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Ethics and Moral Development
Moral
way of life
conduct
Ethics
custom, usage, character
Three Branches of Ethics
Metaethics
characteristics, or nature of ethics
Normative ethics
general theories, rules, & principles of moral conduct
Applied ethics
problem-solving branch of moral philosophy
guide us through moral dilemmas
Ethical Communication
Moral agent
Motive
Act (verbal or nonverbal)
Context
Individual/Audience
Consequence
Moral Agents
Make ethical judgments
Must bear full responsibility for actions
Motive
For the greater good?
Ex.- reporter deceives to uncover corruption
Hidden cameras
Undercover
Context
Political
Social
Cultural
Act
Behavioral component
Verbal (lying)
Nonverbal (omit information)
Individual/Audience
Moral agent’s relationship to one affected most by ethical
judgment
TV ratings
Public figure
Consequences
Positive and Negative
For moral agent and others
Ethics Education
Can ethics be taught?
Some say no
Can’t duplicate the frenzied "real" world
Others say yes
Body of moral knowledge waiting to be learned
Systematically and rationally ponder how ethical judgments are
made in media
Ethics Education
Stimulate moral imagination
Recognize ethical issues
Develop analytical skills
Elicit sense of moral obligation/personal responsibility
Tolerate disagreement
Moral Reasoning
Ethics instruction can
1) Promote moral conduct 2) by providing the means to make
ethical judgments, 3) defend them, and 4) criticize the results of one’s choices
Ethical Fitness
The best way to be a more ethical person is to practice ethics
Fitness comes from confronting tough moral issues of everyday
life & actively solving them
Principles of Moral Virtue
Credibility
Integrity
Civility
Credibility
Without credibility, integrity and civility have no meaning
Means to be believable and trustworthy
Janet Cooke-reporter who fabricated a story
Dateline rigged a truck with explosives
Integrity
Determine what is right and wrong
Act on what you decide
Admit openly you are acting on your understanding of right and
wrong
Stephen Carter
Take responsibility for consequences of actions
Civility
"First principle" of morality
Attitude of self-sacrifice and respect for others
Values and Attitudes
Values are the learned emotional, intellectual, and behavioral
responses to persons, thing, and events
Values are the building blocks of attitudes
Ex.-Autonomy, justice, dignity of life
Ex.-Objectivity and fairness
Attitudes
Three components
Affective (emotional side)
Cognitive (intellectual side)
Behavioral (predisposition to respond)
Sources of Attitudes
Four influential sources
Family
Peer groups
Role models
Societal institutions
Conflict of Values
Heintz dilemma
Dying wife
Drug available, but cost too much
Should he steal the money?
Sanctity of life vs. Don’t steal
© B.L. Yates 2000
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