Ethics V. Right and Wrong
As the speed of change in the world increases, there is the debate with regard to whether long-held notions of ethical or unethical and right or wrong still hold true. The simplest explanation of ethics is a system of moral standards. Ethics have an impact on how individuals make decisions and lead their day-to-day living. The main concern of ethics is to enable a person distinguish between what is right and wrong. The term ethics is a derivative of the Greek word ethos, which has several meanings such as disposition, customs, habits or characters (Biswas, 2015). Ethics are important in the society since they conceal various dilemmas. Some of the dilemmas concealed are inclusive of how to live a good life, the language of right and wrong, our responsibilities and rights as people in the society, and moral choices that help distinguish good and bad. Accordingly, this paper presents an argument for my agreement as well as disagreement with the proposition that ethical is equal to right, and unethical is equal to wrong.
There are various points that support the proposition that ethical is right. The first point is that ethics can provide a moral map. Most moral problems are challenging to deal with since in most cases they jog the mind of an individual. Ethics act as a guideline to allow people view issues from a different perspective (Biswas, 2015). This is because they offer people with a plan that they can use to find their way through ethical issues. Another point that supports the proposition that ethical is right is the fact that ethics may pinpoint a disagreement. Ethics enable people to identify the point at which they disagree, which is necessary for finding a solution to issues. Ethical is right because it promotes the six pillars of the character of an individual. These include fairness, trustworthiness, respect, accountability, citizenship and caring. The other point supporting the proposition that ethical is right is that ethical individuals usually abide by the set code of ethics in their daily life. Ethical is right because the display of ethics show respect and it enables the development of the right attitude at work (Downe, Cowell, & Morgan, 2016).
On the other hand, there are points that support the proposition that unethical is wrong. The first point is that unethical is wrong since it involves something that stays considered as not right by the society. Unethical is also wrong because it is an act which may result in confrontation amongst individuals who view others as unethical. The other point that supports the proposition that unethical is wrong is that an unethical person is one who does not adhere to the rules of an organization. Unethical is also wrong since it surrounds the involvement of people in bad habits. Another point, which supports the proposition that unethical is wrong, is the fact that it is offensive to people. Another point to support the proposition that unethical is wrong is that it does not entail doing well to other people, which may be hurtful or cause harm (Eisenbeiß, & Brodbeck, 2014).
There are various points that are against the proposition that ethical is equal to right. The first point is that ethics serves as a source of strength for a particular group. Hence, ethical is not necessarily right. In most instances, the use of ethics is normally as a weapon that some people may use against others. This, in turn, makes some individuals view others as immoral or less human or consider them as people who do not deserve respect. This may not be right in some situations hence making it clear that ethical is not equal to right, at all times. The other point against the proposition that ethical is right is that ethics do not guarantee right answers. This is because ethics do not always reveal the correct answer to moral issues within a society. Ethical considerations do not necessarily give a single answer to a particular problem. The application of ethics is usually to some instances since it is a set of principles set to govern decisions on what is right or wrong. The use of ethics is the elimination of confusion and for the clarification of any issues that may arise in a particular situation. What follows is for a person to come up with his or her own conclusion (Carroll, & Buchholtz, 2014). Every person is likely to draw a different conclusion implying that ethical is not always right. The other point against the proposition that ethical is right is the fact that ethics might give more than one solution. The main issue is that most people want a specific correct answer to an ethical issue. However, there might be a number of correct answers or worse ones and a person ought to make a choice.
Some points are also against the proposition that unethical is wrong. One of the points is that unethical is not necessarily wrong in some instances depending on the specific case. The unethical option may at times be the last one an individual has. The other point that opposes the proposition that unethical is wrong is that it may relief an individual. My position is to support the proposition that ethical is equal to right and unethical equals to wrong. This is because in most cases the application of ethics ensures that the activities of an individual are right and acceptable within the society. Being ethical is necessary as it deals with the moral standards that an individual ought to live their life. It is important to apply ethics since they ensure that a person does what is right and acceptable in a society. Meanwhile unethical is wrong since the overall society does not regard it as right. This is because what is unethical may result in conflicts within a community. Unethical is wrong since it may go against the will of a certain group of people.
Accordingly, it is important for people to become ethical in order to be able to do what is right in most scenarios. I support that ethical is right since I trust that ethics are vital for peaceful co-existence among people living within a society (Ferrell, & Fraedrich, 2015). In addition, being ethical ensures that individuals live a good life and that they are responsible for their actions. Ethical is right because it understands the language of right and wrong. Unethical is wrong since it may lead to the violation of rights of some people who highly regard ethical principles.
References
Biswas, W. (2015). Ethical Governance and Ethical Consciousness-A Strategic Tool for Organizational Sustainability and Development. Asian Journal of Research in Business Economics and Management, 5(12), 67-73. Doi: 10.5772/37972
Carroll, A., & Buchholtz, A. (2014). Business and society: Ethics, sustainability, and stakeholder management. Nelson Education.
Downe, J., Cowell, R., & Morgan, K. (2016). What Determines Ethical Behavior in Public Organizations: Is It Rules or Leadership? Public Administration Review, 76 (6), 898-909. Doi:10.1111/puar.12562
Eisenbeiß, S. A., & Brodbeck, F. (2014). Ethical and unethical leadership: A cross-cultural and cross-sectoral analysis. Journal of Business Ethics, 122 (2), 343-359. Doi: 10.1007/s10551-013-1740-0
Ferrell, O. C., & Fraedrich, J. (2015). Business ethics: Ethical decision-making & cases. Nelson Education.