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Ethics
Ethics Glossary LRE3-5
Ethics
 “that
branch of philosophy dealing with
values relating to human conduct, with
respect to the rightness and wrongness of
certain actions and to the goodness and
badness of the motives and ends of such
actions” (Ethics Glossary)
Business Ethics
 “that
branch of philosophy dealing with
values relating to human conduct as it
applies to business transactions”
(Ethics Glossary”)
Situational Ethics
 “moral
principles that vary with
circumstances”
(Ethics Glossary)
Ethics and Law
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Ethics
Imposed internally.
Law
Imposed externally.
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Concerned with motives.
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Concerned with acts and
conduct.
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Concerned with interest
of individual and society.
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Concerned with the
interest of society.
ABFSE
 “The
basic premise that ethics is a major
part of funeral service practice is derived
from the idea that the funeral professional
is entrusted with serving the bereaved
survivors and the proper treatment and
disposition of remains.”
University of Minnesota
(1996)
 “ethical
conduct and practice ranked
highest among 404 task statements that
funeral directors evaluated
 1996
and 1997 Gallop polls showed that
the public ranked FDs among the top 10
professions with high or very-high ratings
for honesty and ethics
Funeral Ethics Organization
 www.funeralethics.org
 Nonprofit
educational organization
 Purpose: “promote ethical dealings in all
death-related transactions by working for
better understanding of ethical
issues……as well as a better
understanding between these and the
general public.”
FEO Mission
 “Ethical
dealings respect the feelings and
emotions of the bereaved, provide respect
to the deceased’s body, and refrain from
taking economic advantage of consumers
making funeral or memorial purchases.”
Manual of Professional Practice
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Sections:
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sphere and function of FS practitioner
ethical practice
responsibility to: family, clergy, cemetery/crematory,
governmental and public agencies, press, and public
respect for the deceased
operation of the funeral home
publicity and promotion
deference to family’s choice of FD
funeral involving joint director responsibilties
defamation of others
inducing breach of agreement
Models for Ethical Decision-making
 Most
people do not have much difficulty in
telling what’s absolutely right from what’s
absolutely wrong.
 It
is the “gray” areas that are a challenge.
Kohlberg’s Moral Development
Model
3
developmental levels (each level has 2
stages)
Stage: “a stage of moral
development in which the individual is
characterized as not understanding the
rules or feeling a sense or obligation to
them. Looking to experience only that
which is good or pleasant or to avoid that
which is painful.”
 Pre-moral
Pre-conventional Level
(Stages 1 and 2)
 “a
stage of moral development in which
moral reasoning is based on reward and
punishment from those in authority”
Conventional Level
(Stages 3 and 4)
 “a
stage of moral development in which
the expectations of the social group
(family, community, and nation) are
supported and maintained”
Postconventional/Principles
Level (Stages 5 and 6)
 “a
stage of moral development in which
the individual considers universal moral
principles which supersede the authority of
the group”
Dr. Carol Gilligan
 Kohlberg’s
theories biased against women
 “Theory of Moral Development in Women”
 women: “morality of care”
 men: “morality of justice and rights”
Morality of Care
 emphasized
interconnectedness
 girls early connection in identity formation
with their mothers
 girls are less concerned with “fairness”
Morality of Justice
 concerned
with the interactions of
autonomous individuals
 boys separate and individuate themselves
from their mother
 concerned with issues of “power” and
“inequality”
Dr. Albert Schweitzer
5
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basic criteria:
human nature: how would different “times”
view the ethical question
consequences of the act
universal convictions
moral feelings
religious/philosophical convictions
Robert Ninker
 Executive
4
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Director of the FEO
ways:
What do the laws, rules or regulations dictate
in this situation?
What would the community think of the action
I am about to take if it were to become
common knowledge?
The conscience check.
Summarize.
Rotary International “Four Way
Test”
 Is
it the truth?
 Is
it fair to all concerned?
 Will
it build goodwill and better
friendships?
 Will
it be beneficial to all concerned?
Individual (Personal) Ethics
 Foundation
for a person’s moral compass
 Develop over time and influenced by:
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Culture
Theism/Non-theism
Citizenship
Family Relationships
Experience
Culture
 “the
rules, ideas, beliefs shared by
members of society” “learned directly and
indirectly” (Ethics Glossary)
 dictates ethical norms
 customs and traditions become ingrained
in a person’s psyche
Theism/Non-theism
 Theism:
“belief in a god or gods”
 Non-theism: “ a philosophy that does not
focus on the worship or a god or gods”
(Ethics Glossary)
 religion provides an established set of
moral rules/spiritual laws
 rewards in the afterlife
Citizenship
 “the
character of an individual viewed as a
member of society; behavior in terms of
duties, obligations and functions of a
citizen”
(Ethics Glossary)
 society creates laws that citizens are
expected to follow
 “dutiful citizen”
Family Relationships
 Parents
are usually the first to voice and
demonstrate ethical boundaries.
 Children absorb the actions of their family
which contributes to their sense of
morality.
Experience
 Life
events can alter or change personal
ethics.
 Emotions
and personal understanding
may cause a powerful shift in beliefs.
Professionalism
4
“easy” ways to compromise professional
ethical obligations:
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“If it’s not illegal, it must be ethical”.
“Do whatever it takes, the end justifies the
means”.
“Nobody will find out.”
“It must be alright if my boss says it is (or the
competition does it)”.