Making Ethical Decisions

Everything we do, or don’t do, is a choice that can affect our lives and the lives of others. Ethical choices are based on principled decisions, not on self-interest or easy-returns. Such principles are based on universal values that have been held across time, culture, politics, religion and ethnicity. Any decision can be evaluated in terms of these universal values or core ethical principles — trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

To think clearly about ethical issues and develop practical approaches for dealing with ethical problems, it is important to speak a common language. The language of ethics includes terms such as: ethical values, non-ethical values, stakeholders, morals and mores. See the ethics glossary for explanations of commonly used terms in ethical thinking.

People need to understand that ethical principles are ground rules of decision making — not just factors to consider. Ethics has a price and sometimes people must choose between what they want and who they want to be. But ethics also has a value, which makes self-restraint and sacrifice, service and charity, worthwhile.

The Process of Making Ethical Decisions

Ethical decision making refers to the process of evaluating and choosing among alternatives in a manner consistent with ethical principles. In making ethical decisions it is necessary to:

Notice and eliminate unethical options - right vs wrong. Ethical thinking requires a sensitivity to perceive the ethical implications of decisions.
Evaluate complex, ambiguous and incomplete facts. It is often difficult to obtain all necessary information.
Select the best ethical alternative. Resolve any ethical dilemmas - right vs right. Not all ethical responses to a situation are equal.
Have ethical commitment, ethical consciousness, and ethical competency. Ethical thinking and decision making takes practice.

Noticing the ethical issues and being committed to act ethically are not always enough - reasoning and problem-solving skills are often necessary.

Some Steps to Thinking Ethically and Being Ethical