Ethics in Decision-Making

Ethical decision-making involves choosing actions that are right, fair, and good. It's a complex process affected by individual values, cultural norms, and situational pressures.

Consequentialism asserts that the morality of an action is contingent on its outcomes. The doctrine of 'the ends justify the means' is a quintessential consequentialist approach.

Deontology focuses on the inherent morality of actions, not outcomes. It's linked to Immanuel Kant, who posited that actions are moral if they align with a universal moral law.

Aristotle's virtue ethics emphasizes moral character over rules or consequences. Here, ethical decisions stem from virtuous traits like courage, honesty, and compassion.

Cognitive biases can impair ethical decision-making. For instance, the 'confirmation bias' leads us to favor information that supports existing beliefs, potentially overlooking ethical concerns.

Structured models, like the PLUS framework (Policies, Legal, Universal, Self), guide individuals through an ethical decision process, encouraging comprehensive evaluation of potential actions.

Companies with strong ethical cultures outperform others financially. Unethical decisions can lead to scandals, eroding public trust and shareholder value. Ethical businesses attract talent and investors.