Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Unlock answers
question
Discretion
answer
The authority to make a decision between two or more choices
question
Wholesight
answer
Exploring issues with one's heart as well as one's mind.
question
morals
answer
Principals of right and wrong.
question
ethics
answer
The discipline of determining good and evil and defining moral duties.
question
meta-ethics
answer
The discipline of investigating the meaning of ethical terms, including a critical study of how ethical statements can be verified. (Are they relative or universal?; self constructed or independent?)
question
normative ethics
answer
What people ought to do; defines moral duties.
question
applied ethics
answer
The study of what is right and wrong pertaining to a specific profession or subject. (How used in a field)
question
professional ethics
answer
Applied principals of right and wrong relevant to specific occupations or professions.
question
duties
answer
Required behaviors or actions.
question
superogatories
answer
Actons that are commendable but not required in order for a person to be considered moral. (above & beyond)
question
imperfect duties
answer
Moral duties that are not fully explicated or detailed.
question
values
answer
Judgements of desirability, worth, or importance. (prioritization of desirable traits)
question
ethical issues
answer
Difficult social questions that include controversy.
question
ethical dilemmas
answer
Situations in which it is difficult to make a decision either because the right course of action is not clear or the right course of action carries some negative consequences.
question
morals and ethics relate to
answer
relate to standards of behavior; come from Greek and Latin roots meaning custom or behavioral practices
question
Examples of how discretion permeates every phase of CJ and creates ethical dilemmas for CJ professionals:
answer
Each stage of CJ system professionals have discretion or power to choose behaviors. Legislature creates laws, PO's enforcement, Prosecution on charges, Judges on evidence, Corrections on daily lives
question
Why is ethics important in CJ?
answer
There are many opportunities for abuse of power or coercion; Public servants have special duties; Sensitize to issues, provide tools to identify and resolve dilemmas.
question
What behaviors may fall into moral/ethical judgements?
answer
Those ACTS that can be judged under moral critera committed by HUMANS, of FREE WILL, and which AFFECT OTHERS.
question
Difference between Ethical Issues and Dilemmas?
answer
Issues - are broad in nature, affecting society. Dilemmas - are independent personal events, may be right or wrong, decision presents challenge.
question
Public Servant
answer
funded from Public funds and held to a higher standard because they have taken on special duties involving public trust.
question
Felkenes's 6 reasons for CJPs to study ethics:
answer
1. Profession is dependent on moral and ethical behavior 2. Training develops analytical skills and reasoning needed to understand the pragmatic and theoretical aspects of CJ system. 3. CJPs need to quickly recognize ethical consequences of actions and the moral principals involved. 4. Considerations are central to discretion, force, and due process decisions. 5. Germane to mgmt and policy decisions ie rehab, deterrence.. 6. Essential aspects of CJ research.
question
Four elements that specify the types of behaviors that are judged under CJ Professional ethics:
answer
1. Acts involving citizens/clients (harassment/mal-mis-feasance) 2. Acts involving other employees (harassment, gossip, lying..) 3. Acts involving one's Org. (theft, work ethic, false reports..) 4. Acts involving subordinates (discipline, demands, criticism..)
question
Groups traditionally exempt from legal and moral culpability (& why);
answer
The Young and Insane - Capacity to reason (must be sufficiently aware of the world to be able to decide rationally between good and bad).
question
What are the 5 steps in analyzing an ethical dilemma?
answer
1. Identify the facts 2. Identify relevant values and concepts 3. Identify all possible moral dilemmas for each party involved 4. Decide which is the immediate moral or ethical being faced 5. Resolve the dilemma by using an ethical system or other means of decision making.
question
Ethical System
answer
A structured set of principles that defines what is moral.
question
deontological ethical system
answer
The study of duty or moral obligation emphasizing the INTENT of the actor as the element of morality.
question
teleological ethical system
answer
An ethical system that is concerned with the CONSEQUENCES or ends of an action to determine goodness. ("End justifies means")
question
ethical formalism
answer
The ethical system espoused by Kant that focuses on DUTY; holds that the only thing truly good is GOOD WILL, and that what is good is that which conforms to the CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE.
question
3 principals of ethical formalism (Kant)
answer
1. Act only on what would be acceptable if it were universal law. 2. Act toward humanity only towards good end - never for means. 3. Act freely in consistency with universal law.
question
hypothetical imperative
answer
Statements of contingent demand known as if-then statements (opposite of categorical imperative which are "musts" with no "ifs")
question
categorical imperative
answer
The concept that some things just must be, with no need for further justification, explanation, or rationalization to why they exist. (should do duty, act as want all to act, and not use people)
question
utilitarianism
answer
The ethical system that claims that the greatest good is that which results in the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
question
act utilitarianism
answer
They type of utilitarianism that determines the goodness of a particular act by measuring the utility (good) for all, but only for that specific act and without regard to future actions.
question
rule utilitariansim
answer
The type of utilitarianism that determines the goodness of an action by measuring the utility of that action when it is made into a rule for behavior.
question
natural law
answer
The idea that principals of morals and rights are inherent in nature and not human made, such laws are discovered by reason but exist apart from humankind.
question
ethics of virtue
answer
The ethical system that bases ethics largely upon character and posession of virtues.
question
principal of the golden mean
answer
Aristotle's concept of moderation, in which one should not err toward excess or deficiency; this principle is associated with the ethics of virtue.
question
ethics of care
answer
The ethical system that defines good as meeting the needs of others and preserving and enriching relationships.
question
peacemaking justice
answer
An ancient approach to justice that includes the concepts of compassion and care, connectedness and mindfulness.
question
egoism
answer
The ethical system that defines the pursuit of self-interest as a moral good.
question
psychological egoism
answer
The concept that humans naturally and inherently seek self-interest, and that we can do nothing else because it is our nature.
question
enlightened egoism
answer
The concept that egoism may appear altruistic because it is in one's long-term best interest to help others in order to recieve help in return.
question
imperative principle
answer
The concept that all decisions should be made according to absolute rules. (Religious or absolutist ethics)
question
utilitarian principle
answer
The principle that all decisions should be made according to what is best for the greatest number.
question
generalization principle
answer
The principle that all decisions should be made assuming that the decision would be applied to everyone else in similar circumstance. (Ethical Formalism)
question
5 questions a CJP facing an ethical question should ask:
answer
1. Does the action violate any person's rights incl. due process? 2. Does the action involve treating a person as means to an end? 3. Is the action illegal? 4. Will the action produce more bad than good for all affected? 5. Does the action violate dept proceedure or professional duty?
question
cultural relativism
answer
The idea that values and behaviors differ from culture to cultrue and are functional in the culture that holds them.
question
principal of forfeiture
answer
The idea that one gives up one's right to be treated under the princples of respect for persons to the extent that one has abrogated someone else's rights. (self defense acceptable defense - associated with deontological ethical system)
question
situational ethics
answer
The philosophical position that although there are a few universal truths, different situations call for different responses; therefore, some action can be right or wrong depending on the factors
question
moral pluralism
answer
The concept that there are fundamental truths that may dictate different definitions of what is moral in different situations. (Resolves difference between absolutism and relativism)
question
Relativism
answer
position that what is good or bad changes depending on the individual or group and there are no moral absolutes; what is right is dependent on culture and individual beliefs. (Syn Situational Ethics)
question
Ethical Systems
answer
provide the guidelines or principles to make moral decisions.
question
Key Principal: Ethical Formalism
answer
What is good is that which conforms to the categorical imperative.
question
Key Principal: Utilitarianism
answer
Good = good for greatest number
question
Key Principal: Religion
answer
Good = God's will
question
Key Principal: Natural Law
answer
Good = that which is natural
question
Key Principal: Ethics of Virtue
answer
Good = that which conforms to the Golden mean
question
Key Principal: Ethics of Care
answer
Good = meets the needs of those concerned
question
Key Principal: Egoism
answer
Good = benefits oneself
question
3 consistent elements of most approaches:
answer
1. must know the facts 2. apply "front page" test 3. use a formula or set of ethical principles to resolve dilemmas
question
3 parts of the Ethical Pyramid
answer
Moral Judgement (top) Moral Rules (middle) Ethical System (bottom)
question
4 characteristics of moral systems (Baelz)
answer
1. Prescriptive - behavior is demanded or prescribed 2. Authoritative - not subject to debate 3. logically impartial or universal - applies in all cases to everyone 4. Not self serving - directed towards others, good = all not indiv.
question
3 ways humans "know" God's will
answer
1. Individual concience 2. Religious authorities 3. Holy scriptures
question
6 Pillars of character:
answer
1. Trustworthiness 2. Respect 3. Responsibility 4. Fairness 5. Caring 6. Citizenship
question
3 Principals of Ethical decision making: (Krogstand and Robertson)
answer
1. The Imperative Principle - to look at obligations and duties 2. The Utilitarian Principle - to examine moral ideas 3. The Generalization Principle - to evaluate against consequence
question
Situational ethics vs. Relativism
answer
Relativism takes cultural differences into account and has no absolutes, whereas Situational ethics recognizes some absolute truths while also recognizing multicultural truths.
Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New