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How to APPLY ETHICS MODELS?

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by: Melda
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Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 Time: 2:39 AM

APPLYING ETHICS MODELS                   

 

Introduction

The essay describes a situation whereby Ian stalwart has to make a decision that involves some ethical issues in his organization. He is in a dilemma and does not know what he should clearly do concerning what he already knows. Ian is a midlevel federal agency administrator and he is uniquely positioned to evaluate the actions of all the employees in his organization. His discovery on some individuals within the agency covering up fraudulent government contracts has placed him in a dilemma since ha cannot disclosed such information which is classified. However Ian who has already alerted his superiors and also his co-workers cannot leak the information since this could easily cost him his job as well as he could be charged with federal crimes. 

Evaluation of the ethical problem

There are various ethical issues in this case and they are inclusive of the following; first and foremost Ardent R Porter who is an investigatory journalist with a respectable newspaper company gleans and also publishes information from a list of his contacts such as Ian and this could be unethical since he does not have the permission to access and also publish such information. Secondly Ian stalwart who is a federal agency administrator passes some information on questionable and also illegal government actions which are taken by the government employees and also agencies which is hard to come by to Porter. This is also an issue of ethical conduct since the information relayed to the news reporter is private and confidential and it is also only accessible to very few people who may not be willing to pass the information especially to the public as this might deface the government procedures. On the other hand the central ethical issue in this case is that since Ian has made a discovery of some individuals in the agency who are working to try and cover up an illegally awarded, over-billed it is against the federal laws and also the agency policies. Ian is faced up with a task of either refraining from further discussing the subject with his superiors and disregarding his findings or telling Mr. Porter the truth about the fraudulent contracts. Ian is torn in between his loyalty to his organization and telling out the truth to Porter who will make the fraudulent contracts public. (Herman 1993)

Optional responses or actions to be taken in resolving the central ethical issue

First of all Ian should consider the possible consequences of his actions if he chooses to leak out the information. He can also opt to go and tell my Porter on his findings then he will be further held accountable as the prime suspect for the leak and it could easily cost him his job as well as be charged with federal crimes. (Rink 1992)

The stakeholders to the central ethical issue

The stake holders to this ethical issue include;

1. Mr. Ardent Porter – Mr. Porter who is the investigatory journalist is the one who is involved with gleaning the information from Mr. Stalwart and writing a story on the fraudulent contracts and the ability to cover them up.
2. Mr. Ian Stalwart- Mr. stalwart is the key stakeholder who has the information on the ongoing fraudulent contracts and the efforts to cover them up. He is however torn between publicizing the matter which has been deemed classified by some agencies and congressional channels and illegally discussing the issue with Mr Porter who is not from his agency.
3. Mr. Stalwart co-workers- the co-workers to Mr. Stalwart have already been alerted about the issue by Mr. Stalwart through his questions and some of them are also aware of his relationship with Mr. Porter. But none of them seem to support Mr. Stalwart in any way and they prefer to stay silent on the issue.
4. Mr. Stalwart’s superiors- Mr. Stalwart superiors are also aware of the issue that is going on and Mr. Stalwart’s relationship with Mr. Porter. But none of them also seem to support Mr. Stalwart in any way and they prefer to stay silent on the issue like the co-workers.
5. The Washington-area newspaper Capital News Briefly-this is the newspaper that Mr. porter works for and it would be the one through which Mr. porter will write the story about the fraudulent contracts and the efforts to cover them up.
6. The government – The fraudulent contracts were illegally awarded by the government during the early months of the Iraq war and some individuals within the agency that Stalwart works for are trying to cover them up since they were over-billed.
7. The federal agency where Mr. stalwart works- In the federal agency where Stalwart works there are some individuals who are trying to cover up the illegally awarded and also the over billed government contracts. Thus the agency is also a key stakeholder in the central ethical issue.

Identification and application of the relevant ethical principles

Immanuel Kant’s theory

• summary of the theory

His ethical theory implies that giving an action moral worth is not the outcome that is achieved by the action but the motive that is behind the action. The theory has an aspect of reason and freedom which Kant stated that they played a central role in his ethics since the possibility of the moral judgments presupposed it. However without the assumption of freedom then reason could not work. The second aspect of his theory involved the duality of the human situation and this is a question of the moral actions being not an issue for the two classes of beings. The theory further claims that rightness or wrongness as concepts which apply to situations one has control over do not apply and the actions of a purely rational being are in perfect accord with the moral principles by contrast. The theory also covers the aspect of the good will and it states that will is the faculty of acting in accordance to a conception of the law. (Francis and Landesman 1989)

The application of the core principles of the theory to the ethical central dilemma

In the application of this theory to the central ethical dilemma that is surrounding Ian Stalwart should take up the step of sharing the story with porter who will then publish it to expose the scandal. According to this theory Ian will be making a moral decision and also a moral judgment if he acts accordingly and not silently watch the scandal go on.

(Wood 1999)

Virtue ethics theory

• summary of the theory

The virtue ethics theory is concerned mainly with pursuing a particular type of the morally inclusive excellence. . This approach to ethics however can be thought of as exhibiting four basic attributes. First and foremost the primary ethics attributes have a very strong emphasis on the on the importance of some generals accepted character virtues. It is through the perfecting and also honing of these virtues which makes an individual become truly ethical. The theory also has a very strong emphasis on the existence of an active community which nurtures these virtues. The virtue ethics theory also makes it very clear that in the moral life one cannot fully rely on merely the rules and the guidelines.

• the application of the core principles of the theory to the ethical central dilemma

According to the core principles of this theory the ethical central dilemma in the stated case would require two approaches which are the agent based approach and also the action based approach. In the action based approach the agency where Ian works will has developed some guidelines and also rules that constrains Ian decisions to go public on the fraudulent issue. Thus through this approach Ian will however not be able to take any action because of the laid rules and regulations. On the agent based approach then the virtuous agent who is Ian is involved in a continual quest in finding a balance in making a decision on the fraudulent deals cover up. By telling porter about his discovery Ian will be attempting to pursue a certain kind of excellence which entails exercising a sound and moral judgment that will be guided by his courage, integrity, fairness, consistency and also wisdom. (Garofalo and Geuras 1999)

Egoism ethical theory

• summary of the theory

According to the egoism theory there is a belief that self interest is the main foundation of morality and all individuals should therefore look after their own self interests without forcefully interfering in any way with the other people’s rights and the society in general. The theory also further claims that individuals should always act in their own best interests and it is a theory of wrong and rights that advocates for individuals to maximally use their long term personal good. In this theory there are arguments that the sole motive which governs the voluntary human conduct is love and thus the human beings are incapable of not acting in their own individual interests. This will then make them to always act in their own interests. (Schwartz 1990)

• the application of the core principles of the theory to the ethical central dilemma

In the application of the core principles of this theory to the ethical central dilemma that Ian is then needs to do the most reasonable thing and act in his long term self interest. This will however not make him in any way be unreasonable in making a decision that is morally right such as exposing the hidden fraudulent contracts that were illegally awarded. On the other hand in acting on ethical egoism then Ian needs to predict the long term consequences of his actions which will include losing his job and also facing the federal charges. (George and Richard 1993)

The wisest option in resolving the ethical dilemma

The wisest option for resolving the ethical dilemma would be to confront the corrupt deal by sharing the information with Mr. Porter who will then make it public irrespective of the consequences which would befall him later. This is because by keeping quiet and not taking any action then he will be acting immorally in accordance to the egoism ethical theory. Secondly by taking such an action he will be preventing such a problem from occurring in the future since the concerned parties would be scared to get involved. Similarly by taking such an action then Ian will; be ensuring that he acts for his main interests which are a main foundation of ethics and also morality.   Ian also fears that if he does release the information he might loose his job. Surprisingly no one within the government is willing to tell the truth about the fraudulent contracts and without that no one can be held accountable in any way for their actions. This can also lead to very little being one in preventing such fraud in the future. Ian should however not fear in any way loosing his job or even being charged with federal crimes and he should go ahead and get the story to the news media which is the only logical thing to do at the moment.

Logical fallacies

• argumentum ad antiquitatem (the argument to antiquity or tradition)

“But it has always been done that way; I don’t see the need of you exposing this whole issue.” Said by Ian’s superiors

• argumentum ad homien (argument directed at the person)

“Those who are opposing my move to expose this scandal are a couple of fascists!” said by Mr. Ian Stalwart.

• argumentum ad numerum (argument to appeal to numbers)

“Well maybe I might be wrong so I would rather keep what I know to myself” said by Mr. Ian stalwart

• argumentum ad verecundian (argument or appeal to authority)

“You maybe my superiors and you may also have the support from my co-workers but this is not the right thing to do it is morally unacceptable” said by Mr. Ian stalwart

• argumentum ad nauseum (argument to the point of disgust)

“Sir being involved with the fraudulent government contract that was illegally awarded and also over billed is wrong, and it is wrong, and it is very wrong.”  Said by Mr. Ian stalwart

 

 

Reference:

George, D and Richard T. (1993): Competing With Integrity in International Business, New York, Oxford University Press.

 

Schwartz, B. (1990): King Midas in America, in Enhancing Business Ethics.  New York, Plennum Press.

 

Garofalo, C. and. Geuras, D (1999): Ethics in the Public Service, The Moral Mind at Work. Washington, D. C, Georgetown University Press.

 

Francis, L. and Landesman. B. (1989): Ethical Issues in the Professions. Englewood Cliffs, N. J, Prentice Hall.

 

Rink, D. (1992): Sedgwick and the Rationale for Rational Egoism, in Essays on Henry Sedgwick. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

 

Herman, B. (1993): The Practice of Moral Judgment, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press.

 

Wood, A. (1999): Kant’s Ethical Thought, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

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