6 Ethical pathways

list the 4 components that make up a persons decision-making process

• P (Perception) : How a person frames a problem or views the world based on their expertise or environment

• I (Information): The actual financial and non-financial data available to the decision-maker.

• J (Judgment): The analytical process where an individual weighs and sorts the incoming information and perceptions.

• D (Decision): The final action taken (or not taken).

What are the 6 ethical pathways

• psychological egoism

• deontology position

• utilitarian position

• relativism

• virtue ethics

• ethics of care

What is Psychological Egoism ( P —-D)? and why is it the shortest/ direct pathway?

• decision made entirely based on maximizing ones own self-interest.

Shortest and direct bc the person bypasses analyzing any external information or using thoughtful judgment

Deontology / Rule-Based Position (P ➔ J ➔ D) What is it ?

You perceive a situation, frame it through the lens of existing rules, laws, or professional codes of conduct, and make a judgment based strictly on those duties, ignoring additional external data

How to make good judgements in denotology?

We have to understand what our ethical duties are and what correct rules exist to regulate said duties

How to identify Deontology / Rule-Based Position (P ➔ J ➔ D) in a case?

pathway ignores additional information (I) where the rules or laws are encoded in one’s framing of the environment

• so rules and laws are framed (P) and applied and analyzed in a situation (J) before a decision is made

what is Utilitarianism (I ➔ J ➔ D)?

This is the "cost-benefit analysis" pathway, focused on the greatest good for the greatest number of ppl

Utilitarism is also called?

collective egosim

How to identify Utilitarianism (I ➔ J ➔ D)?

Person is producing the greatest possible balance of positive value or the min balance of negative value for all individuals affected

what is Relativism (I ➔ P ➔ D)? and this perspetive allows ppl to

Morality is dictated by the surrounding culture, environment, or current situational circumstances rather than universal standards. External information directly alters your perception en route to a decision.

In relativism it that maintains morality….

is relative to the norms of ones culture

for the ethical relativist,,, is there moral standards?

NO since culture and changing environments dictate the correct ethical decision choice.

what is virtue Ethics (P ➔ I ➔ J ➔ D)?

Focuses on the cultivation of virtuous traits and character (who you want to be as a person/organization)

. An internal perception of personal values or "organizational image" dictates what information you choose to look at before judging.

What happens in Ethics of Care Position ( I—P—J—-D) ? and is also called what?

An open-minded person allows reliable information to deeply shape their perception of how a decision impacts every single stakeholder group (customers, employees, community), leading to a carefully weighed judgment.

Also called Stakeholder theory

Walk me through the Ethics of Care position ( I—P—J—-D)

Relevance and reliable info (I) influences ones perception (P) in a particular situation. So the modified perceptions r judged (J) and then a final decision is made (D)

What does the ethics of care position pathway dominate over in a what kind of person?

the perceptual stage in an open-minded person

The Scenario: is your the city Health inspector examinning a poplualr local restaurant and during the inspection I see food violations like improper refigeration of raw meat that will make customer sick.

My “warning signal” is to shut down the restaurant or give them a failing public grade

My conflict is that the restaurant owner is a well-liked member of my local community who pleads to me to not say he failed inspection publically bc then he would have to lay off all the staff.

To be Ethical you do “Normative behavior” and decide to issue a falling/warning grade. what ethical pathway is used? and walk through it

Deontology (P—-J—D) — Rule-Based Duty

• I walk in and perceive (P) the warm refrigerator holding raw meat. I don’t need to do a massive study bc I know ppl will get sick. The City health code explicitly states “ if the refrigerator fails, the kitchen must be cited immediately.” My judgment (J) is I MUST follow the rules. my decision (D) is to issue the failing grade

Same case: my action is i look at the restaurants history. and in order to stay ethical….what ethical pathway do I take once reading the history?

Ethics of Care (I—P—J—D): Protect the stakeholders

• I look at the restaurant inspection history (I) , which shapes my Perception (P), making me think of the innocent families who will eat here tonight. In my Judgment (J) my ethical duty is to care for and protect the unsuspecting customers. My decision (D) is to issue the warning

Same case but I am informed that a secret food blogger will be coming tonight so what ethical pathway do I go through to be ethical?

Utilitarianism with High Risk (I—J—D) Fear of getting caught

• I look at the information (I) that a secret food blogger is reviewing this restaurant tonight. My Judgement (J) is a cost-benefit calculation based on fear of losing my job so to protect the greater good and to not get fired my decision (D) is to issue the public the failing grade

Using the same case: If you do not want to release the violation ( Be unethical) , what pathway make you do this?

• the restaurant owner slips you $5k bribe or reliaze the owner is my brothers boss

Psychological Egoism (P—D)— Self-Interest & Greed

• I perceive (P) my won financial gain so I ignore to report data and give them a clean passing score (D)

Using the same case: If you do not want to release the violation ( Be unethical) , what pathway make you do this?

background info: the neighboorhood is loosing businesses

Relativism (I—-P—D)) — The "Self-Fulfilling Prophecy" Fear

I look at the economic information (I) of the neighborhood and how ppl are losing jobs to it. Which shapes my perception (P) and think about hoe ppl will loose their job so I bypass my duty and let the failing inspection slide (D)

Using the same case: If you do not want to release the violation ( Be unethical) , what pathway make you do this?

Backgraound : the legal system in their country is weak, meaning there is a very low chance they will ever get caught or sued.

Utilitarianism with Low Risk (I—J—D) — No One Will Ever Know

• i look at the info (I) that my city health dep is understaffed and nobody double checks my work so I make a judgement(J) that the risk of anyone getting sick is low and i wont get caught so my decision(D) is to give clean report

Using the same case: If you do not want to release the violation ( Be unethical) , what pathway make you do this?

background info: I have a close relationship with management, trusts their personal values, and overestimates how easily the company will fix its problems

Virtue Ethics (P—I—J—D) — Trusting the Relationship Too Much

• ive known this chef for years (P) and bc of my peronal trust I focus in the info (I)of the promise that hes going to buy a new fridge. So my Judgment (J) is clouded by my relationship so I give a clean report (D)