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Leadership and Ethics

Leadership and Ethics. Introduction to Moral Reasoning We haven’t taught you any real answers, we have only taught the skills you need better to seek your own answers.” - Admiral James D. Watkins. Leadership and Ethics The Ring of Gyges.

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Leadership and Ethics

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  1. Leadership and Ethics Introduction to Moral Reasoning We haven’t taught you any real answers, we have only taught the skills you need better to seek your own answers.” - Admiral James D. Watkins

  2. Leadership and EthicsThe Ring of Gyges Do you think that all people would act in the same way if given the ring?

  3. Leadership and EthicsThe Ring of Gyges Why be Moral at all? If we can lie and steal with impunity then why be moral? If our deeds sometimes go unrewarded or even unrecognized, then why be moral?

  4. Ethics Defined • A system of moral principles • Rules or norms of conduct for a particular group • The branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions

  5. Why is Ethics so hard? • Choices not always clear • Time pressures • Limited knowledge • Intellect vs. will

  6. We study Moral Reasoning …because ethics is so hard • MR gives us a cognitive framework to analyze situations and make (relatively) sound decisions

  7. Leadership and EthicsMoral Reasoning • Every human being engages in moral reasoning. • Consequences for actions • Self, others • Short term, long term • Basis of felt obligations • Promises • Oaths • Everyday morality is not systematic • What do we value? • Why do we value it?

  8. Leadership and EthicsMoral Theories • attempt to more fully articulate our everyday moral thinking. • are somewhat abstract… • evaluate our current moral beliefs • and consistency within our beliefs • Provide guidance for complex issues, complex decisions, conflicts

  9. Leadership and EthicsMoral Philosophers Traditionally they have three main categories: • Agents (persons) What makes a person vicious or virtuous? • Actions Which actions are right, which wrong? • Consequences which consequences are good, which bad?

  10. A Framework for Ethical Decision-making

  11. Leadership and Ethics Frame work for Ethical Decision-Making 1. Identify the problem. 2. Specify feasible alternatives. 3. Identify morally significant factors in each alternative (use your ethicalresources). 4. Propose and test possible resolutions. 5. Make your choice.

  12. Class Discussion

  13. Leadership and EthicsPersonal Ethos 1. What are our own deepest moral values? 1a. What qualities do you look for in others people as well as in yourself? 1b. Are these values you think everyone shares, or are some of your values ones that you feel are not always observed by our culture as a whole? 1c. How have your values changed, if at all? 1d. What influenced their development?

  14. Leadership and EthicsGroup Ethos 2a. Why do you think people are moral ? 2b. Is it because they fear punishment or ostracism? 2c. Is it because they believe that they should always do the right thing just because it is the right thing? 2d. Is it because they believe they are following “higher” orders?

  15. Leadership and EthicsEthical Issues 3a. What is the moral issue that you are most undecided about? 3b. Describe the pros and cons in regard to this issue. 3c. How do you go about arriving a decision when it is unavoidable?

  16. Leadership and EthicsEthical Problems 4a. Is telling the truth more important than avoiding harm to others? 4b. Why or why not?

  17. Leadership and EthicsEthical Problems 5a. Suppose you cold save one thousand people from certain death by killing a single innocent person. 5b. Would that be permissible? 5c. Why or why not?

  18. Leadership and EthicsEthical Problems 6a. Imagine that 5 of our shipmates are ill and you own all of the drugs they need to be well. Are you obliged to give them the medicine? 6b. What if you only had enough to cure two of them? 6c. How would you decide what to do?

  19. Michael Ignateiff at USNA

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