Critical Thinking And Ethics In The Public Sector Course At Southern Utah University

Question Three: Key Takeaways

The Critical Thinking and Ethics in the Public Sector course at Southern Utah University with Dr. Joel Vallett offers students a complete understanding of ethics and how it relates to public administration. Indeed, one of the key takeaways was the ability to comprehend that grand ethical theories are not the de facto answer to all moral dilemmas. Consequently, many in the philosophical discipline hold that a specific ethical framework is the answer to all moral issues. However, the takeaway from the course is that these theories vary, and each ethical instance is situational and may not be able to be remedied with a grand theory. According to Badaracco, many grand ethical theories are too general and end up being

For instance, one would not lie no matter the situation or consequence. In addition, if the consequence was bad, then it would not be the moral agent’s fault for what someone else does. In contrast, this strength can also be a weakness. An argument against deontology consists of a thought experiment about lying. If a person that desires to kill your brother knocks on your door and asks if your brother is inside. If your brother was inside and you held honesty as a categorical imperative, then you would be morally obligated to tell the killer the truth. In response, your brother would die. Deontology lack of concern for consequences serves as its strength and

One can remedy these biases and ethical problems by becoming educated in moral frameworks and how to put them to practical use. Learning about ethics is not a one-time objective but is an ongoing process that one would have to participate in for their whole existence. In addition, to becoming educated, one would also need to be self-aware, and realize that we are all fallible and can succumb to ethical cognitive biases.

Recommendations

After completing the Critical Thinking and Ethics in the Public Sector course at Southern Utah University I would recommend that leaders ought to make sure and follow the ethical guidelines that they demand from their followers. Indeed, there is a balance between the individual and the organization that the leader needs to pay close attention to. Moreover, the leader as an individual needs to abide by ethical standards and practice it, so that followers can emulate it in a practical fashion. When a student or teacher of ethics desires to educate others in relation to administrative ethics, I would recommend:

• A Foundation in Theory: Students should have a basic comprehension of the main ethical frameworks and be able to use them in a practical fashion.
• Know Thyself: Students should understand the importance of knowing how their history, ethnicity, and other social factors influence their ethical decision making.