Lesson 5

Lesson 5
Ethical Standards
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Learning Content:
I. Definition of Ethical Standards
Ethical Standards
Ethical standards are a set of principles established by the

founders of the organization to communicate its underlying moral values.
This code provides a framework that can be used as a reference for
decision making processes.
Ethical standards refer to the set of well-grounded standards set

by an organization, association, body, society, or a state concerning what
should be done as a standard of right and what is to be avoided as
morally wrong. These sets of conducts serve as a model or guidelines on
what is expected of a person who is a member of an organization, society,
community or state.
Types of Ethical Standards:
The following are the different types of ethical standards based on

ethical theorists:
1. Rights-based Standards
Rights-based ethics suggests we all as humans have some

rights subject to inviolability at all costs. These rights consist of two
types (a) inalienable natural rights, e.g., the right to live, the right to be
happy, the right to marry (b) conventional rights reflecting social values
of a place, e.g., the right to education, the right to equal treatment, the
right to public places, etc.
A good example of this are those rights which are enumerated
under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights established by the
united Nation around 1948 some years after the World War II and
these are even expanded by series of Conventions creating some
covenants on civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights.
Rights -based ethics are basically founded upon Utilitarian

ethics of optimizing the good output and reducing the bad output. The
concept would include sacrificing individual’s rights if it would be for the
good the greater majority.
2. Supernaturalism
According to supernatural theory, ethical standards depend

upon what the Divine Creator wants. As the Ultimate source of
morality, He set what is goof and what is bad and His teachings should
not be questioned.
Although different religion has their different interpretations of

what were written in the Bible/Quran. It cannot be challenge. There is
no room for questions what the religion enjoins its follower to do. The
protagonists of this theory are the people who are usually devout and
die-hard religionists. For them, the way to live a good life means to act
as per the wishes of God.
3. Duty based ethics
Society has standards in terms of what is a reasonable

obligation to do or not to do. The typical example of this is the
obligation not to commit a crime of killing, stealing, deception, rape and
other abuses as well as the duty to perform positive act such as to
contribute to the general fund, to have concern to others, to respect
authorities and others. And these became part of an established norms
in the society where they live.
Under this category of ethics, people are not expected to

validate their actions with any good output or result. They just have an
obligation to do or avoid doing anything as established in the general
context, irrespective of the positive or negative impact. For this reason,
the ethical theorists also call the ‘duty-based ethics’ ‘non-
consequentialist ethics.
4. Virtues based standards
Virtue-based standards also known as character-based ethics

are derived from the virtues such as humility, honesty, fortitude,
temperance, prudence, perseverance, truthfulness, etc. These ethical
standards are based on the moral character of a person doing an
action repeatedly rather than the consequences of their actions.
Apart from talking about what is right and what is wrong, virtue-
based ethics also guide people to adopt certain attributes and attitudes
of virtuous people that would protect and maintain one’s integrity. Thus,
character-based ethics is solely and wholly concerned with the
personality traits of a person.
5. Relativism
Relativism is also called subjectivism. Relativists argue that

moral values are not universal and objective in nature, they are rather
relative to the context. Different people look at things and act differently
because their standpoints such as religion, culture, belief, etc. differ
from each other.
Moreover, the theory speaks about the feelings of the people

which reflect in their words and actions. In other words, a moral
statement is a reflection of the attitude of the person on some ethical
issue. So, if I say “stealing is bad”, all I’m saying is telling someone that
I dislike the act of stealing.
6. Intuitionism
The protagonists of this theory argue that moral truths are real
and objective in their nature. Humans do not need any to attain direct
knowledge or cognition based on rational thought or inference.
More simply the advocates of this theory believe that the moral
truth is not dependent upon any content because of its universal
nature. They just suggest human beings can only get to know these
truths by use of their intuition only.
7. Emotivism
According to emotivists, a speaker expresses his feelings about

an issue while giving a moral statement. Hence, a speaker, by
expressing feelings also influences the thoughts and actions of other
fellow human beings in his surroundings.
8. Virtue ethics
The theory of virtue ethics suggests that the action of a virtuous

person is always right and others can replicate his actions. The
advocates of this theory take the conduct of a virtuous person as a
standard for others to follow. They argue that the sayings and conduct
of a virtuous person are always a product of rational thought.
The term ‘virtue’ refers to a moral attribute that human beings

should possess as part of their personality to live a morally good life.
Some of the important virtues that a person should possess include
prudence, fortitude, generosity, justice, ambition, temperance,
patience, perseverance, honesty, etc.
Levels of Ethical Standard
1. Macro level
Sometimes it is called the systematic level Ethical standard are defined
and influenced by the wider operating environment in which the company
exists. There are several influential factors in the macro level such as but
not limited to political pressures, economic conditions, societal conditions,
media intervention, and others that affects the company’s operating
standards and policies.

2. Company level
At the company or corporate level, ethical standards are basically
embedded in the policies and procedures of the organization. These serves
as fundamental guidelines of the company in coping with the various
pressures as influence of the macro level. There might be gap between the
company policies on ethical standard with that of the operating conduct of
those in charge of directly running the company, especially if they are not the
direct owner/s. which presents an ethical challenge to the employees.
3. Individual level
Individual ethical standards greatly affects the company or corporation
in as much as it is the people that will actually run the system. That is why it is
important to set the company ethical standards in order that there will be
uniform guide and differences in individual’s ethical standards can be
synchronize or set aside in consideration of the company’s standards. But it is
an undeniable fact that such individual differences may cause conflict, thus
the manager or leader of the company must be aware of such possibilities so
that they may set some precautionary measure to prevent such conflict.

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Lesson 5

I. Definition of Ethical Standards

Ethical standards are a set of principles established by the

Ethical standards refer to the set of well-grounded standards set

Types of Ethical Standards:

The following are the different types of ethical standards based on

Rights-based ethics suggests we all as humans have some

Rights -based ethics are basically founded upon Utilitarian

According to supernatural theory, ethical standards depend

Although different religion has their different interpretations of

3. Duty based ethics

Society has standards in terms of what is a reasonable

Under this category of ethics, people are not expected to

4. Virtues based standards

Virtue-based standards also known as character-based ethics

Relativism is also called subjectivism. Relativists argue that

Moreover, the theory speaks about the feelings of the people

According to emotivists, a speaker expresses his feelings about

The theory of virtue ethics suggests that the action of a virtuous

The term ‘virtue’ refers to a moral attribute that human beings

Levels of Ethical Standard

Sometimes it is called the systematic level Ethical standard are defined

and influenced by the wider operating environment in which the company

not limited to political pressures, economic conditions, societal conditions,

media intervention, and others that affects the company’s operating

standards and policies.

At the company or corporate level, ethical standards are basically

embedded in the policies and procedures of the organization. These serves

as fundamental guidelines of the company in coping with the various

company policies on ethical standard with that of the operating conduct of

direct owner/s. which presents an ethical challenge to the employees.

Individual ethical standards greatly affects the company or corporation

uniform guide and differences in individual’s ethical standards can be

synchronize or set aside in consideration of the company’s standards. But it is

the manager or leader of the company must be aware of such possibilities so

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