Ethical Decision Making

Summary

This video explores ethical decision-making, focusing on basic models for making moral choices. It examines two approaches: the rationalist approach, which involves reasoned steps, and the intuitionist approach, based on emotions or gut feelings. The video discusses a simple four-step process: recognizing the ethical issue, making a moral judgment, determining intent, and taking action. Additionally, it highlights the influence of individual factors (values, awareness, and moral development) and situational factors (environment and significance of the issue) on decision-making. The video emphasizes that ethical decisions often have a significant impact on others and urges careful consideration of all factors in real-life scenarios.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ethical decisions often require choosing between alternatives that affect others morally or ethically.
• 😀 An example of an ethical dilemma is the Ford Pinto case, where the company faced a decision about whether to recall cars with a dangerous defect or leave them on the market.
• 😀 Ethical decision-making can follow two main models: the rationalist approach (logical reasoning) and the intuitionist approach (emotional or gut feeling).
• 😀 A rationalist ethical decision model includes steps such as recognizing the issue, making a moral judgment, evaluating actions based on normative ethical theories, and deciding whether to act.
• 😀 Normative ethical theories like consequentialism and non-consequentialism guide the moral judgment in ethical decision-making.
• 😀 The process of ethical decision-making involves both individual and situational influences. Personal values, moral development, and environmental factors affect the choices made.
• 😀 Situational factors like workplace culture, the significance of the issue, and how close it is to the decision-maker can heavily influence ethical decisions.
• 😀 In real life, ethical decision-making may not follow a strict linear model but involves simultaneous consideration of various factors.
• 😀 Ethical decision-making requires balancing personal values with external influences to determine the right course of action.
• 😀 The simplified model of ethical decision-making presented serves as a starting point for understanding, but real-world scenarios may be more complex and nuanced.

Q & A

What is an ethical decision?

An ethical decision requires choosing between two or more alternative actions, each of which has a significant moral or ethical impact on others, including individuals or communities.

Can you provide an example of an ethical decision?

The Ford Pinto case is an example. Ford executives had to decide whether to recall cars with a fuel system defect that posed a risk of explosion in rear collisions. This decision had significant moral implications for the safety of their customers.

What are the two main approaches to making ethical decisions?

The two main approaches are the rationalist approach, which involves reasoning through a decision-making process logically, and the intuitionist approach, which involves emotional or gut feeling-based judgments.

What are the steps in the rationalist approach to ethical decision-making?

The rationalist approach typically involves identifying if the issue is a moral one, making a moral judgment on the right course of action, considering ethical theories like consequentialism or non-consequentialism, determining the intent to act, and finally deciding whether to take action.

What is the significance of normative ethical theories in the decision-making process?

Normative ethical theories, such as consequentialism and non-consequentialism, help guide decisions by providing frameworks to evaluate the rightness or wrongness of actions based on their outcomes or intrinsic moral values.

How do individual factors influence ethical decision-making?

Individual factors, such as personal values, moral development, and awareness of what is right or wrong, significantly affect the decision-making process. A person's moral compass shapes how they evaluate and respond to ethical dilemmas.

What are situational factors in ethical decision-making?

Situational factors include the environment or context in which the decision is being made, such as workplace culture, social pressures, and the significance or proximity of the ethical issue. These factors can influence how a person approaches a decision.

What is the role of intent in the ethical decision-making process?

Intent is crucial in ethical decision-making as it represents the individual's willingness to take action based on their moral judgment. After determining the right course of action, the decision-maker must decide whether they are motivated to act on that decision.

Is the ethical decision-making process always linear?

No, the ethical decision-making process is not always linear. In real-life scenarios, individuals may not follow a strict step-by-step order. Different steps may be considered simultaneously or revisited as new information or perspectives emerge.

What are the limitations of the simplified ethical decision-making model discussed?

The simplified model presented is limited because it assumes a linear process, while in reality, individuals may skip steps or approach the process in a non-linear manner. Additionally, real-world situations may be more complex and involve multiple competing ethical concerns.