Ethical Decision-making
Ethical Decision-making
In all disciplines and professions, issues arise that need to be resolved without the help of definitive rules. In such situations, it is important to have a method of approaching the issue that will facilitate effective resolution of the issue. The following is a series of steps and considerations that one might undertake to resolve such an issue.
Ethical Decision Making*
1. Existing rules: Examine positive morality in the form of relevant law , ethics codes, and custom. Do they give a clear answer to the problem?
2. Openness: Be open to all considerations. Get information
3. Impartiality: Consider the issue from all interested and affected points of view.
4. Discussion: speak with others about the issue and possible resolutions.
5. Processing:
a. general values: consider what values are most valued in general, e.g. dignity, equality, integrity
b. specific values: determine what interests and whose interests are most significant in the situation.
6. Justification:
a. Explanation: can the resolution be explained with transparency to reasonable people?
b. Persuasion: will reasonable people be persuaded by the reasons?
*This description of ethical decision making is based on a presentation to the UNL Ethics Center Board of Advisors by philosopher Jeremy Waldron, University Professor of Law at New York University.
