus risks when testing ideas, drugs, therapies, etc. on humans. This is very different from the ethics of protecting privacy used in the technology field. One example is determining who Facebook can share your data with (and what specific kinds data they can share). In short, ethics are a set of values that serve to define what is unacceptable to a society.

The origination of ethics is known to date back thousands of years, but the exact origins are unknown. There is evidence of some forms of ethics in early human culture relating to the creation of burial rituals and an awareness of the concept of death. Following the Enlightenment period in Europe and the increasing complexity of modern systems, ethics have grown and spread to many fields. One such example is the use of ethics by Thomas Hobbes to explain man’s desire to give up basic freedoms in order to benefit their fellow man. Currently, there is a greater strictness of ethics in scientific research compared to nearly any other field. Several arguments push that the use of more stringent ethics in other fields will make them less perilous (Hansson, 2009). Thus, ethics can be constantly changing to accommodate problems or new technologies in any field.

Foundation of Ethics

Ethics date back to ancient civilizations. The Code of Hammurabi (1754 BC) illustrates early “ethical” practices such as “an eye for an eye.” Some equate ethics with laws. Laws often incorporate ethical standards to which a majority of individuals under the jurisdiction of said law subscribe. But laws can deviate from ethical practices. A glance at American history reveals just that. The enslavement of humans was deemed a justifiable practice. Slavery in the United States (amongst other places) exemplifies how societiy as a whole can have distorted ethical standards.

Societal distortion of ethics is also evident in other communities around the world. For example, apartheid in South Africa and Nazi Germany. Nevertheless, there are always individuals who oppose societal ethical standards: abolitionists in the United States for example. In every community, there is a lack of public consensus on many social issues. Thus, it is inaccurate to solely equate ethics with societal norms. Although ethics are heavily influenced by various factors, ethics are ultimately subjective to individuals. Parents and society impose ethical standards on children from birth. But, as individuals mature into adolescence and early adulthood they develop a personal sense of right versus wrong. This is illustrated by individuals having different views on religion and politics than that of their parents.

Can Ethical People Make Unethical Decisions?

One would say that most organizations are expected to act in a moral way with regards to the lawful, good, and expert lead identified with the satisfaction of their expert obligations. In some cases, the privileges of people will clash and one needs to choose which right has the need. For instance, a few associations have a strategy that avoids certain sexual orientation from joining (ie., cliques, fraternities, sororities, sports crews, and so forth). Despite well-meaning plans, associations set themselves up for moral disasters by making conditions in which individuals feel compelled to settle on decisions they would never have envisioned. For example, some unethical decisions are made unintentionally.

Conclusion

In grappling with choices, one has to obviously distinguish their qualities, think about the conceivable choices and their imaginable outcomes, and afterward pick the alternative they think best suits the qualities and standards they hold imperative. On the off chance that one experiences this procedure cautiously, it cannot be guaranteed that everyone concurs. Notwithstanding the moral methodologies, techniques and ventures to manage people and their decision-making, there are additionally government and state rules, alongside the moral sets of principles put forward by expert associations that one may be required to consider.

In my opinion, each association needs to recollect that the production of a moral culture is exemplified in the real conduct and frames of mind of all employees. Morals, ethics, and choices are essential since we pass the “standard” onto each other. We can indicate others the right method to act and carry on by staying moral in the manner in which we live, paying little heed to whether it includes our own or business life.

I have likewise learned throughout the years that morals assist us with remaining on stable ground in a consistently changing world. At the heart of ethics are the integrity and values of the individual. These values are influenced by a multitude of different things including: personal expectations, employer expectations, societal expectations. When it comes to ethics it may be hard to define depending on the situation – it is simple about making the best decision you can in the moment.