The Ethical Responsibility And Moral Dilemmas Of Court Members - Essay Example

The Ethical Responsibility And Moral Dilemmas Of Court Members Abstract According to Dowling ( 1990 . p 18-19) ethics, are established norms, practices and policies, rules or codes intended to guide an individual in terms of good or right behavior. An administrator has to be able to decide morally whether to accept or reject a particular model, rule or practice as being the morally right way of behaving. From this definition we can deduce that ethics are a set of rules that helps an official to discern between right and wrong conduct. Such rules are directed towards professional workers. Especially in the case of an official who has to choose between the moral rules that ought to be integrated into her life. To act morally in the public service department requires that an official keeps in consideration, the consequence and actions of the public service, are not detrimental to others .This requires a change in the political and public environment that is conducive to impartiality trustworthiness, a sense of responsibility and accountability and the maintenance of a high degree of ethical and moral standards in the public sector.(Giddy, 2001,p 132) Concept of Ethics The traditional concepts of Ethics are based on the concept of obligation (or right or duty ) ,Concept of honesty , integrity, trust, accountability, respect, confidentiality and fairness :. (Shamoo and Resnik, 2003, p 5). But in order to understand the various concepts of Ethics we must also examine the theories which are related to Ethics: Kantianism: According to this theory, we should not harm, abuse, manipulate or deceive people in order to achieve certain goals. Utilitarianism: The basic insight of Utilitarianism suggests that decisions should be taken, that would bring positive results for the majority of the people. Natural Law: The basic ethical theory according to this concept is to promote those actions that bring natural good to people and prevent the occurrence of natural wrongs. Virtual Ethics: This theory is based on the promotion of excellence and virtue in one’s life which include the virtue of honesty, honor, courage, benevolence, fairness, humility and temperance. Natural rights: According to this view all people have some right to, property, life, liberty, freedom of thought and religion. These rights are natural and are not subject to any rule or conditions. Social Contract Theory: moral/ ethical standards are concepts or rules that people adopt in forming a just society. Divine Command Theory: religion inspires ethical conduct even if it is not the foundation of ethical concepts and principles. Several commandments i.e. love thy neighbor is common to several religious principles. (Shamoo and Resnik, 2003, p 13-15) According to Paul et.al (2008, p 13). There are a few prominent concepts of ethics: Concept of good ;Concept of moral value ;Concept of personal identity; Concept of life; Concept of right and wrong ;Concept of truth ;Concept of justice; Concept of reason ;Concept of perfection. Concept of Justice: According to Rawl there are two principles to the concept of justice: a. Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with a similar liberty for others. b. Socio and economic liberties are arranged in such a manner that, it is in everyone’s benefit and is attached to positions open to all. These principles ensure the primary good of everyone. Specifically these goods relate to the values of rights liberties opportunities income wealth and self respect. (Grčić, 2000, p 99). Concept of Right : There are several theorists who believe that there is ‘good ’ which is different from the satisfaction of good that is dependent on the satisfaction of desires. Dewey says that there is a good which comes from doing what is ‘right ’ that which accords with law and the commands of duty. Men ought to find satisfaction in heeding the dictates of the right. There is a prevalent notion that right is the means to good (Dewey, 2007 . p232). Men of affairs those in position of power, executives and administrators are constantly under the temptation to view laws as an end in themselves and to think that the concept of right is secure through the issuing of rules and regulations and by securing conformity to them. (Dewey, 2007, p250) Concept of Truth According to Grcic. There are three main theories of truth the correspondence, coherence and pragmatic theory; The correspondence value holds that truth is a relation between statements and reality. The Coherence value of truth says that a statement is true if it consistent with a system of other statements which are known to be true . Different versions of the Pragmatic truth have been defended William James, John Dewey and others, who hold a belief to be true if it is agreed to be true with the consensus of a number of rationale investigators. (Grčić, 2000 , p55-56) Summary of the Case Study The ethical responsibility that surrounds this case study is that Michael Nguyen is stuck in a moral/ethical dilemma regarding the development or the creation of a new downtown in the vicinity of the Vietnamese - American businesses. He has to make a decision between his allegiance towards his ethnic community, the promises that he made during his campaign and his responsibility and duties as a member of the city council which requires that he must also propose similar developments in other areas of the city. Possible Course of Action: Michael Nguyen had won the elections due to the loyalty and support of his ethnic community. He promised the development of the downtown area while campaigning. Thus it becomes his ethic duty that his campaign promises are completed. But at the same time, He must keep in mind that he is now the member of the city council and has certain obligations and duties that he has to keep in mind; the ethical directives of the concept of right and the concept of obligation must be considered while taking any conclusive decision towards the dilemma, sometimes an official will have to forego his own personal bias and inclination and do what will result in the greater good. Michael Nguyen must find a middle path to overcome his ethical dilemma as his personal integrity will come questioned if he reneges on his campaign promises. He must form another citizen group this time from the various areas of the city and then arrive at a consensus of how development should be undertaken ; if the city council is not able to invest in this project, various institutions should be contacted to raise funds for the overall development of the entire city . Conclusion: The concept of right and good should always be kept in mind in politics while making promises that will lead to a moral and ethical dilemma after assuming office. A public official should always keep in mind that it is the good of the public, in general that has to be given due weight age often forgoing their selfish inclinations towards self and their ethnic community. References: Dewey, J. (2007). Ethics. Columbia University: By pp250 Dowling, (1990) Sajhe / Satho Vol 13 No 3 pp 18-19 Giddy, P. ed. ( 2001). Protest and Engagement: Philosophy after Apartheid at a Historically Black South African University. Washington, D.C.: The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, pp132. Grčić, J. (2000). Ethics and political theory. Oxford: Unity Press of America pp55-56 Paul, E.F., Miller, F. D. and Paul, J.( 2008) Objectivism, subjectivism, and relativism in ethics, Part 1 Vol 25 Shamoo, A.E, Resnik, D.B. ( 2003).Responsible conduct of research, New York: Oxford University Press, Read More