Ethics

1. Ethics

2. What is “ethics”? • Branch of philosophy that deals with issues of right and wrong. • Concerned with moral issues such as honesty, fairness, just, etc. • A speaker’s character is being judged. • Quintilian says that speechmaking is the “good person speaking well”.

4. Five sources of ethical standards: • Utilitarian approach • Rights approach • Fairness or Justice approach • Common good approach • Virtue approach • Putting the approaches together.

5. Guidelines for speaking ethical • Make sure your speaking goals are ethical. • Be fully prepared for each speech. • Be honest in what you say. • Avoid name calling and abusive language. • Put ethical principles in practice. • Use a large amount of sources. • Distinguish between quotes and paraphrases.

6. Plagiarism • Plagiarism is “presenting another person’s language or ideas as one’s own. • Three types of plagiarism: • Global plagiarism: taking am entire speech from “one” source. • Patchwork: copying verbatim from two or three sources. • Incremental: copying verbatim specific parts or increments.

7. Argumentative Dishonesty • Advancing false conclusions. • Intentionally using old evidence. • Using unreliable sources. • Concealing available evidence. • Twisting or distorting evidence. • Fabricating information. • Using inferior evidence.

8. Arguer Orientations: • Wayne Brockriede published an article in the 1970’s called “Arguers as lovers”. • He proposed that arguer orientations can be framed as (abuser)“rapist”, “seducer”, or “lovers”.

9. The arguer as “Rapist”(abuser) • Depersonalizes the other. • Relies on verbal aggressiveness. (name calling, ad hominems, etc . . ) • Uses force, authority, sanctions. • Employs threats, ultimatums. • An example: poor litigants vs. large corporations.

10. The Arguer as “Seducer” • Relies on harm, beguilement, trickery. • Creates an illusion of choice. • Utilizes ingratiation strategies. • Resorts to deception. • Employs illicit reasoning (false reasoning, withholding evidence, etc.)

11. “Rapists” and “Seducers” as Arguers • Displays disregard for the other person. • Views other as an “object” or “target” rather than as a person. • Emphasizes success, de-emphasizes relationships. • Unwilling to expose oneself to the risk of change. • Adopts only one perspective on a issue—one’s own.

12. Arguers as “Lovers” • Regards other as an equal, stresses power parity. • Values the relationship as much as (if not more than) the outcome of decision. • Emphasizes cooperation and collaboration over competition. • Values shared decision making, choice making. • Willing to risk values, knowledge, and self-esteem by engaging in argument.

13. Conclusions: • The categories aren’t mutually exclusive, they are a matter of degree. • The categories are situational and contextual. • A person can change his or her orientation to arguing.

14. Six Pillars of Character • Trustworthiness • Respect • Responsibility • Fairness • Caring • Citizenship • Taken from Michael Josephson (KNX)

15. Ethical guidelines for listeners • Be courteous and attentive! • Avoid prejudging. • Keep an open mind.