Chapter 2 Ethics in Our Law

1. Chapter 2 Ethics in Our Law Lesson 2-1, What is Ethics?

2. Survey of Ethical Theoretic Aptitudes • Ethics – deciding what is right or wrong in a reasoned, impartial manner Ethical decisions • decision must affect you or others in some significant way. • Base decision on reason, not emotions

3. Impartial Decisions • Impartiality is the idea that the same ethical standards are applied to everyone • Self-interest needs to be balanced with needs of others • Do not value one person or group more than any other • Each person is an individual and should receive equal respect and consideration • Organizations and institutions – consider how the people associated with these are affected

4. Business Ethics • Business Ethics – the ethical principles used in making business decisions • Problem of Profit Maximization: move factories offshore and cut jobs in order to reduce costs and produce greater short-term profits Assignment: Page 21, #1 - 11

5. Chapter 2Ethics in Our Law Lesson 2-2 Reasoning about Right and Wrong

6. Basic Forms of Ethical Reasoning 2 basic forms 1. based on consequences based on the results of the action an act that produces a good consequence is good an act that produces a bad consequence is bad 2. based on ethical rules acts are either right or wrong lying – wrong telling the truth – right cannot justify lying

7. Ethical ReasoningBased on Consequences 1. describe alternative actions 2. forecast consequences 3. evaluate consequences The Good – the standard for judging right or wrong Involves alternative basic goals such as love, justice, truth and pleasure

8. Fundamental Ethical Rules – acts themselves are judged as right or wrong - uses a recognized authority or human reasoning

9. Decisions based on Authority -- Law or religion – based on Torah, Koran, Bible • Decisions based on Reasoning Universalizing – picturing in your mind’s eye everyone in the world doing the action

10. Moral Rights – rightful claims on other people that flow from each persons’ status as a human being

11. Chapter 2Ethics in Our Law Lesson 2-3 How is Ethics Expressed in Our Laws?

12. People directly or indirectly determine the laws that bind them by electing representatives • Majority Rule – elected representatives vote for laws acceptable to the majority of people they represent • Our system mainly uses consequences-based ethics • Laws are judged to be right or good when they affect the majority of the people positively

13. Our Laws Reflect Rule-Based Ethics • Laws desired by the majority sometimes conflict with moral rights -- Slaves • Civil Rights (or civil liberties) – personal, human rights recognized and guaranteed by the Constitution • There are limits to majority rule – when the will of the majority conflicts with basic human rights, our legal system protects individual rights

14. Our Ethical GoalsReflected in Our Laws Read page 27 • Need a consistent rule to assure order and predictability

15. Why Are We Obligatedto Obey Laws? • ethical reasoning demands it • when law is violated, many more people are injured than are benefited • we have agreed to obey it we have accepted the benefits of the society

16. Integrity – the capacity to do what is right even in the face of temptation or pressure to do otherwise • by obeying it we avoid punishment • fidelity bond – an insurance policy that pays the employer money in the case of theft of employees

17. Are We Ever Justifiedin Violating the Law? • Civil disobedience – an open, peaceful violation of a law to protest its alleged injustice • Scofflaws – persons who do not respect the law Assignment: Page 29, 1-11