Can Ethics Be Taught?

Of course ethics can be taught! Haven't you ever asked someone, "What do you think I should do?" Moreover, people love TEACHING others ethics (whether they know they are or not). People love telling you what they think you should do in sticky situations.

My ability to deal with moral issues has been shaped at home, of course, but heavily by people connected to me at church, and also my university training.

Here's an example of a discussion we had in personal finance class about whether something is right or wrong:

"Is the estate tax right or wrong?" Should the wealthiest Americans be forced to pay the tax on their inheritances? Should they be forced to fund the government so that the middle class bears less of the burden? In finding some research to answer this question, I found this REALLY interesting link. An interview with Bill Gates about Repeal of the Death Tax. Bill feels very strongly AGAINST repeal of the death tax that President GW Bush tried to sign into effect very early in his administration! I was so shocked! Read the interview from 2003. It's really interesting.

Point is, lots of opportunities to talk about ethics and what is "right or wrong" -- whether they be at home, church, or school, are each learning moments. And I have gotten better at "doing the right thing".

I argue that ethics CAN be taught.

I am an artifact of ethics training.

Something smells unethical

Here's a thought-provoking article to read from the Times.

Chinese Students in U.S. Fight View of Their Home

Particularly for me, a Chinese American.

No matter what China does, these students say, it cannot win in the arena of world opinion. “When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet./ When we tried limiting our numbers, you said it is human rights abuse,” reads a poem posted on the Internet by “a silent, silent Chinese” and cited by some students as an accurate expression of their feelings. “When we were poor, you thought we were dogs./ When we loan you cash, you blame us for your debts./ When we build our industries, you called us polluters./ When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.”

Isn't there something unethical about the accusations and stereotypes we, as Americans, cast on the Chinese and vehemently support the Tibetan effort? (And shame on me for not being more aware of what's going on in Tibet).

Have we who have taken upon us the name of Christ slipped unknowingly into patterns of slander, evil speaking, and bitter stereotyping? Have personal or partisan or business or religious differences been translated into a kind of demonizing of those of different views? Do we pause to understand the seemingly different positions of others and seek, where possible, common ground?

Robert S. Wood of the Seventy, (see the previous post for a link to his talk "Instruments of the Lord's Peace")

Ethos

The class objectives are

1. Identify and address common ethical issues that arise for individuals, managers, and organizations.
2. Use contemporary and classic frameworks to analyze and suggest resolutions to ethical dilemmas.
3. Recognize how individual differences and cognitive barriers can influence ethical judgment.

Resources for Paying Attention -- Reading the paper

I commit to reading the front page of the New York Times and the BBC News Homepage every day. Then I will be an informed citizen, literate in current affairs, interesting to talk to, and a contributor in class.

I chose the Times because it is frequently relied upon as the official and authoritative reference for modern events. Did you know the paper has won 98 Pulitzer prizes? (wikipedia told me so). And I can learn some advanced vocabulary.

I chose BBC News for a global perspective. I remember last year, this time, in Taiwan, I watched the news and was suddently reminded that America is not the only country on Earth.

With the blog, I can blog about current events too-- particularly those related to ethics discussions.

Using disclaimers in class

In our ethics class, we're asked to precede opinions with "It seems to me" or "I think". I don't really like using these phrases as the main subject and verb of a sentence. I think it weakens a cogent argument in the grammatical sense. My solution will be to give a general disclaimer at the beginning of my "soap box". I can't wait to stir the pot in class.

Subjectivity does not equate capriciousness

Just because ethics is hard, some throw their hands up in the air and say it doesn't matter, that the answer always "depends". Sounds like economics too. We are encouraged to give reasons for why I think the way I do so that in any given situation (e.g. non LDS workplace out in the real world) I can persuasively articulate any given point of view.

What I want to Learn in Class this Term

My friend Daren always says things like "I'm going to go out for a run today since the weather is so nice. I mean, it's the right thing to do". What does it mean when something is the right thing to do? So here is a list of things I want to learn:

1. What does it mean to be the right choice or action?
2. How can I apply ethics to help me be a peacemaker? Especially in familial relationships.
3. How will ethics help me with sales (and is it wrong to be interested in ethics for personal advancement)
4. What is truth? Is truth universal?

Thought of the Day
the following quotes are from Conference Report April 2006 Robert S Word, "Instruments of the Lord's Peace"

Before you launch into your criticism, you must first present the strongest case for the position you are opposing.

When I read this, I think about how this is a strategy or tactic to help me win the argument. Everyone wants to feel like they've "won", or effected change, or have gotten their way. The principle of agency permeates our thinking too!

We cannot afford to be caught up in a world prone to give and to take offense. Rather, as the Lord revealed to both Paul and Mormon, we must neither envy nor be puffed up in pride. We are not easily provoked, nor do we behave unseemly. We rejoice not in iniquity but in the truth. Surely this is the pure love of Christ which we represent.

Pure love seeketh not her own. This is a Christian principle that may be unique to me in the work place one day. A lot of business ethical decisions are based on "protecting oneself", which is a necessity, but how will I prioritize that? Will I let consequences affecting me take precedent above consequences affecting the company or shareholders?

Do you agree or disagree with Shakespeare:

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." - from Hamlet , Wm. Shakespeare; Act II, scene ii. Hamlet to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern abou whether Denmark is a prison.

I don't know how to answer this yet! I do believe in universal truth -- revealed to us in the form of commandments and the light of Christ.

I ALSO believe that opinions make things good or bad.

I'll try to answer this later in the course when I have more of a framework to think about it.