Ethical Decisions
Question 1
Ethics can be defined as rules devised by “someone else,” that is, always devised by seemingly someone other than the one that is applying them in arriving at a decision regardless of the state of thoughts of the person. To make each choice entirely reflexively or intuitively requiring very little courage or personal responsibility (since the ethics are not created by oneself), ironically providing a false assurance of personal responsibility and satisfaction to the ego that one need not be fearful of reproach or internal conflict (reproach by one’s conscience).
Ethics are intrinsically valuable because they provide guidance when the decision to choose right or wrong is not clear. The intrinsic value of ethics is that it encourages debate on how we should live, how we should treat others, what attitudes we should have towards non-human life, whether we should only bring life into the world if it has a pleasurable life rather than a wretched life, is it alright to devise cures from embryos that will later lead to cures from illnesses for millions of future lives or whether all life is sacred, are some lives more worthwhile than others, is it ok to kill innocent civilians in a war to save others and a million other ethical questions.
In the most general sense of the word, values are concepts each individual considers necessary in their life. In this sense, value is merely a commodity that does not necessarily have an ethical component the love of money; for instance, can be thought of as a personal value. However, when values are held to a moral or ethical standard, there is a clear shift toward the use of that commodity (value) for good ends as defined by religion or ethical system.
Question 2
One dilemma I faced, which is probably universal among college students, was how to allocate my time and energy among the many learning opportunities available. These opportunities included the academic, of course, but also gaining social skills and maturity in my first extended time away from family, exploration of what I believe in, and the ways that are reflected in my actions, and a growing consciousness of the nation and world as my extended community. One of my regrets is that I did not seek guidance and counseling in how best to engage these opportunities, but tried to do it all on my own.
Question 3
A
I consulted with my friend, and he was experiencing the same thing. He had been forced to attend college. He had no interest in it because he did not know what he wanted to do (besides writing), and he was told more than once that writing had to be a side-job, not the main one because it does not pay. So he was forced to come up with other options, and he hated them all. He wanted to write. You do not really need college to write successfully, and I wish his parents had not forced him to go. I consulted with them since they always seemed to care about what transpired in my life.
B
In solving the situation, I gladly rejected a cut in the sponsorship not because it was illegal, but because I stood by my morals. I could not sometimes do, which I knew I would regret later in life. And who knows had I accepted a commission there, I might have done that again, maybe in a professional capacity.
C
I decided after realizing that everyone would have faced ethical dilemmas in their life and especially in college, where we do a lot of stuff while bending the rules even if it is legal and not wrong. Yes, it could happen. The things you do might not be wrong in general, but ethically it should not be done. And who knows had I accepted a commission there, I might have done that again, maybe in a professional capacity. It could ruin my career in the future if I continue such behavior. So better, let go of such attitude right when you could sense I would be harmful to you, even if it means sacrificing some joyful moments.
D
The decision turned out to be ideal since I was keen about studying in a reputable college since my childhood, and being a bright student; there were many expectations attached to me as I am from a middle-class family. Therefore, I am willing to take admission in this reputable high standard university for completing my graduation. Kindly grant me a scholarship as I have completed my college with good grades and financially, my family, or I am unable to afford such high fees. It would be quite helpful for me if I were granted a scholarship so that I will be able to draw a brighter future.
Question 4
A
In my current network, one of my friends is facing ethical dilemmas in his organization since the firm has not enacted environmental friendly measures; thus, its emissions impact people living within the area. This is a conflicting loyalties issue in the essence of whistleblowing. Typically, a whistleblower is more than other employees loyal to his or her company. But that person can also be loyal to the people living in the neighborhood, and when his or her company is doing something that might endanger those people, the potential whistleblower is facing conflicting loyalties. The ethical dilemma is between on the one hand being loyal to his/her company, where he or she may have invested a large part of one’s career and has many friends amongst colleagues, on the one hand, and the well-being of people in the area, some of whom may be friends, on the other hand.
My other friend faces an ethical dilemma since he is the CEO of the tobacco industry. Evidence indicates that the smoke emitted may cause an individual, from cancer to various other diseases, but they continued to push the product aggressively. They were brazen enough to claim that smoking caused no harm to pregnant women, buy up a scientist to argue for them, even create influential lobby groups to protect their interest. Furthermore, they have tried to argue against the addictiveness of their product, while using aggressive campaigns to ingrain smoking to our consciousness, targeting young and poor, two most vulnerable segments to their predatory campaigns. This was a choice between people’s life and profit, and the tobacco industry chose profits every time
I
I chose the two for consultation because they are facing the biggest challenges that necessitate making decisions that would not affect the other. For instance, the first one ought to decide whether to become a whistleblower. This, however, has consequences such as being fired while choosing to ignore what is going on might impact people adversely. On the other hand, the second friend has to decide if to choose profit and neglect the claims regarding the diseases associated with tobacco or choose the lives of people neglecting the profit aspect. Both of the choices have consequences.
II
Between the two, I noted that the ethical dilemmas involve the state of mind. It includes an apparent mental conflict between two or more moral essentials/necessities, in which we sometimes get confused to obey which one of them. However, they have to abide by what they think is morally right.
B
Using ethical GPS, I would solve the cases using a moral concept. In the first case, I would advise the company to enact environmental conservation measures, or I become a whistleblower regardless of the consequences. This is after analyzing the number of people that have to suffer for the sake of the company. In the second case, I would apply the same by choosing people’s lives.
I
There will be a difference in that there will be decreased death rates and illnesses associated with gas emissions and tobacco users. People will be able to live in peace. Thus, the sacrifice will not be in vain.
II
My decision was different in the sense that the environment will be safe. Additionally, the community will no longer be threatened by increased tobacco usage. And the company will be able to adhere to the decisions of the employees for its safety.
C
If I could revise my decision, then in the first case, people living in the neighborhood would have to suffer while the organization continued operating in an unhealthy environment. Additionally, in the second case, there would have been increased health cases associated with tobacco usage.
Question 5
An ethical dilemma is a situation in which there are good ethical reasons in favor of 2 incompatible courses of action. A workplace is a complex place, which subjects individuals to a range of ethical obligations that may easily come into conflict. For instance, loyalty to one’s employer might come into conflict with concern for the safety of consumers. Thus, it is essential to consider the moral decision that has a lesser impact.