Introduction to Ethics

1. Introduction to Ethics Adapted from Mastering Public Speaking, Grice and Skinner

2. Definition • What we talk about when we talk about ethics. • Take a moment to write a definition of “ethics” in your notes. • When is the last time you made an “ethical” choice?

3. Definition cont. • Determine right from wrong • What you do when no one is looking • What are some of your ethical beliefs? • Applying ethics • Do we always follow our ethics? • Downloading • “Extra” discount • What tempts us away from following our ethics?

4. Scenario 1 • State representative Joan Richards is running for state senate. She was voted best representative by the Better Government League (BGL). The BGL voted her opponent, incumbent Mike Letner one of the ten worst senators in the state. Letner has taken a “no new taxes” pledge and has challenged Richards to do the same. Richards thinks taxes may have to be raised in order to keep the state solvent. But unless she promises to oppose new taxes, she will lose the election. • What should Richards do? • What is the ethical thing to do?

5. Scenario 2 • Sally works in the admissions office of an elite university. One of her jobs is to compile the statistics used in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. The stats she compiled for the next edition of the rankings make it look like her university will decline in the rankings, which will lower the number of applicants to the university. It could also mean a loss of millions of dollars in alumni donations because of a loss of prestige. By all accounts the university has improved the quality of their undergraduate instruction in the last year, and many people feel that the criteria used in the rankings don’t accurately reflect the quality of the education. Sally’s boss wants to change the way they report the stats in order to keep their rank consistent. • What should Sally do? • What is the ethical thing to do?