Introduction
All of us make choices each and every day. A number of our picks are sensible choices concerning what is going to turn out most excellent, in various ways. Those choices do not essentially entail to be correct or incorrect. They are all about effectiveness, accessibility, realism or inclination.
But then, a lot of our decisions touch on doing the right thing. Every one of these decisions entails thousands of points spinning within the brain. In a blink of an eye the human mind evaluates the details, looks at one’s thoughts, assesses the probable outcome(s), weighs the alternatives against one’s convictions and priorities, mulls over what other persons may think, and offers the cue for action (Arizona Character Education Foundation, 2010).
Choices take place so fast but the end result(s) could stay put for a lifetime. This is the reason as to why watchful deliberation is vital. It establishes the course of virtually every aspect of human life, and thus, the importance that ethical choosing holds.
Ethics is a division of philosophy that concentrates on integrity. Integrity encompasses various ideas such as good and evil, right and wrong, etcetera.
Ethics and ethical choice(s)
Ethics refers to a band of values that guides people on the way in which they should go about in making various choices. There is no single individual with strong personality who goes about minus a code of morals.
An ethical choice involves one doing more that he or she has to do. It is choosing to do what one has to do. Since operating with honor at times means not doing what one would like to do, ethical choices call for self-discipline (Miller, 2009, p. 34).
An ethical choice entails making out the disparity between right and wrong. It is a dedication to do all that is right, respectable and principled. It involves one asking themselves whether they are ready to bear the price for going ahead with an unethical decision.
The right or the ethical choice calls for guts. This is because it can cost an individual more in acquaintance, wealth, stature or gratification as opposed to what he or she may be willing to part with. The ethical decision is not normally the easiest way to go, however, getting used to saying no when one feels like saying yes builds character.
How ethical choices are made
Ethical choices require time and measured deliberation. To begin with, one has to reflect on the effect of his or her actions on all those involved and/or will be impinged on by the decision. Essentially, one has to establish whoever probably stands to be assisted or hurt, with the main aim being to ensure fairness to all.
There are quite a number of basic rules for life and they include; trust, respect, accountability, evenhandedness, and caring, among others. An ethical choice involves the decision-maker questioning whether the choice taken is trustworthy, respectful, responsible, and caring (Arizona Character Education Foundation, 2010). Ethical choices which take into account the mentioned values outweigh and take precedence over unethical ones. The long term outweighs the short term.
Once all these steps are followed and one is still uncertain if they will be making an ethical choice, then one would rather opt for the alternative that will turn out the majority good for a majority of people. To do away with unethical choices one is required to ignore matters having nothing to do with ethics for instance authority and fame and go with the most moral alternative left.
Reference List
Arizona Character Education Foundation. (2010). Making Ethical Decisions. Web.
Miller, C. (2009). The Conditions of Moral Realism. The Journal of Philosophical Research, 34.1: 123-155. Print.