Chapter Two

Ethics and Morality

Definition of Ethics
Importance of Ethics
Where does morality come from?

Parents
Religion
Peers
Technology
• Moral values are socially accepted valuations of objects of the surrounding
world.
• They are general idea or a standard that people share about what is good and
bad, right or wrong… etc.
• Amorality refers to absence of, indifference towards, or disregard for
morality.

• Amorality is a rejecting all moral claims.

• Amorality means not related to morality.

• Amorality is a state in which the concept of right and wrong is invalid

• Immorality is the act of not adhering to moral principles.

• In other words, it refers to an act of deliberately breaking the rules

of right and wrong
 Morality is concerned with the right and wrong of human actions; whereas Ethics
provides the basic principles for justifying and determining the rightness or
wrongness of the human actions.

 Where an action is said to be right or wrong in morality, ethics steps in, using its
ethical principles (ethical theories) to prove or justify the wrongness or goodness
of that action.

 Ethics is the philosophical thinking or systematic study about morality, moral

problems and moral judgments. In other words, ethics is a critical reflection on
morality.
Both are concerned with providing the basic guidelines and framework to
determine human existence in its real form. For any society to live in peace and
harmony, certain rules of behavior or conduct must be provided to regulate
existence, and this is the responsibility of ethics and morality.
1
Mr ``X`` after graduating from one of the University, has been placed by the Ministry
of Health to maintains or restores human health in the area where kidnapping has for
long been practiced. As he is single, he tried to have life partner but failed. Over time
Mr `x` realized that love marriage is some thing un -common to the community. So, he
decided to have a partner through the widely practice way-kidnapping. He did not regret
because kidnapping is moral in the community in which he lives. Do you think that
Mr ``X`` is Ethical or un ethical person? Why?
 Cont…
 Among the advocates of Ethical Universalism, Immanuel Kant’s contribution is
dominant.

 Kant goes on identifying absolute moral rules that guides human beings as:
 .

The belief that The Creator will reward or punish us can have powerful
motivating factor to respect moral rules.
This theory believes consequences determine the rightness/wrongness of an
action.

All Consequentialist theories of ethics share common feature, they all maintain
that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by the consequences
which follow from the act.

If good consequences follow, then the action is determined to be 'good'.

If bad consequences follow, then the action is determined to be bad.

 Cont…
• Another way of looking at consequentialism is referred to as

• Means refer always to existing conditions as they are while the end refers
to how things ought to be.
 Cont…
 There are three strands of consequentialism. These include utilitarianism, egoism
and altruism.

An action is moral if it promotes pleasure and wrong if it brings pain. Jermy
Bentham.
Bentham’s famous principle is what he coined it as ``

An action that promotes the interest of the majority or everyone is morally right
and hence everybody has to do the same.
 Cont…
ii

It holds that an action is morally right if it maximizes the interest of the
doer of action.

iii.

an action is morally right if the consequence of the action is more

favorable than un- favorable to the society
Cont…
Most people know what is right. The problem comes in doing what is right. Immanuel
Kant

Deontologist are telling us that the morality of an action should not be

measured in terms of its consequences.

Instead, actions should be weighted by themselves. Kant explains the only thing
that is good without qualification is what he calls the Good Will.

What is morally good, thus, is to act from the good will-which refers to fulfilling
ones duty regardless of the consequences of actions.
 Are values which are expected to be possessed by all human beings as rational
creature…
 Contribute a lot for a smooth interaction between and among individuals and
peaceful co-existence of a society.
Moral Actions
• Development ethics can be considered as a field of attention, an agenda of
questions about major value choices involved in processes of social and economic
development. In this case the questions include:
4.
Cont…
What is professional Ethics?
• Some of the basic standards/principles that should guide the behaviors of every
professional are the following:
 The qualities that are most required in the work environment:
• Attendance: arrive on time and give advance notice of absence
• Character: displays loyalty, honesty, trustworthiness, dependability, reliability,
initiative, self discipline, and Self-responsibility
• Team work: cooperative work
• Appearance: Displays appropriate dress, grooming, hygiene and etiquette
• Attitude: demonstrate a positive attitude
• Productivity
 Cont…
• Organizational skills: manifest skill in personal management, time
management, prioritizing, flexibility, stress management

• Communication: displays appropriate verbal and non verbal skills

• Cooperation

• Respect
 Fundamental Principles Professional Ethics
Principles are the base for general foundation of professional ethics. These principles include:

1.Integrity(ቅንነት)→doing right things

2.Loyalty(ታማኝነት) →Firm stand for discharging ones duties/Performing assigned tasks

(duties)

3.Transparency(ግልጽነት)→Following transparent (open) procedures of governance

4.Honesty(ሀቀኝነት) →Not lying (standing for truth), Not stealing, Not cheating, Being
trustworthy

5.Confidentiality (ምስጥር ተባቅነት)→ Not speaking out unchecked (unreliable)

information
 -

6.Accountability(ተጠያቅነት) → Being responsible (answerable) for what have

been done by using ones power and position
7.Serving public interest(ለህዝብ ጥቅም መስራት) → Putting public interest
above self interest
→ Participating in activities that are beneficial for the public voluntarily
8.Proper use of power (ስልጣን ባግባቡ መጠቀም)→Properly distributing powers
and authorities
→ Not interfering in the authority of others and not acting beyond ones power
and authority
9.Impartiality ( አድሎ አለመፈፀም) → Giving fair decision for all equally based
on laws and regulations; Not discriminating based on race, gender, nationality,
religion, language etc.
 -

10.Respecting law (ህግን ማክበር) → Accepting the rule of laws & behaving
accordingly

11.Being responsive to the public (ለህዝብ ጥያቄ ምላሽ መስጠት) → Giving

appropriate & timely responses for public questions/complaints

12.Being role model (መልካም አርኣያነት) → Playing exemplary role for others by
developing good ethical characters (habits)
Group Assignments ( From Chap.5)