Magisterial Lectures | Antonette Palma-Angeles PhD - Tools for Ethical Decision Making

Summary

This 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

00:00

🤔 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.

05:14

🔍 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.

10:16

📋 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.

15:17

🛠️ 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.

Keywords

💡Dilemma

A dilemma is a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones. In the context of the video, it is used to describe a situation involving competing values rather than clear-cut good and evil. The script emphasizes that dilemmas are not about choosing between good and evil, but about choosing between competing values that may lead to the sacrifice of one for the other.

💡Ethical Decision Making

Ethical decision making is the process of choosing the right action in a situation where there are multiple, often conflicting, options. The video outlines a structured approach to ethical decision making, emphasizing the importance of reason and a step-by-step process that includes gathering facts, identifying stakeholders, articulating the dilemma, listing alternatives, comparing alternatives to principles, weighing consequences, and making a decision.

💡Values

Values are the principles or standards of behavior governing an individual or a group. In the video, values are described as the core beliefs that guide actions, and they are central to understanding and resolving dilemmas. The script suggests that one should choose a value rather than an action, highlighting the importance of values in decision making.

💡Stakeholders

Stakeholders are individuals or groups that have an interest or concern in a particular situation or decision. The video explains the importance of identifying all stakeholders, including 'abstract stakeholders' who may not be immediately apparent but still have a valid and strong position in the decision-making process.

💡Consequences

Consequences refer to the results or effects of an action or decision. The script stresses the importance of considering both the positive and negative consequences for each stakeholder when making a decision, and it suggests listing these consequences to better understand the impact of each alternative.

💡Facts

Facts are pieces of information that are objectively true. The video emphasizes the importance of gathering facts as the first step in ethical decision making, advising against making judgments and instead focusing on collecting data to understand the situation fully.

💡Justification

Justification is the act of providing reasons or evidence to support a decision or belief. In the video, justification is contrasted with rationalization, which is an instinctive decision-making process followed by finding reasons to support it. Justification, on the other hand, is the result of a reasoned process, where the decision is made first, and then supported by evidence.

💡Rationalization

Rationalization is the process of finding reasons or excuses to justify behavior, decisions, or beliefs after the fact. The video warns against rationalization, which is an instinctive response, and instead promotes a reasoned process where decisions are made based on careful consideration and then justified with evidence.

💡Principles

Principles are fundamental truths or propositions that serve as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior. In the context of the video, principles are the guiding beliefs that help in comparing alternatives and making decisions that align with one's values.

💡Matrix

In the video, a matrix is used as a tool to organize and compare the alternatives, values, and consequences in the decision-making process. It helps to visually align each alternative with the values it supports or undermines and the consequences it may have for different stakeholders.

💡Character

Character refers to the moral qualities unique to an individual. The video concludes by emphasizing that ethical decision making is ultimately about one's character, suggesting that it is not just the process but also the person's inherent qualities, such as care and courage, that determine ethical behavior.

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