This weeks reading was not only about ethics in general, but the application of ethics in the technical workplace, legal issues, and everyday decision making. One of my favorite parts of the article was the 'Golden Rule', which stated "That you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you." I believe that our ethics are first learned from parents and culture at an early age, and you are responsible for your actions whether right or wrong. The article goes on to talk about three kinds of ethics; personal, social, and conservation. The most dominant kind of ethics in the technical workplace is social because your actions can not only reflect your character and values, but also the overall image of your company. It was also very interesting to read about the conservation ethics and how the health and welfare around us should be carefully considered everyday.
Also discussed was the issue of Copyright laws in technical communication and plagiarism, which can be utilized for our white papers. When using an individuals creative work you must give them credit and ultimately ask permission to avoid legal problems. As students, we fall under the 'Fair Use Clause' of the copyright law which allows us to use the workings of others in the case of research, criticism, teaching, and scholarship. While creating our white paper we must give credit where it is due to avoid plagiarism. We must cite our sources in order to use another individual's work, and if this is not done properly can be considered academic dishonesty. Overall, our group must work together to avoid being unethical and make sure to solve any ethical dilemmas that might occur during our project.
My morals...
When I looked back at myself and my ethics after reading your response I knew exactly where I had gotten them from. I knew that my parents were the biggest factors on my ethics and how I view the differences between right and wrong. People need to be held responsible for their decisions, no matter if they were the right ones or the wrong ones. People always talk about how bad a person is. Well it is not the people themselves who are always bad, it’s just the fact that they have poor morals and will always do what is better for them no matter how it affects other people.
The Value of Ethics
The reference to the “Golden Rule” in this week’s assigned readings was also my favorite, and likely most applicable part. I think that the literal definition of the Golden Rule is precisely what one must understand in order to know what ethics are. Also, as you’ve said here and the readings suggested, “ethics are first learned from our parents and culture at an early age, and you are responsible for your actions whether right or wrong.” This is obviously true and important to remember. Ethics directly influence our actions, regardless if we are aware of it or not. As Joey M. mentioned before me, “People need to be held responsible for their decisions, no matter if they were the right ones or the wrong ones.” If we don’t realize the value of ethics, it will come back to haunt us.
The Universal Golden Rule
I like how you mentioned the reference in TCT to the "golden rule", stating that one should do unto others as they would have done unto them. When I hear this "rule", it immediately reminds of me religion, and the teachings of Jesus, as many of us were likely taught and constantly reminded of during our childhoods. I think this really reinforces the fact that, as you state, ethics are learned at generally a young age, and derive from the main sources of parents and culture. I know as a child, and coming up at a private high school, that religion played a strong role in my ethical development.
Laws vs. Ethics
You all are right when it come to learning your ethics, values, and the Golden Rule as a child from your parents I think you can also notice that a lot of times children treat people better than adults do (this is not always true). I think this is because as you get older, the Golden Rule changes from “Do unto other as you would have them do unto you,” to “Those with the gold make the rules.” The problem with being immoral is that it is not always against the law. For most people, once something is justified in their head, it is right to them. A lot of people don’t try to be moral, but simply legal; if it’s not against the law, then it’s acceptable.
Those with the gold make the rules
I agree that most children develop early values and beliefs based on their parents and their actions, and these in turn form their morals and later ethics. I'll also agree that many people change the golden rule to as you state "Those with the gold make the rules". But this itself is an ethical issue. As people move up in the chain they have more and more power over more and more people, and this power can be corrupting. The only thing standing between a company manufacturing a cheaper but less safe version of a toy for children could be the Manager's ethics. Often times for people in powerful positions the choice comes down to money or ethics, and many simply take the money.
The Golden Rule falls short
I actually don't think the Golden Rule in particular is better at explaining ethics than other incomplete definitions.
For one, as Jeff points out in his comment about etiquette, the Golden Rule has other applications that don't have anything to do with ethics. The example from that discussion works perfectly; not wanting to stand up and take credit because you don't want to make someone else look bad isn't really an ethics issue. In fact, the Golden Rule can even sometimes lead to an unethical path of action. For example, wouldn't it be unethical to keep your mouth shut to protect a friend who hurt someone in a drunk driving accident and then drove away, even though you are doing it because that person is your friend and you wouldn't want to be ratted out by them?
I also think the Golden Rule is incomplete because not all ethics issues have an object that can reciprocate. Sure, you shouldn't steal because you wouldn't want a person to steal from you. So by that logic, why shouldn't you litter?