Magisterial Lectures | Antonette Palma-Angeles PhD - Tools for Ethical Decision Making
Summary
TLDRThis lecture delves into the art of ethical decision-making, emphasizing the importance of understanding dilemmas as a clash of values rather than a choice between options. It guides viewers through a structured process involving gathering facts, identifying stakeholders, articulating the dilemma, listing alternatives, comparing these with identified values, weighing consequences, and ultimately making a decision. The speaker stresses the significance of character in ethics, suggesting that moral reasoning is a habit to be cultivated for clear thinking and decisive action.
Takeaways
- 😀 The lecture aims to teach the method for ethical decision-making and tests the ability to apply it through exercises.
- 🤔 A dilemma is defined as a situation with competing values, not merely good and evil, where choosing one often means sacrificing the other.
- 🔍 It's crucial to articulate the dilemma in terms of values and issues first, rather than jumping to competing solutions.
- 🧐 Ethical decision-making is a reasoned process that involves gathering facts, identifying stakeholders, and considering values and consequences.
- 📝 The first step in ethical decision-making is to 'stop, look, and listen,' which helps in gathering facts and understanding the situation better.
- 👥 Stakeholders in a dilemma include both those immediately involved and those who may be indirectly affected, known as 'abstract stakeholders'.
- 📋 When identifying stakeholders, it's important to consider both primary and secondary stakeholders and the interests they are protecting.
- 📝 Dilemmas should be articulated in a clear statement that outlines the competing values and issues involved.
- 💡 Brainstorming alternatives is essential, and considering a third, creative option can help address as many values as possible.
- 📊 A matrix can be used to compare alternatives with the identified values and principles, making it easier to see which choice aligns best with the dilemma's values.
- ⚖️ Weighing the consequences for each alternative, especially for the primary stakeholders, is critical in understanding the impact of the decision.
- 🛠 After making a decision, it's important to strategize steps for execution and to be able to justify the decision using the reasoned process as proof.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of the lecture?
-The main purpose of the lecture is to teach the audience how to make ethical decisions by understanding the concept of dilemmas and following a structured decision-making process.
Why is it important to understand what a dilemma is before making decisions?
-Understanding what a dilemma is crucial because it helps to correctly frame the problem as a set of competing values rather than competing solutions, leading to more accurate and ethical decisions.
What is the difference between a dilemma and a solution in the context of ethical decision-making?
-A dilemma involves competing values where choosing one may require sacrificing the other, whereas a solution is a clear course of action without such ethical conflict, like 'should I tell my mother' which is more about the action rather than the underlying values.
Why should values be articulated first when dealing with a dilemma?
-Values should be articulated first because they are the reasons for actions. Understanding the values at stake helps in identifying the true nature of the dilemma and guides the decision-making process.
What are the five elements involved in the ethical decision-making process as described in the lecture?
-The five elements are: gathering facts, identifying stakeholders, articulating the dilemma, listing alternatives, and weighing the consequences.
How does the lecturer suggest approaching the gathering of facts in an ethical dilemma?
-The lecturer suggests being patient and thorough in gathering data, asking what is already known and what is still needed to be known, without casting judgment on people involved.
What is the importance of identifying stakeholders in an ethical dilemma?
-Identifying stakeholders is important because it ensures that all parties affected by the decision are considered, including both those immediately involved and those who may be indirectly affected (abstract stakeholders).
What is the significance of creating a dilemma statement during the decision-making process?
-A dilemma statement is significant as it clearly articulates the competing values and issues involved, providing a foundation for understanding the ethical conflict and guiding the subsequent steps in decision-making.
Why is it recommended to consider a third, creative option when brainstorming alternatives to a dilemma?
-Considering a third, creative option helps in addressing as many values as possible and can lead to a more balanced decision that takes into account the various interests at stake, rather than just choosing between two extreme alternatives.
How does the lecturer emphasize the importance of consequences in the decision-making matrix?
-The lecturer emphasizes that consequences should be carefully considered for each alternative, noting both positive and negative impacts on all stakeholders, which aids in making a well-informed and ethical decision.
What is the final step in the ethical decision-making process after considering all elements?
-The final step is to make the decision, which should be done by referring to the matrix that has been created, and then strategize steps for execution to carry out the decision effectively.
What does the lecturer mean by 'ethical decision-making is about character'?
-The lecturer means that while the decision-making process can be rational and systematic, being ethical ultimately depends on one's character, including qualities like care and courage, which are developed through repeated practice of moral reasoning.
Outlines
🤔 Understanding Dilemmas and Decision Making
The lecture begins by posing a critical question about decision-making and introduces the concept of a dilemma. The speaker emphasizes that dilemmas arise from competing values rather than clear-cut good or evil choices. The importance of correctly identifying and articulating dilemmas is highlighted, as misidentifying them can lead to incorrect decisions. The audience is encouraged to think deeply about their values and the reasons behind their actions, as decisions are essentially value choices.
🔍 The Ethical Decision-Making Process
This paragraph delves into the ethical decision-making process, which is described as a 'reasoned process' involving several key elements: facts, stakeholders, values, options, and consequences. The speaker proposes a step-by-step approach to ethical dilemmas, starting with gathering facts and identifying stakeholders, to articulating the dilemma, listing alternatives, comparing these alternatives to identified principles, weighing the consequences, and finally making a decision. The paragraph stresses the importance of not relying solely on emotions and being thorough in understanding the dilemma before making a decision.
📋 Steps to Articulate and Address Dilemmas
The speaker outlines the steps to articulate and address dilemmas effectively. It starts with identifying the stakeholders, both primary and secondary, and understanding their interests. The dilemma must be clearly stated, focusing on competing values rather than solutions. The audience is encouraged to brainstorm multiple options, including a creative third option, and to eliminate untenable ones. A matrix is suggested to compare alternatives with the values and principles at stake, helping to visualize the alignment of choices with values.
🛠️ Evaluating Consequences and Making Decisions
The final paragraph focuses on the importance of evaluating the consequences of each alternative, especially for the primary stakeholders, and making a decision. The speaker challenges the audience to consider both the positive and negative outcomes and to be patient in this process. A matrix is used to organize the consequences for each alternative. The decision-making process is not painless, but it is essential to refer back to the matrix for justification. The speaker concludes by emphasizing that ethics is about character and will, and that moral decision-making is a process that builds character over time.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Dilemma
💡Ethical Decision Making
💡Values
💡Stakeholders
💡Consequences
💡Facts
💡Justification
💡Rationalization
💡Principles
💡Matrix
💡Character
Highlights
The lecture aims to teach the method for decision-making and test students' ability to apply it.
A dilemma is defined as a situation with competing values, not merely good or evil.
Dilemma articulation should focus on values rather than solutions to avoid incorrect decisions.
Ethical decision-making is a reasoned process involving multiple elements, not just emotions.
The first step in ethical decision-making is to gather facts without casting judgment.
Identifying stakeholders in a dilemma is crucial, including both direct and abstract stakeholders.
A dilemma statement should clearly articulate the competing values and issues involved.
Brainstorming alternatives is essential, including extreme and creative middle options.
A matrix can be used to compare alternatives with values and principles to aid decision-making.
The consequences of each alternative should be weighed, considering both positive and negative impacts.
Making a decision involves constant reference to the matrix for justification, not rationalization.
Strategizing steps for execution is important after making a decision.
The decision-making process requires patience and practice to become second nature.
Ethics is ultimately about character, which is built through repeated moral reasoning.
Courage, care, and the faculty of will are essential for ethical behavior, which cannot be taught but can be developed.
Aristotle's quote emphasizes that ethics is character, built by repeated actions.
Transcripts
[Music]
good day and welcome
to this day's lecture we're going to
ask and answer a very important question
which i think
all of us should be asking ourselves and
the question is
how do we decide at the end of this
lecture
i'm going to see if in fact
you have learned the method for decision
making
and hopefully your teacher will pick it
up
with some exercises that will test your
ability to make that decision
so let's immediately start with this
very important story
which unfortunately some of you may have
experienced
so please read the story and after
you've read it
just think of your answer to the
question
what should i do
a dilemma okay so before we can even
figure out
how we should handle dilemmas it's very
very important
that we understand exactly what a
dilemma is
i know many of you are probably thinking
it's very easy
but you will be surprised with the
discovery that many of you
actually phrase or articulate a dilemma
in a wrong way and that's why you come
up with
decisions that are not always correct
okay so what is a dilemma very quickly a
dilemma happens
because good and evil are not apparent
if it is apparent
then hindi came about
so dilemmas are not really about
good and evil or good or evil but it
is about competing values so that if you
choose one value
chances are you will sacrifice the other
and this is what makes it confounding
or if you want to put it another way if
you notice i
asked the question what should i do
i did not say should i tell my mother
why not okay because in fact
should i tell my mother it's not a
dilemma it is a solution
and when you have an ethical problem you
have competing values competing
issues but what is the tendency of the
normal
human being the tendency is when you
have a problem
you immediately phrase it in terms of
competing solutions
should i tell my mother or should i keep
quiet and so immediately you're caught
in a bind and you don't know exactly
what you will do
let's try to explore this some more okay
if a dilemma is a set of competing
values
okay and not competing options
it means that the value should
articulate
should be articulated first why should
they be articulated first
because the truth of the matter is that
values and
issues are the reasons for your actions
and so strictly speaking
you do not in fact choose
an action you in fact choose a value
so we have to ask ourselves
once you articulate this i think we've
won
half of your ethical battle okay so
there may be
more options and courses of action once
you clarify your ethical values
okay so
ok
so what's wrong with that there's really
strictly speaking nothing wrong with
feelings
but feelings are always loaded they're
very very very biased
and unless we use reason we will not see
the full sum
no of the dilemma that's why we always
say that ethical decision making
is in fact a recent process
so okay what is a recent process and why
a recent process
reason process because once you use
reason you will realize that there are
so many elements involved in decision
making the first one of course
are facts i'm sure all of us have been
in
a very emotional situation involving
people who are very important for us and
what is our tendency our tendency
is not to look at facts but in fact to
listen only to people
who we want to listen to and that's
normal so
with a recent process you will look at
facts and then you will evaluate
and look around you and say to yourself
and then you look at what are the values
what are the principles involved
and then note that the options is only
one of the five
elements in this particular process and
then finally
we will look at consequences and
consequences means different people will
be affected differently
i know this point is all very conceptual
but as we go along here
and using the example of your father and
your mother it will become clearer to
you
exactly why these five elements come
into play
and why you should pay attention to them
okay
so i have a proposal my proposal is
once you are caught in an ethical
dilemma
especially the more emotionally involved
you are
take pause i always say to people who
ask me what's the first step in ethical
decision making
i always say stop look
and listen and in fact this proposal
is simply giving you the steps
to stop look and listen so here you go
these are your steps number one
gather the facts number two who are the
stakeholders
number three articulate the dilemma as
clearly as you can
and then number four list the
alternatives
number five compare the alternatives to
the principles you've identified in the
dilemma
number six you weigh the consequences
and then finally you make the decision
okay so let's look at gather the facts
just very quickly i love this word
because this word in fact resonates with
how you feel
merong bhagava okay
i can't quite put my finger into it and
when you're in that situation the first
thing you do
is not to cast judgment on people which
we always do
the first thing you do is to gather data
you
have to be patiently gathering data i've
taught many medical students these steps
but the problem is they're very thorough
when it comes to medical data
but when it comes to ethical problems
then they shortcut the process
it's human nature okay so the first step
is gathered data there are two very
important questions to ask
the first question is what do i already
know
but the second question is once i've
stopped and i've begun to listen i must
ask myself
what do i need to know but i don't know
yet and so like
any good researcher you will have to get
out there
and find out for yourself what are the
things i need to know so it's very
important
that you ask yourselves the question for
me to be able to have a capture of this
particular dilemma these are the things
these are the questions that are
bothering me but i don't have the answer
for them
so two questions once again what do we
know
what do we need to know the second step
is very important and these are who are
the stakeholders
who are stakeholders no in a dilemma you
always have several people involved
now what's the problem with many of us
the problem i think with many of us
is we only see the stakeholder who is
very dear to us or immediately
there for us we do not in fact
capture or we miss the stakeholders who
i call the abstract stakeholders
example if i'm president of the
philippines
my natural tendency is to be very very
no caring and to be very very
nurturing of the people who are close to
me
but there's a problem here the president
of the philippines
has to take care of about 105 million
filipinos and for
many of them 105 million filipinos is
just a number
you cannot say for instance if you're
the spokesperson
that that's okay only 2 000 have died
this 2000 is abstract to you but these
are human beings
who have families so it's very important
that when you ask yourself who are the
stakeholders
you do not only look at stakeholders or
immediately in front of you
but you have to figure out who are your
abstract stakeholders
they all have a valid and strong
position
in your case secondly okay you have to
figure out who are the primary and
secondary stakeholders
because the primary stakeholders are the
ones who will be directly hit
the secondary stakeholders may not be as
directly hit
the second question there is the third
question i'm sorry is
what are their stakes and what interests
are they protecting so once again
who are affected what are their
interests
i suggest you use this table it makes it
easier for you to analyze
who are the stakeholders and what are
the interests that they are protecting
and third the most important remember
this is what i said about dilemmas
competing values competing
issues not conflicting options okay
so you articulate the dilemma you make
a dilemma statement and this is how a
dilemma statement should look like
you articulate it in a statement like
this which you are now seeing in your
screen
so if you look at no this dilemma
statement if we now use our example of
the father's
infidelity this is the way it looks like
what are the values
and the issues involved number one
respecting my father's privacy
number two i do want to preserve the
peace and harmony in the family once i
tell my mother there will be problems so
that is very important
but fidelity in marriage is also very
important to me
upholding the truth is also very
important to me so please take note
i just want you to realize that these
are not
actions these are competing issues
and if you really take time to think
about
a dilemma when it happens to you all of
these things will come
if only you give it time so now that i
have my dilemma what do i do next
this is the time now to talk about
alternatives
we brainstorm as many possible
options as we can and then we eliminate
the untenable ones you will know malala
many
young
they match the values and the principles
that we identified
in the dilemma values and principles
no are the more important ones remember
than the options
so please there are always
two extreme alternatives in a dilemma
should i tell my
mother or should i not tell my mother
but then
it's always helpful to think of a third
creative
option a middle option as we call it
just just a word of warning perhaps
sometimes there is no third option but
as far as you can
do think of a third option again another
warning it's not a compromise okay
it's not a compromise it's a creative
option
in addressing as many values as you can
you want to address as many values as
you can
and so i suggest you make this three
matrix column to make the task
easier and this is the way the column
will look like
on the left will be your alternative and
so if you notice
i listed alternatives there the two
extreme alternatives and one and two and
the third alternative is
talk to my father and the man that he
confessed but i don't stop there huh
because if i stop there that means
so i talked to my father but if he says
no then i will do it if he does not
that's why sinabico
okay so the fifth one is now that i have
the alternatives i now compare the
alternatives with the values
that were in the dilemma do not airdrop
values from nowhere i've seen so many
students do this they just airdrop
the sassabin could use a comment because
in fact the second column is a
reflection of the values articulated in
your dilemma
so if you create a matrix where the
values are
matched with the options it becomes
clear to you
that choices have values attached to
them so let's look at it in terms of the
matrix
this is the matrix i tell my mother what
will be the values that i am supporting
fidelity in marriage write the truth no
if i keep quiet these are the values
that will be supported and then the
third
i challenge you now while you are there
seated in front of your
computer think about the value and the
principles that the third one will
address
so we now have step five and so finally
we have step six we now have way the
consequences
the third column in the matrix should
articulate the consequences
for each of the alternatives especially
the primary stakeholder
you must consider both negative and
positive so let's matrix it now
so here we are okay for the mother there
will be a consequence for the father
there will be a consequence the children
will be a consequence so
plus means positive negative means
negative
i want you please to be patient with
this one many students
get lazy with this one why is this so
important because you realize
by sitting down and really figuring it
out that many of your options
will have detrimental effects to many
people
so list them as patiently as you can so
i listed this down for you and then
again for number three
i suggest there this is yours you figure
out well
you're seated in front of your computer
what will be the consequences for the
third option
so finally we've come to the end of it
we now make a decision there is no
painless decision as the nike commercial
says it
we just do it now it's important that we
do it by
constantly referring to the matrix
because in fact
when somebody challenges you later on
why you made the decision it will be
easy for you
to do what in ethics we call
justification which is by the way
different from rationalization
rationalization is an instinctive
decision
and then you rationalize it
justification is a reason
process you have a recent process you
make the decision
and then you justify it what do you use
for your proof
aha i have my matrix that's my proof
so and here i always say this many books
don't put this but i say it
i teach this to business people as well
and i always say it's important to
strategize
steps for execution so strategize
so once again
i propose to you the steps and these are
your steps
what are the facts where the
stakeholders what is the dilemma
what are the options what are the
principles involved what are the
consequences
what is the decision strategize so i
hope
from now on you will practice using it
you cannot do it on every little
decision you will make please do it only
on the major decisions that you will
make
and please be patient remember the
three-week rule if you want to develop a
habit you have to do it for three weeks
be patient with yourself eventually it
will become second nature
so this is the conclusion and
in a way a word of warning for you about
this process
that i have just thought it seems like a
beautiful process
which can make us clearer thinkers and
more decisive decision makers
but okay while the decision-making
process which we just went through
slows us down and teaches us to be
rational i just wanted to tell you that
in the end
being ethical is about character in
other words it's not enough for you to
go through a reason process in the end
indeed
and this faculty is the faculty of the
will
the will makes you carry out a decision
and here you go
this is about care courage but your
fellow
teacher your ethics teacher cannot teach
you courage
i can only teach you moral decision
making a reason process
in the end this is about who we really
are
and i'd like to end this lecture by
quoting aristotle
one of my favorite philosophers in the
end
we are what we repeatedly do ethics
is character and you build that
character by patiently
pounding and doing this moral reasoning
process
thank you very much and i hope that
helped you
[Music]
you
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