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Ethics Research Paper

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Sam-Haendell W. Thosiac
Research Paper
Ethics Related
Winter 2024

Abstract

Ethical principles influence corporate and individual behavior in a variety of fields and
provide a fundamental framework for moral decision-making. This study examines the
fundamentals of ethics, their historical context, and their real-world applications, highlighting
how important they are to upholding justice, responsibility, and honesty. Ethical standards
guarantee relevance and efficacy in advancing justice and human dignity by resolving
implementation issues and adjusting to changing societal and technical environments. Their
use frequently runs into problems including cultural variations, conflicting ideals, and
unwillingness to change, even if they offer clarity in negotiating moral dilemmas. Even
through these difficulties, moral principles continue to be essential for building trust,
safeguarding the welfare of society, and directing behavior in a world growing more
interconnected by the day. This study emphasizes their ongoing significance in forming
ethical and just behaviors.

Word Reference:

1. Ethics
○ Definition: Principles that govern a person's behavior or the conduct of an
activity. (Merriam-Webster)
2. Morality
○ Definition: A system of beliefs about what is right and wrong behavior.
(Oxford English Dictionary)
3. Integrity
○ Definition: Adherence to moral and ethical principles; honesty. (Cambridge
Dictionary)
4. Accountability
○ Definition: Being responsible and answerable for one’s actions. (Black’s Law
Dictionary)
5. Confidentiality
○ Definition: The obligation to keep information private and secure. (American
Bar Association)
6. Transparency
○ Definition: Operating in a way that is open and clear to others.
(Merriam-Webster)
7. Conflict of Interest
○ Definition: A situation in which personal interests could influence professional
decisions. (Oxford English Dictionary)
8. Fairness
 ○ Definition: Treating people equally and without bias. (Cambridge Dictionary)
9. Justice
○ Definition: The principle of fairness and the ideal of moral equity. (Black’s
Law Dictionary)
10. Respect
○ Definition: Due regard for the feelings, rights, or traditions of others.
(Merriam-Webster)
11. Fidelity
○ Definition: Faithfulness to duties or obligations, especially in professional
relationships. (Oxford English Dictionary)
12. Autonomy
○ Definition: Respecting an individual’s right to make their own decisions.
(Cambridge Dictionary)
13. Nonmaleficence
○ Definition: The ethical principle of doing no harm. (Black’s Law Dictionary)
14. Dogma
○ Definition: The doctrine of belief in a religion or a political system.
15. Beneficence
○ Definition: The ethical principle of promoting good and preventing harm.
(American Medical Association)
16. Code of Conduct
○ Definition: A set of guidelines outlining expected behaviors and
responsibilities. (Merriam-Webster)
17. Professionalism
○ Definition: Conduct and qualities that characterize a profession or professional
person. (Oxford English Dictionary)
18. Dignity
○ Definition: The state or quality of being worthy of respect. (Cambridge
Dictionary)
19. Equality
○ Definition: The state of being equal, especially in rights and opportunities.
(Black’s Law Dictionary)
20. Cultural Competence
○ Definition: The ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures.
(American Bar Association)
21. Due Diligence
○ Definition: Careful and persistent effort to meet legal and ethical
responsibilities. (Merriam-Webster)
22. Empathy
○ Definition: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another. (Oxford
English Dictionary)
23. Whistleblowing
○ Definition: Reporting unethical or illegal actions within an organization.
(Cambridge Dictionary)
 24. Bias
○ Definition: A tendency to favor one thing or group over another, often
unfairly. (Black’s Law Dictionary)
25. Plagiarism
○ Definition: Using someone else’s work or ideas without proper attribution.
(American Bar Association)
26. Integrity Test
○ Definition: An assessment to measure honesty and adherence to ethical
principles. (Merriam-Webster)
27. Responsibility
○ Definition: The state of being accountable for something within one’s power
or control. (Oxford English Dictionary)
28. Veracity
○ Definition: Conformity to facts; accuracy; truthfulness. (Cambridge
Dictionary)
29. Harassment
○ Definition: Aggressive pressure or intimidation, often in a workplace or
professional context. (Black’s Law Dictionary)
30. Compliance
○ Definition: Adhering to laws, regulations, and ethical standards. (American
Bar Association)
31. Human Rights
○ Definition: Basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person.
(Merriam-Webster)

Ethical Guidelines
Introduction:

Ethics, I am nearly sure you heard that word many times, either from your teachers, on TV,
or at church. I have experienced the same and decided to research what it is and how it affects
us. To start ethics is a branch of philosophy concerned with questions about what is morally
good and bad, right and wrong, fair and unfair. It inquires into the principles that should
guide human conduct, enabling us to know what to do in certain circumstances. From ancient
philosophers to modern-day thinkers, ethics evolved from an enterprise of merely trying to
understand what morality consists of to an attempt at narrating how to live a moral life.
In real application, ethical guidelines are sets of standards or principles guiding individuals
and organizations through the maze of difficult decisions and actions that they will take in a
manner that would accord with moral values. The areas in which these may be applied vary
from the realms of law and medicine to business and environmental practices. They provide a
framework within which decisions that balance the interests of various stakeholders could be
made promoting equity, transparency, and responsibility.
This research paper will touch upon what ethical guidelines are and their importance in both
professional and personal life. It discusses how these ethical measures are going to
successfully control human behavior, improve accountability, and infuse trust into society.
We will discuss some of the different ethical systems, the role of ethics in professions, and
then the creation, execution, and enforcement of ethical guidelines. Ensuring honesty in legal
matters, protecting patient rights in healthcare, or maintaining environmental sustainability in
business are all based on ethical prescriptions as the basic building blocks to create a just and
responsible society. This paper will explore such an understanding in depth of the need for
ethics in everyday life and professional conduct.

Key Concept Of Ethics:

Ethics, at its core, examines the basic issues of human conduct, focusing on what is morally
right and wrong, good and bad, just and unjust. It addresses practical concerns regarding
decision-making and judgment. It aims to establish standards that govern acts and assist
individuals and societies in drawing the line between what is generally acceptable and ethical.
Ethics studies raise crucial questions regarding the ultimate value of human activities, as well
as standards against which such activities can be measured.

The origin of ethics traces back to the early times of human civilization. While long before
the formal study of ethics began, human societies developed rules and customs to govern
behavior; it was rather through this reflective process that human beings began to analyze
with a critical eye and question the moral standards of their communities signified the
beginning of ethics as a discipline. Early moral codes were dictated by customary standards
often passed down through years, if not centuries, and even deeper, based upon religious or
social doctrines (dogmas). These dictated what was deemed proper and improper in any given
situation.

It was only later that the reflective stage of ethics, where individuals and philosophers indeed
began to question the validity and rationale behind such moral norms, reared its head. With
that, systematic ethical thinking came into being when men not only traced the laws and
customs that governed behavior but also sought to evaluate and refine them, finding areas
where they might fall short. Ethics in this regard started with the introduction of moral codes,
but its development as a formal study occurred when human beings started critically to reflect
on how best to live and what actions were truly right or wrong.

Dissatisfaction with the previous practices often triggered ethical reflection, in which many
questioned long-standing traditions in favor of more universal principles of morality. This
reflective process gradually took the shape of a somewhat organized discipline that, in its
early stages, gained foundational ideas from philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and
Aristotle, whose ideas continue to shape ethical thought to this day. Ethics, therefore, as
understood in the present time, is not about fulfilling the set norms but rather comprehending
those set norms in the pursuit of a better understanding of what constitutes a good and just
life.
Ethics in Various Fields:
Ethics plays a huge role in many domains, setting the pace at which decisions are made and
undertaken by individuals operating within those particular domains. In the medical world,
ethics makes sure that health practitioners make decisions that are oriented toward patient
care and safety, such as autonomy and informed consent. Medical ethics also covers decisions
on scarcity and treatments of new technologies.
Ethical principles are crucial in business for making sure the company is responsible,
sustainable, and fair. Indeed, a company needs to balance profitability with employees and
social welfare as it opens up several ethical challenges regarding consumer rights, fair labor
practices, and environmental impact. Ethical business practices foster trust and long-term
success.
The legal domain is similarly guided by ethics, where lawyers, judges, and legal professionals
are expected to uphold justice and fairness in their conduct. Legal ethics dictates principles
such as confidentiality, fairness in trials, and the avoidance of conflicts of interest, ensuring
the legal system operates with integrity.

Ethics inform policies that improve or hurt society in one way or another. Essentially,
political ethics dwells on justice, fairness in governance, protection of civil liberties, and the
responsible use of power. Ethical decision-making in politics may have an effect on public
trust, equitable apportionment of resources, and democratic principles upheld.

Technology and artificial intelligence raise new ethical concerns where technological
advances bring forth issues related to data privacy, surveillance, and possible algorithm
discrimination. Ethical frameworks will thus be required to ensure that technological
development serves the interest of the public while not violating individual rights.
Finally, environmental ethics deals with those moral responsibilities that humans have
towards the planet and other forms of life. Ethical principles guide decisions on conservation,
sustainability, and climate change to ensure that the actions of today do not harm future
generations or the environment.
Ethics provides, in all of these areas, a moral framework through which individuals and
organizations can make difficult decisions by weighing the competing interests of different
stakeholders with fairness, accountability, and respect for human dignity.

Role of Ethics:

Ethics is central in the moral structure of the actions of persons about others and the
environment. Morality is a shared social convention about human behavior that helps people
know how to live their lives with respect for others and their environment. Ethics, as the
systematic critical analysis of morality, discusses the values, rules, duties, and virtues that
mold our actions in society. It helps us to judge if our actions conform with what is right,
decent, and for the common good; it questions whether the moral standards already adopted
mirror the best course of action for the interests of all parties.
Ethics enables a structured look at how values can inform human practices of fairness,
justice, compassion, and respect regarding human and non-human life. In contexts such as
fisheries, which involve human activities interacting with ecosystems, ethics informs
judgments about practices impacting environments and communities reliant on natural
resources. Ethics, here, questions the balance of human needs with environmental
sustainability and asks whether practices harming ecosystems or species are morally
justifiable, even when their legality is accorded.

Ethical analysis of morality also takes the form of critical reevaluation of whether social
conventions, laws, and religious norms truly are serving the common good or continuing
unjust systems. Moral values are constantly shifting with time, and ethics argues for ideas
that were commonly supported but are now understood as damaging, unfair, or outdated. In
this regard, the ethical reevaluation of gender relations, animal treatment, and human rights
mirrors an amazingly high awareness of the necessity for more inclusive, humane, and
sustainable lifestyles.

In the modern world, the forces of globalization, marketization, and technologization are
reshaping societal norms and practices, often breaking both biodiversity and cultural
identities. These forces, while often presented as neutral or inevitable, carry with them
implicit assumptions about value and power that can perpetuate inequality, exploitation, and
environmental degradation. It helps us to reevaluate these assumptions and stand in
opposition to the harmful effects of unchecked technological and economic growth in favor
of policies and practices that protect human dignity, advance justice, and preserve our natural
environment.

In general, the task of ethics is to question and refine values, rules, and practices that guide
people's actions. It is a way of reflecting on moral problems with much importance given to
the protection of human rights and taking care of people and nature in the long run. Ethics
challenges society to think about what is truly worth valuing and what can be fair; it aims to
work toward a world that is more just and humane.

Challenges in Applying Ethics:

Ethics applied to practice most notably in organizations-faces many dilemmas. While ethics
seems to establish a kind of moral direction on how one ought to conduct oneself and make
decisions, the translation into concrete reality is anything but uncomplicated. Probably the
most overwhelming dilemma lies between short-term gain and long-term ethical objectives.
In business, for instance, it is very easy for companies to be blinded into dropping principles
of ethics for immediate gains in the face of competitive pressure or economic downturn.

Companies are prompted to do all it takes to remain profitable-even those practices that are
meant to disparage ethical considerations: corner-cutting, labor exploitation, and
environmental destruction being some of them. Although organizations that promote ethical
values might have to bear higher costs or face reduced profits in the short run, they are more
likely to build long-term trust with their employees, customers, and society at large. The
dilemma, however, remains: how can organizations balance ethical responsibility with
economic success?

The other challenge arises from the fact that the application of ethics is based on cultural and
contextual differences. Ethics often depends on cultural, social, and organizational values,
which differ greatly across different regions or industries. What may be treated as ethical
conduct in one culture or context could be viewed quite differently in another. For instance,
business practices common in one country might be disapproved by others or be outlawed
completely, thus putting multinational corporations in an ethical dilemma. Similarly, inside
organizations, ethical principles can conflict with embedded practice, or the member is
expected to fit into the norms of the workplace that clash with his personal moral belief.
A similar concern is about the subjectiveness of the ethics. Whereas some ethical values, such
as honesty and justice, are widely recognized, some may fall into gray areas. What one
individual may think of as an ethical behavior another might find ethically ambiguous.
Legally too, ethics sometimes become vague, and quite frequently laws cannot cope with all
modernization in technology. The fast pace at which innovations occur-from AI to
bio-technology-increases ethical questions for which the existing legal frameworks are hardly
prepared. When the law fails to provide clear guidance, it is ethics that steps in to fill the gap,
but that becomes tough to manage when there is no common agreement on what would
constitute ethical conduct in those new domains.

Organizations are also likely to encounter institutional barriers against ethical behavior.
Individuals, particularly within hierarchical organizations, might be put under pressure by
senior management to behave in ways that run counter to any guidelines on ethics, where
such behavior appears to serve the interest of the organization or at least offers some
short-term gain. Such circumstances often bring one's moral values into conflict with work
pressures. Employees may be afraid of outcomes for speaking up regarding companies acting
unethically, too, which makes it even more difficult to enforce ethics within an organization.
Conquering this resistance calls for compelling leadership whose firm commitment to ethical
behavior is viewed in the creation of a corporate culture where ethics go hand in hand with
decision-making processes on all levels.

Finally, there is the issue of accountability. To apply ethics effectively, there should be
mechanisms to supervise, judge, and punish those who act unethically. Organizations are
sometimes unwilling to tackle unethical behavior, especially when it involves a major player,
or where the activity in question does little harm when placed into the context of larger
business objectives. Lack of accountability can undermine the effectiveness of ethical
policies, allowing unethical practices to persist unchallenged.

Conclusion:

Summarizing the content of the research paper, ethical standards are important in determining
how people and organizations behave, making sure that our actions are consistent with moral
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lines and cultural norms. Ethics works as a guide for resolving difficult moral obstacles by
offering a prototype for decision-making and encouraging responsibility, equity, and integrity
in a variety of fields. These rules are dynamic and subject to change in reaction to global
issues, societal shifts, and technology breakthroughs, necessitating constant evaluation and
modification. In the end, the value of ethical standards is in the capacity to promote human
dignity, advance justice, and build conscientious relationships with both the environment and
other people, all of which contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.

References:

Britannica. (n.d.). Ethics. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/topic/ethics-philosophy
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (n.d.). Fisheries Ethics.
FAO Fisheries & Aquaculture. Retrieved from https://www.fao.org/4/y6634e/y6634e03.htm
Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). (n.d.). Ethics Case Studies. SPJ. Retrieved from
https://www.spj.org/ethicscasestudies.asp
HRMARS. (2020). The Challenges in Implementation of Ethics in Organization. Human
Resource Management and Applied Research Studies, 4(4), 36-46. Retrieved from
https://hrmars.com/papers_submitted/8195/the-challenges-in-implementation-of-ethics-in-org
anization.pdf
Juneja, P. (2019). The Importance of Ethics in Business. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved
from https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/business-ethics
FAO Ethics Repository. Retrieved from https://www.fao.org
Ethics in Life and Business Retrieved from
https://www.scu.edu/mobi/resources--tools/blog-posts/ethics-in-life-and-business/ethics-in-lif
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20unjust%20outcomes.