Ethics and
Values
THEORIES OF ETHICS
1. Rights and Natural Laws-Why Ethical
Problem occurs in business
2. Basics of ethics:-What is ethics and
why, determinants, impact and
difference between ethics morals and
law
3. Important theories of ethics
4. Natural Law of ethics
Difference between ethics, morals and law
Ethics:- It is many a time synonym of
morals but a slight difference- it is
socially applicable
Morals:- It is an individual concept
Law:-Enforces and reflects the morals
and ethical standards of a society. It is a
compulsion
Moral refers to an individual's personal stance, principles and values of what is
right and wrong, whereas ethics refers to rules, principles, norms and values that
are external to the individual, such as the norms and values of a social community,
occupational codes of conduct, religious principles, etc.
What is ethics and why for engineers
It is the study of what is right or wrong in human
conduct
In one sense, ethics is synonymous with morality. It refers
to moral values that are sound or reasonable, actions or
policies that are morally required (right), morally
permissible (all right), or otherwise morally
desirable (good).
Accordingly, engineering ethics consists of the
responsibilities and rights that ought to be endorsed by
those engaged in engineering, and also of desirable ideals
and personal commitments in engineering
What is ethics and why for engineers
Engineers create products and processes to
improve food production, shelter, energy,
communication, transportation, health, and
protection against natural calamities—and to
enhance the convenience and beauty of our
everyday lives
Engineering ethics should be studied because it is
important, both in contributing to safe and useful
technological products and in giving meaning to
engineers’ endeavours
Thus major contribution to society is by engineers
and they have to study professional ethics
Determinants
RELIGION
INDIVIDUAL KNOWLEDGE
LAW SOCIETY
TIME FACTOR
Consequences of ethical behaviour/Impact
on individual
Consequences:-
Strengthening of values
Feeling good
Continuance of society
Impact-
People will accept goodness of individual
Views of that person will be held in high esteem and he
will be considered as a moral authority
At professional level growth is only possible if someone
have some ethics
Ethical Dilemma
Is it correct to be non- vegetarian
Ethical Dilemma
Child labour: is it morally incorrect than to give job
to boy who is dying of hunger
Ethical Dilemma
Euthanasia should be allowed or not
Ethical Dilemma
Is abortion of a 13 years old girl is morally
right who was raped?
Case Study 1: Dealing with staff performance issues
A junior member of staff has just returned to work after taking
special leave to care for her elderly mother. For financial reasons
she needs to work full time. She has been having difficulties
with her mother’s home care arrangements, causing her to miss
a number of team meetings (which usually take place at the
beginning of each day) and to leave work early.
She is very competent in her work but her absences are putting
pressure on her and her overworked colleagues. You are her
manager, and you are aware that the flow of work through the
practice is coming under pressure. One of her male colleagues is
beginning to make comments such as “a woman’s place is in
the home”, and is undermining her at every opportunity, putting
her under even greater stress.
Questions
1. Is it right for woman to go for job or
remain at home (Discussion-Ethical
Dilemma)
[Link] are the possible actions a manager
should take?
[Link] professional ethics that junior female
worker should follow?
Answers
Que.2
To identify the relevant facts about the case from both the sides and the source
of information about this case
Identify the affected parties
Who should be involved in the resolution
Identify affected parties
Document in detail about the case and decision
Que.3
Integrity: She need to be fair to all those involved and act in a straightforward
manner.
Confidentiality: She should owe a duty of confidentiality to the staff involved.
Professional behaviour: How should you proceed so as not to discredit
yourself, your profession or the practice for which you work?
Important Theories of Ethics
Aristotle’s Theory of Happiness and Virtue
Humans are rational and socio-political animal
Humans should be satisfied rationally and
socially
For a good life happiness is most important,
which leads to the concept of virtue (excellence)
Rational person should be able to control his
feelings either positively or negatively results in
virtue ethics
Virtue ethics is actually the in between traits
Important Theories of Ethics
David Hume’s Theory of Utilitarianism
It offers relatively straight forward method
Various course of actions should be identify
to perform
Foresee the benefits and harms of the
course of action
Principle of utility
Principle of happiness
Principle
Utilitarianism ofofequality
is a theory morality, which advocates actions that foster (enhance)
happiness or pleasure and opposes actions that cause unhappiness or harm.
Debate
Aristotle’s Theory
Vs.
David Hume’s Theory
Natural Law
Saint Aquinas has given this law synthesised
Aristotelianism, Stoicism (patience) and Christianity
to formulate this law.
God is a creator and law given by him is
permanent and stable
It helps humans to choose between good and
bad
It also follows universal ethics, thus human reasoning
capabilities with divine aspect makes natural law
Life-to safeguard ones life, self protection
Procreation-reproduction
Sociability-Parents, friend, family, society, etc.
Knowledge-Natural inclination to know things .
Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in
the early 3rd century BC. It is a philosophy of personal ethics informed by its system
of logic and its views on the natural world. Hellenistic philosophy is the period
of Western philosophy and Middle Eastern philosophy that was developed in the
Hellenistic period following Aristotle and ending with the beginning of Neoplatonism.
Natural Law
• Principle of natural law:- we ought to
support those values toward which
humans have natural attraction (not
smoke, drink, suicide, murder)
• Principle of golden rule:-Do to others as
you would have them to do to you
(equality)
Sayings of Laws
Employees rights
1. An employer must provide a written
Employment agreement before you start
work
Legal documents
Terms and conditions
Notice
Extra wages for overtime
Compensation
2. Leave is the right of all employees
Casual Leaves
Sick leaves
Earned leaves
Other leaves- paid/unpaid/half paid
Employees rights
[Link] from sexual harassment at the
work
place
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
(Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act,
2013. Sexual harassment is punishable under the
Indian Penal Code
4. Maternity benefit
84 days
Cannot dismiss
[Link]
Provident fund and pension plan(after 5 years)
Employees provident fund
• “A majority of private employment in
India is bound by the terms mentioned
in the appointment letter. The letter
forms the basis of the contract between
the employee and the employer and is
enforceable both ways under the Indian
Contract Act 1872. It is advisable to
carefully read the entire employment
letter before signing on the dotted line
as this saves them trouble later,” says
Rohan Mahajan, Founder
of [Link]
? ?
–Is it wrong to use company e-mail for personal reasons?
–Is it wrong to use office equipment to help your children or
spouse do school work?
–Is it wrong to play computer games on office equipment
during the work day?
–Is it wrong to use office equipment to do internet shopping?
–Is it unethical to blame an error you made on a technological
glitch?