Ethics and Morality - Research Paper Example

ETHICS AND MORALITY The term morality in the simplest and most basic sense refers to a set of principles and values which can be defined as good conduct. It also refers to a general notion and concept of morals (acceptable laws, conducts, behaviors) which people believe are correct and therefore practice them. The term ethics on the other hand refers to a set of legally stipulated policies within which a person is supposed to adhere to. In principle, morality seeks to be inclined along social lines while ethics are bordered against legal and constitutional foundations (Dawson, 2007). In case a person violates moral law or rule, the outright repercussion could be social condemnation or shame at the very least. However, in the case of ethics, a legal repercussion or consequence such as serving jail term could be involved to cover for such an eventuality. This paper will therefore discuss the differences, issues and consequences concerned with the concepts of morality and ethnicity. A specific focus and attention would be given to corruption cases and level of bribery in the police service and amongst police officers. To begin, each and every culture and society by extension has its own stipulated and outlined moral and ethical principles or practices. It is important to note and mention that the term culture in this case and instance refers to the way of life of a particular people, their eating mannerisms, way of dressing, intermarriages amongst other things unique in a people or a society. In the recent past, there have rise in the cases of corruption and bribery among police officers in developing or emerging democracies. This is not to mention that there were no such instances and issues in the past, however, in the recent days it has been on the increase in Africa, specifically Kenya. Whenever a criminal or a suspect is arrested, he or she rarely gets to see a court because the police officers in most cases demand bribes so as to look the other way. The behavior has persisted in the society to the extent where it is almost a way of life. Socially, in terms of moral specifications, it is improper for a person say a police officer to circumvent the process of justice and take the short way of bribery. The officers in such a case do not act in a moral manner and so does the suspects who give out bribes. Ethically, there are laws in the constitution of Kenya, set to caution and sanction such acts-of giving or demanding bribes. If one is apprehended taking or giving bribes, he or she could be charged in court and sentences to serve time, because it is a violation of ethical code of conduct. Historically, it could be associated by poor pay for the police officers in Kenya, and thus they may feel justified to take bribes to compensate their livelihoods. Previous generations and societies failed to combat the vice both in social condemnation (moral combat against corruption) or ethical combating of bribing through tangible, tenable actions against the concerned persons (Haidt & Joseph, 2004). The same vice has continued over the successive generations because the ethical stance or moral positions did not fight the vice of corruption in the police department at that time. It takes moral courage to fight corruption in police department, firstly because of the complexity of the people involved. For instance, if a person is supposed to fight such a vice by reporting the corrupt officers to other officers in the same police station, it becomes rhetoric! The fact that people could raise the issue of corruption amongst the police officers is a major statement on the fight against corruption (Noddings, 2002). A specific case in mind in Kenya is when there was a police impostor who served in the government of Kenya for close to ten years in a capacity of assistant police commissioner. The alleged impostor bribed his way up to ascend to higher echelons of the police service in Kenya under the watch and cover of senior government officers. The media could be credited with the fight on corruption by highlighting concerned persons. Thus, the media is both moral and ethical to the extent to exposing the corrupt police officers and departments. The media of Kenya including online bloggers carried the article and expose on the same issue and highlighted the rot of the police service relative to corruption using the police impostor case or event. Politically, (or the good will and ability) to fight the vice of corruption in the police department in Kenya is a complex situation. This is so because the people who are supposed to apprehend and be at the fore front in fighting the vice are the very same people involved in the vice. For instance, if a junior police officer in Kenya is tasked with investigating how the impostor rose through those ranks he or she would be asked to investigate a corrupt senior officer, then it becomes practically difficult to accomplish the same. Conclusion The above essay has articulated and expounded on the issue of morality and ethics. The irreducible is both morality and ethics advocated for proper ideas for the society which would better the welfare and situation of the people. However, as the case of corruption of police officers in Kenya, it calls for a cultural, political and historical action in tackling the vice completely. This would be done in the moral and ethical lines of perspectives where both legal frameworks and social actions are used to fight the vice. References Dawson, L. M. (2007). Ethical differences between men and women in the sales profession. Journal of Business Ethics, 16(11), 1143-1152. Haidt, J., & Joseph, C. (2004). Intuitive ethics: How innately prepared intuitions generate culturally variable virtues. Daedalus, 133(4), 55-66. Noddings, N. (2002). Educating moral people: A caring alternative to character education. Teachers College Press, PO Box 20, Williston, VT 05495-0020 (paperback: ISBN-0-8077-4168-X, $21.95; cloth: ISBN-0-8077-4169-8, $48). Read More