An

Introduction
to Ethics
by

WILLIAM LILLIE
 Chapter 1

The Nature Of Ethics

What is ethics …?

How do you define Ethics?

What does it mean to you?

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 Ethics
philosophical
study of
morality
.
 Morality
A society’s rules of conduct .What people ought / ought not to do in various situations
 a particular system of values and principles of conduct, designed by society.
 principles that creates the difference between right and wrong or good and bad behavior or
act .
 morals tend to be driven by personal beliefs and values, there are certainly
some common morals such as:
• Always tell the truth.
• Do not destroy property.
• Have courage.
• Keep your promises.
• Do not cheat.
• Treat others as you want to be treated.
• Do not judge.

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 Ethics (philosophical study of morality- guidelines)
 Rational examination of morality
 Evaluation of people’s behavior.
 Ethics provide a systematic, rational way to work through dilemmas and to
determine the best course of action in the face of conflicting choices.
 Ethics is broader than morality in that it includes the higher- level activities
evaluating moral systems and the creation of new ways of evaluating moral
problems.
 Honesty.
 Loyalty.
 Integrity.
 Respect.
 Selflessness
 Responsibility.

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 Opinion in Ethical Perspective

 Should parents monitor teens’ social media activities?

 Reporting an accident to police
 To cheat your teacher /parents /friend
 Dishonest selling of product
 A 12-year-old girl was taken in marriage in the village
Is that good or bad? Why?

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 Four Branches of Ethics

Descriptive Ethics
Descriptive ethics deals with what people actually believe (or made to believe)
to be right or wrong, and accordingly holds up the human actions acceptable or
not acceptable or punishable under a custom or law.
 What do people think is right?
Example
black magic  
Normative Ethics

Normative Ethics deals with “norms” or set of considerations how one should act.
Thus, it’s a study of “ethical action” and sets out the rightness or wrongness of the
actions.
EXAMPLE
'Smoking can seriously damage your health'
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 Deontological ethics(duty)
Deontological ethics or duty ethics focuses on the rightness and wrongness of the
actions rather than the cost of those actions
Example
• Auditors identification of fraud
• Murderer confess about his act
Teleological Ethics(end)
The morality of an action is dependent with the outcome of that action. So,
the morally right action would produce good outcome while morally wrong action
would produce bad outcome.
Example
•stealing a loaf of bread from the neighborhood grocery store
• shutdown specific business unit /downsizing
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 Moral Science

Moral science may refer to the consideration of what is best for, and
how to maximize the flourishing of, either particular individuals or all
conscious creature.

EXAMPLE
  Euthanasia
 Shooting crazy/ mental dog

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 Six Moral Disciplines

There are then six moral disciplines (to use a term which may include science,
philosophy and art):
(1) a positive science of morals, describing moral standards in different
countries and ages;
(2) the normative science of ethics, stating valid moral standards;
(3) moral philosophy examining the validity of these standards by determining
their place in the universe as a whole
(4) casuistry or applied ethics applying valid standards to particular actual
cases
(5) moralizing or practical ethics, a discipline having as its specific aim the
improvement of conduct
(6) the art or practice of living a good life.
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•  
 Data and method of ethics

• Number of practices available

• examine the date related to your case
• Hypothesis generate related to your case
• Possible outcomes of hypothesis
• Previous standard examine
• Impact of those stranded (positive or negative)
• Majority outcome positive accepted /majority outcome negative
rejected or modified

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 Use Of Ethics

• Ethics is a system of principles that helps us tell right from wrong,

good from bad. Ethical values (i.e. honesty, trustworthiness,
responsibility) help guide us along a pathway to deal more effectively
with ethical dilemmas

• Ethics is all about the choices we make. We constantly face choices

that affect the quality of our lives. People aware that the choices that
we make have consequences, both for ourselves and others.

• Blind spots always there in society due to pressure.

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14
 Business Ethics

 it is an art and science for maintaining harmonious relationship

with society, its various groups and institutions as well as
recognizing the moral responsibility for the rightness and
wrongness of business conduct” -Wheeler.
 business ethics means the behavior of a businessman while
conducting a business, by observing morality in his business
activities.

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 Benefit Of Business Ethics Adaptation

• Enhance a Company's Reputation

• Build Customer Loyalty
• Positive Work Environment
• Strong ethical culture
• improves profitability 
• fosters business relations
• Cultivate strong team work and productivity
• Significant improvement to society

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Role of ethics in business studies…?

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 Ethics in Economics

• Economists completely adopt a value framework when beginning a

cost-benefit analysis.
• Ethical values and moral frameworks permeate exchange in
economic decision
• The study of ethics in economic life is growing exponentially
• As economists, we need to understand how ethical conduct reduces
transaction costs, enhances productivity and creates the social capital
that lubricates exchange.
• Economists play an important role in trying to improve society
• Normative economics examines the costs and benefits of alternative
policies.
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 Case study
The Ford Motor Company decided to produce the first lowest-priced car in the USA. The
Company President Mr. Lee Lacocca wanted to rush the development of a car costing
less than $2,000, as he promised the public that his company will bring out a car at that
price (as low as $2,000) and also fight the growing popularity of Volkswagen’s Beetle.
Preliminary tests showed that it involved an additional cost of $11 to enhance the safety
of the car.
He organized a meeting of company executives to decide how to reduce the cost below
$2,000. Many executives suggested that the company should sell the car at $2,011 but
include the safety feature. Some executives thought that the company should sell the car
at $2,000 as promised but exclude the safety feature. The company decided to go ahead
without the safety feature.
The car was released and sold at $2,000. After six months of release, one of the cars was
involved in an accident killing all the passengers. Competitors influenced newspapers to
publish this accident and the newspapers in the U.S.A. highlighted the absence of the
safety feature. This incident resulted not only in the loss of sales, but also in the closure
of the unit resulting in a loss of $250 million to the company. 20
 Activity ……
• list the benefits of business /economics ethics adaptation in
these group .
 Customers
 Employees
 Industry
 Business
 Society
 Government

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