Ethics - Where do you stand

[buckeyebri]

Let me say I love BP and the various discussion threads that go on here. The open discussion thread forum has been awesome. I have noticed that many of the threads throughout this forum and others as have an ethical bent to them if you really stop to think about it.

We discuss the Iraq conflict, political stances, welfare, Cosby's comments, the media, Enron, etc. Plus, we have the discussions regarding what happened with O'Brein and the basketball program and what happened with the educational side of the football program.

As I have said in other threads, I have recently resigned my current position and am moving on. As I sit back and look at the past three years that I have worked in this position and the reasons for leaving, I can trace a majority of the reasons to what I perceive to be a lack of ethics.

Taking this in to consideration and the discussions here on BP, I am beginning to believe that we face a crisis of ethics in this nation. I'm curious to know where you stand on the issue of ethics and their importance in your life, work, family, and core values and also your thoughts on where we stand as a nation.

[NorthShoreBuck]

I once read where most people do not leave the job but the management that they work for. It sounds as if you left them for just that reason?


How do you define ethics? Is it morals, values, religious beliefs and/or character?
I find it somewhat troubling that MBA courses now have a class in ethics.
It is not something you learn through a class but through living and interacting with others. Core values, as you mentioned, are accumulated from a life of experiences.

I would say an ethical decision is the one you would choose whether anyone knows it was your choice or not.

If you are saying we are a country short on ethics I would agree but there are 280 million of us and I think the bad side of humanity garners more of the press than the good side. At least I hope it is that way.

[kinch]

I believe that one's view of ethics is influenced by "morals, values, religious beliefs and/or character," but that these are not in themselves ethics.

In the most recent study I saw, atheists were least likely to commit crime, divorce, or abortion. Mormons, followed by Catholics, were next. Born again Christians were the most likely to commit the above acts. Certainly regligious standing does not constitute ethical standing - depending on your ethics. . .

I believe mostly in utilitarianism, but not as expoused by Mill. I believe it is the belief of doing right, not the end result, that matters.

[BuckBackHome]

Bucknola - Great comment on leaving a job because of the management. I have experienced that first hand and it is absolutely on target.

As for ethics, it is one of those nebulous (sp?) areas where everyone has a separate viewpoint. One person may say stealing is always wrong and the guy next to him may say it is not stealing if you really need it.

In my profession ethics are incredibly important. I had someone question them once when I did not award his firm a project. He thought he would get it because he was the local company, but he was 40% higher than a more qualified firm that did only the job I was hiring for. He decided to question my ethics instead of looking at the fact he was out of line with his proposal. Fortunately, my bosses laughed when they heard the guy's complaints.

While at OSU we had one class session in ethics. The person who spoke was in charge of ethics for the state of Ohio. He basically said if you think it is unethical it probably is. I'm not quite sure how you would teach uniform ethics to everyone as ethics are like opinions, everyone has one.

[Bucklion]

Ethics, is, as pointed out, in the eye of the beholder. We had medical ethics at undergraduate school, and there is a myriad of situations that you could get 10 different responses from 10 different people about. I think the best thing one can do is define your core principles, and always stick to them, while realizing that each situation must be analyzed on its merits, and acted on accoringly, and sometimes slightly differently. That, and one rule I always try to live by is to take my core principles seriously, but not myself too seriously, and that seems to go a long way in being able to analyze most situations with an open, analytical mind.

[buckeyebri]

Originally Posted by bucknola

I once read where most people do not leave the job but the management that they work for. It sounds as if you left them for just that reason?

In some ways partially true, but in many ways because of what I would consider unethical behavior in terms of people, including management, that I dealt with.

There is a point of what is right and what is wrong, what is above board and what is below board, what is being open an honest and what is being disingenious.

Originally Posted by BuckinMichigan

As for ethics, it is one of those nebulous (sp?) areas where everyone has a separate viewpoint.....In my profession ethics are incredibly important.

So, it is incredibly important, yet it is nebulous and undefinable? Explain that too me. I think you meant assholes not ethics in your quote, and unethical people are typically assholes...

Just to add on to the discussion, ethics as defined by dictionary.com:

A set of principles of right conduct.

The rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession.

[BuckBackHome]

Ethics are important in my profession, but once again, everyone defines them differently. There is even a Code of Ethics for my profession, yet I know peers who have no problem putting personal expenses on the company bill like a home pool, showing up two hours after the doors open and leaving two hours before they close, and lieing about their backgrounds. Ethics are kind of like the old adage about terrorist and freedom fighters. It depends on your personal perspective.

[buckeyebri]

Originally Posted by BuckinMichigan

Ethics are important in my profession, but once again, everyone defines them differently. There is even a Code of Ethics for my profession...

So you have a code of ethics, but yet everyone defines them differently. What does that say too you about your profession?

I would say that they probalby interpret them differently to work to their advantage. Which to me is very questionable.