EthicsLesson 2 of 3 in the course Ethics, Corporate Responsibility, and Sustainability

Ethical Frameworks for Responsible Decision-Making

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Ethical principles offer frameworks for deciding how to act when choices affect other people. This lesson distinguishes principles from values and introduces utilitarianism and universalism, two approaches that can guide individual and organizational decisions.

Ethical principles are rules or standards regarded as relatively permanent and broadly applicable. Values are beliefs about what is important; they may be personal and can change over time. Principles can help shape values, while values influence the choices people make.

All flashcards

What is an ethical principle?
A general, broadly applicable standard that guides judgments about responsible conduct.
What does utilitarianism evaluate?
The consequences of available actions, seeking the greatest overall good for the greatest number.
What does universalism emphasize?
Respect for the welfare, needs, choices, risks, and dignity of all affected people.
What does justice consider?
Fair treatment and procedures, the distribution of burdens, and accountability for harm.
What does virtue ethics focus on?
Character traits and the development of a person who acts well.

Quiz questions

  1. Which statement best distinguishes legal rights from moral or human rights?Answer: Legal rights are recognized by a particular legal system; moral rights rest on broader standards of human dignity.
  2. A review of a decision grounded in justice should examine which pair of concerns?Answer: Whether the process is fair and how benefits and burdens are distributed.
  3. Which question most directly reflects virtue ethics?Answer: What would a person acting with honesty and practical wisdom do?
  4. Why is cultural acceptance alone insufficient to establish that a practice is ethically responsible?Answer: Local standards can normalize harmful practices or reflect the interests of those in power.
  5. When all apparent options in an ethical dilemma seem troubling, what is a responsible next step?Answer: Gather more information, explore alternatives, and consult affected people.

Based on Principles of Management by David S. Bright, Anastasia H. Cortes, Eva Hartmann, K. Praveen Parboteeah, Jon L. Pierce, Monique Reece, Amit Shah, Siri Terjesen, Joseph Weiss, Margaret A. White, Donald G. Gardner, Jason Lambert et al. (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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