Ethical behavior is important to maintain as an individual conducts business in the modern business environment. In order to adhere to a high degree of ethical accountability and standards, individuals need to be aware of their own individual ethical perspective and have an understanding of all four ethical perspectives. The four ethical perspectives are Character, Obligation, Results, and Equity. The individual perspective of the author is Character. To understand the differences between the differing ethical perspectives, an evaluation of each is warranted along with a breakdown of the individual ethical perspective of the author. Through these perspectives being discussed in greater detail it will be possible to better understand the importance of ethical behavior and the differing perspectives that individuals have in determining if behavior is ethical.
Of the four ethical perspectives being evaluated, Character is the first to be. According to the Williams Institute, the Character perspective is one in which individuals’ base their”perspective on what it is good to be rather than what it is good to do” (Williams, 2008). This means that the individual believes that judging a person should be based on more than actions to determine if they are ethical but on the individuals character as well (Williams, 2008). When looking at the traits of individuals to assess theirethics, several factors that an individual with this ethical perspective will be looking to find are justice, honor, and virtue (Williams, 2008). Individuals who have Character as their ethical perspective believe that a person’s character is more important that their actions and believe that a person’s actions alone cannot make them ethical without an underlying desire to uphold good moral values (Williams, 2008). Character is an important ethical perspective but understanding of all ethical perspectives is important in recognizing that each individual has a different perspective on how the world works.
Obligation is the second ethical perspective to be discussed. Individuals who possessthis perspective will find that they focus “on an individuals’ obligation to do what is morally right” (Williams, 2008). Individuals who have this perspective will focus on what the intentions are of the individual in performing ethical acts without regard to the results that are achieved (Williams, 2008). According to the William Institute, individuals possessing this perspective believe that ethical principles will be “respectful of human dignity” (Williams, 2008) and “committed to promoting individual freedom and autonomy” (Williams, 2008). In addition to the perspective of obligation to ethics, the Results and Equity perspectives also need to be evaluated.
Individuals who possess the Results perspective differ in their idea of ethics based on the perception that the results that are achieved and the consequences of an individual’s actions dictate ethical performance (Williams, 2008). Individuals with this perspective are believe that the results of the actions are most important and that achievement of the greatest good for society is the best measure of a person’s ability to make ethical decisions (Williams, 2008). Individuals of this perspective believe that true ethical behavior will focus on improving the well-being of society as a whole with the tangible, measurable results no absolute standards of right and wrong The Results perspective is an interesting approach to defining ethical performance and the Equity approach is equally fascinating.
The Equity perspective has a different approach to ethics than the previous perspective in that ethics is measured through a practical approach through which the consequences of individuals’ actions are an essential measure of their ethical and moral standard (Williams, 2008). People of the Equity perspective believe that “no absolute standards of right and wrong” (Williams, 2008) with a tendency to “distrust institutionalized codes of ethics” (Williams, 2008). This perspective does not look to a common set of moral and ethical standards but instead views ethics according to the analysis of all possible alternatives to a decision (Williams, 2008) . Ethical behavior is of paramount importance in any form of interaction with others and the differing perspectives that individuals have in determining if behavior is ethical can be profound. No one perspective on determining whether behavior is ethical is the one true way just as there is no set ethical code worldwide. Many people in the world have a similar sense of what is right and wrong but there are variations within any culture and subgroup relating to ethical issues. Most individuals will agree that the foundation of ethical behavior is respect for others and a sense of commitment to the greater good of society. The differences lie in what an individual believes to be for the good of society compared to the beliefs of another. To achieve a high degree of ethical accountability and standards individuals need to be aware of their own individual ethical perspective. A firm understanding of the four ethical perspectives relating to ethical behavior is also important. The four ethical perspectives are Character, Obligation, Results, and Equity all view ethical behavior in a differing light than the other perspective yet each focuses on the ability of the individual to act in an ethical manner. No matter what perspective an individual possesses, the measures of ethical performance of an individual correlates directly to a human belief in what it is to decide right from wrong and each perspective decides what to accept as moral behavior through some manner of evaluation.
References
The Williams Institute (2008). Perspective Descriptions. Retrieved November 21, 2008, from
http://www.ethics-twi.org/EducationalResources/Students/PerspectiveDescriptions/tabid/195/
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