BY LARRY CHONKO, PH.D.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON

Ethical Theories

presents

Ethical Theories

Ethical TheoriesEthical PrinciplesBeneficenceLeast HarmRespect for AutonomyJustice

Ethical Theories

Ethical TheoriesForms of Ethical Theories• Deontology – people should adhere to their obligations and duties

• Utilitarianism – the choice that yields the greatest benefit to the most people is ethically correct

• Rights – rights established by society are protected and given the highest priority

• Virtue – judges a person by his/her character rather than an action that may deviate from normal behavior

Ethical Theories

Ethical TheoriesSELECTED PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL CONDUCT KANT’S CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE: Act in a way that you

believe is right and just for any other person in a similar situation.

CARR’S CONVENTIONALIST ETHIC: Bluff and take advantage of all legal opportunities and widespread practices and customs

THE DISCLOSURE RULE: Ask how it would feel to see the thinking and details of the decision disclosed to a wide audience

THE GOLDEN RULE: Look at the problem from the position of another party affected by the decision and try to determine what response the other person would expect as the most virtuous

Ethical Theories

Ethical TheoriesSELECTED PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL CONDUCT THE HEDONISTIC ETHIC: Do whatever you find to be in your own self-

interest

MOORE’S INTUITION ETHIC: Go with your “gut” feeling or what you understand to be right in a given situation

SMITH’S MARKET ETHIC: Take selfish actions and be motivated by personal gains in business dealings

MACHIAVELLI’S MEANS-END ETHIC: Ask whether some overall good justifies any ethical transgression

NIETZSCHE/MARX MIGHT-EQUALS-RIGHT ETHIC: Seize what advantage you are strong enough to use without respect to ordinary social conventions and laws

Ethical Theories

Ethical TheoriesSELECTED PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL CONDUCT THE ORGANIZATION ETHIC: Ask whether actions are consistent

with organizational goals and do what is good for the organization

GARRETT’S PRINCIPLE OF PROPORTIONALITY: Do whatever you will if there is a proportional reason for doing so

THE PROTESTANT ETHIC: Do only that which can be explained before a committee of your peers

THE REVELATION ETHIC: Pray, mediate, or otherwise commune with a superior force or being

BENTHAM/MILL’S UTILITARIAN ETHIC: Determine whether the harm in an action is outweighed by the good

Ethical Theories

Ethical TheoriesETHICAL TYPES DESCRIPTORS

Hedonist1. Make physical pleasures the supreme goal in their

lives. KEY QUESTION: Which course of action will yield the

greatest pleasure?

Profit-maximizer

2. Goal of making as much money as possible KEY QUESTION: which course of action will make the

most money? All their feelings and associations can be melted down

to dollars

Socialite

3. A social butterfly, a party animal KEY QUESTION: Which course of action will help me

best get along with the group? If you want to know what this person thinks, find out

who spoke to him or her most recently

Ethical Theories

Ethical TheoriesETHICAL TYPES DESCRIPTORS

Politician

4. Life centers around power and glory. KEY QUESTION: Which course of action will increase

my power and glory? These people have enormous egos, boundless

ambitions, and undertake reckless actions.

Self-actualizer

5. Spiritual values predominate KEY QUESTION: Which course of action will help me

become a better person? These people have new insights, reform old ways,

initiate new ways of thinking, strike out on new paths

Craftsman

6. A technician POSITIVES: Creative, knowledgeable, independent,

self-reliant, hardworking NEGATIVES: Sadistic, forceful, manipulative, non-

trustworthy

Ethical Theories

Ethical TheoriesETHICAL TYPES DESCRIPTORS

Company Person

7. Main goal in life to belong to an organization POSITIVES: Service oriented, loyal, responsible,

humble, sensitive to the needs of others, dependable, pleasant, trustworthy

NEGATIVES: Fear, worry, dependency, lacking vision, risk aversive, low drive, indecisive, change resistant

Gamesman

8. Dominant goal in life to gain prestige, glory, fame POSITIVES: Inventive, flexible, change oriented,

competitive, team player, independent, risk taker, impartial, high energy, idealistic

NEGATIVES: Lack of conviction, rebellious, manipulative, lack of intimacy, lonely

Ethical Theories

Ethical TheoriesPersonal Ethical Development Organizational Ethical Development

1. Physical consequences determine ethical behavior. Avoidance of punishment and deference to power are typical of this stage

Social Darwinism - Fear of extinction and the urgency of financial survival dictate ethical conduct. The direct use of force is the acceptable norm.

2. Individual pleasure needs are the primary concern and dictate attitudes toward behavior

Machiavellianism - Organizational gain guides actions. Successfully attaining goals justifies the use of any effective means, including individual manipulation

Ethical Theories

Ethical TheoriesPersonal Ethical Development Organizational Ethical Development

3. The approval of others determines behavior. The good person is one who satisfies family, friends, associates.

Cultural conformity - A tradition of standard operating procedures and caring groups. Peer professional pressure to adhere to social norms dictates what is the right and wrong behavior

4. Compliance with authority, upholding of the social order, and “doing one’s duty” are primary concerns

Allegiance to authority - Directions from legal authority determine ethical standards. Right and wrong are based on the decisions of those with legitimate hierarchical power

Ethical Theories

Ethical TheoriesPersonal Ethical Development Organizational Ethical Development

5. Tolerance for rational dissent and acceptance of majority rule become primary ethical concerns

Democratic participation - Participation in decision-making reliance on majority rule become organizational ethical standards. Participative management becomes institutionalized

6. What is right and good is a matter of individual conscience and responsibly chosen commitment. Ethicality is based on principled personal convictions

Organizational integrity - Justice and individual rights are the ethical ideals. Balanced judgment between competing interests shapes organizational character which, in turn, determines the validity of the behavior