PERSONAL ETHICAL STATEMENT

Personal Ethical Statement Irwyn K. Sadien GEN200 October 17th, 2011 David Kuntz

2 Personal Ethical Statement Ethics are values that are nurtured in an individual by society and personal experience. I like to believe that I have grown up in an upstanding society where respect, honesty and fairness are valued above all, and my experience has taught me to cherish these values just as much. By nature, I am a very reflective individual, and I usually spend a lot of time thinking about the consequences of my actions before I make a move. I always try to encompass the good of the whole in whatever I do, and I was surprised to find that this was exactly what the ethical lens exercise says about my ethical code of conduct. According to the ethical lens inventory, my preferred ethical lenses are the results lens and the reputation lens. I tend to believe that an action is ethical if the results that come from it are good and create the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. To me, and ethical act is one which is consistent with good character. I prioritize efficiency, civility, integrity courage and loyalty; and I believe that people should strive to maximize the satisfaction of those who are depending on them while avoid conflicts of interest at all times (University of Phoenix, 2011). From the material in the Ethics Game, it seems that I also value sensibility to a certain degree, and that I occasionally follow my heart to make choices. I tend to use reason a lot as well in trying to find the rules of life. The Ethical lens inventory results say that I have the gift of compassion, and this helps me to put myself in the shoes of other when thinking about my actions. According to the results, I also use intuition and imagination, as well as information gleaned from past experience to solve problems and determine the next course of action (University of Phoenix, 2011).

3 The pitfalls I must be careful to avoid in trying to lead an ethical life are just as numerous as the good points pointed out by my ethical lenses. According to the exercise, I sometimes tend to be satisfied with too little good, and usually have unrealistic role expectations for other people. I also tend to fail to be accountable to those who are dependent on me, and can end up being complacent when Ive satisfied my own needs, leaving people hanging. The ethics game also points out that I run the risk of reducing decisions to a narrow minded cost benefit analysis, and that I am susceptible to insincere flattery. Failing to exercise free will could ultimately lead to greed and hard heartedness, and could end up basing my actions on what is politic or advantageous instead of what is right or just (University of Phoenix, 2011). To overcome these pitfalls, it is important that both my heart and my head agree when making decisions. I believe that I should take my time when building up my action plan, and it is by learning how to consider other perspectives that I will be able to meet up with my ideals and carry out my actions in the light of my ethical views.

4 Bibliography

University of Phoenix. (2011). Ethics Game [Multimedia]. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, GEN200 - Foundations for General Education and Professional Success website.