Sundaymail Editor
Life Issues with FGK
THIS week we are going to talk about ethics.
Ethics, also called moral philosophy, govern what is morally good or bad and what is morally right or wrong.
Are we all able to distinguish the different categories of ethics?
To what extent do people value ethics?
Sociologist Raymond Baumhart once asked businesspeople what the word ethics meant to them.
Here, we reproduce some of the interesting answers he got.
“Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong.”
“Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs.”
“Being ethical is doing what the law requires.”
“Ethics consists of the standards of behaviour our society accepts.”
“I don’t know what the word means.”
The survey was conducted a few years back.
However, if the question was to be repeated today, we will most likely get similar responses.
But, could ethics be a matter of feelings, religious belief, law or what society expects as some seem to suggest?
Understanding the importance of ethics and what governs them will help us create a better society.
The Oxford dictionary defines ethics as moral principles that control or influence a person’s behaviour.
Probably this explains why we have statements like “that is not ethical . . .” when someone is considered to have transgressed.
However, every aspect of life has specific ethics that apply to it.
Oftentimes, a particular community or society decides on the ethics they should follow.
Likewise, it is important to point out that ethics are to a greater extent defined by culture.
What is ethical in your country may not be in another, or what is ethical in your local community may be unethical in another.
This should explain why different workplaces have varying ethics.
Professionals like doctors, nurses, accountants, teachers, police and army, among others, certainly have different work ethics that are highly determined by their work environment.
After all is said and done, there should be standard ethics.
For instance, if one occupies a high office, it should not be a licence for them to abuse subordinates.
Similarly, an educated person should know how to conduct themselves in both public and private life.
It applies to older people who the young look up to.
Ethics should guide us in all situations.
Unethical people are often selfish and greedy and do not accept responsibility for anything they do. In some instances, they blame others for the bad things that happen to them.
Conversely, an ethical person is peaceful, fair and honest.
Above all, an ethical person always makes great decisions.
Have the power to say ‘no’ to unethical behaviour.
“Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right,” said US author William Clement Stone.
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