Ethical reasoning is ensuring decisions are made fair in all
aspects. Decisions are made by the decision maker, but all parties are
involved. Ethical reasoning requires fairness, respect and trust. Ethics in
itself could be covered in company policy, but ethical reasoning would require
critical thinking on the part of each individual. Each person has their own degree of ethics and reasoning,
but not everyone is alike. Companies could make each employee follow policy,
but ethical reasoning is what contributes to each person’s fairness, trust and
respect.
Being fair with everyone rules out the misconception of favoritism. Fairness is the conformity to the rules or the standards and this should be a must in every situation. In my workplace the younger ranking members always talk about not being treated fair because of their rank. I always try to make sure that no matter your rank or any other identifying factors, that you are treated or held to the same standards as everyone else. Granted, the higher your rank the more responsibility you have on the job. So your rank being commensurate with your duties all should be held to the same standards.
In my Criminology and Deviant Behavior we had to write about Public Corruption. What were out thoughts about the amount of public corruption in our country, is it hidden or visible for all to see? When I think corruption I can automatically see unfairness and bribery. While we may not be able to see it, it is happening everyday. So it looks as if some people are getting away with murder while others are rotting in jail. Does this have to do with who you are or who you know? What status class are you in?
Regardless of your status, everyone deserves respect. The old adage say that you have to give respect to get respect. Respect can be defined as due regard for the feelings, wishes or rights of others. Many people respect others because they have to. I have heard many times in the military someone say they respect a person’s rank but not the person. This is saying that because you are higher ranking and I have to respect that, I do not respect you as a person. This is truly a two way street, you do have to give it to get it.
In my Correctional Theory and Practice class we had an assignment where I had to define Good Time. Good time is taking off of the length of a prisoner's sentence because of good behavior. You could also call this respectable behavior. If an inmate comes in and maintains a attitude of disrespect he cannot expect to reap any of the few benefits that are afforded to inmates. But if he comes in and does what he is told and "keep his nose clean" then he will reap some of the benefits.
Once you earn respect, trust should follow. Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something. Now that you are respected by others they should be able to trust you. They will be able to come to you for advice, professionally or personally. If the trust is ever broken then the respect that you had will be broken as well.
Trust must go both ways between parties. It was a little more difficult finding an artifact from criminal justice about trust. This field's primary customers are criminals. What does criminals and trust have in common? In my Correctional Theory class I had an assignment about parole. The question I had to answer was how is parole essentially a contract between the parolee and the state? Before the inmate is granted parole he has to go before a board (or a records review is done) and he has to explain why he is or is not ready to be "trusted" now in society. If he is granted parole great. If he is granted parole and the trust is broken then the contract is null and void and he returns to prison/jail.
Ethical reasoning will continue to play a vital role in my life. Not only in the work place but also in my personal life. Being a deacon in my local church I have to be able to talk with everyone differently based on their walks of life but the same based on my ethics. I have learned that because not everyone is the same we all want to be treated fair and with trust and respect. I will be sure to continue to apply all that I have learned and continue to treat people the way that I would like to be treated.
A future learning goal will be to continue to learn more about ethical reasoning and why some people make the choices they make. I know this will take more studying and maybe more education on this matter. I would like to know if people make choices based on what they believe or what they value or maybe even both. I would like to be able to immediately recognize when ethical reasoning should be used and when it is not being used properly. I am not sure if I can say whether or not it is being used properly because my right way could be someone else’s wrong way.
Being fair with everyone rules out the misconception of favoritism. Fairness is the conformity to the rules or the standards and this should be a must in every situation. In my workplace the younger ranking members always talk about not being treated fair because of their rank. I always try to make sure that no matter your rank or any other identifying factors, that you are treated or held to the same standards as everyone else. Granted, the higher your rank the more responsibility you have on the job. So your rank being commensurate with your duties all should be held to the same standards.
In my Criminology and Deviant Behavior we had to write about Public Corruption. What were out thoughts about the amount of public corruption in our country, is it hidden or visible for all to see? When I think corruption I can automatically see unfairness and bribery. While we may not be able to see it, it is happening everyday. So it looks as if some people are getting away with murder while others are rotting in jail. Does this have to do with who you are or who you know? What status class are you in?
Regardless of your status, everyone deserves respect. The old adage say that you have to give respect to get respect. Respect can be defined as due regard for the feelings, wishes or rights of others. Many people respect others because they have to. I have heard many times in the military someone say they respect a person’s rank but not the person. This is saying that because you are higher ranking and I have to respect that, I do not respect you as a person. This is truly a two way street, you do have to give it to get it.
In my Correctional Theory and Practice class we had an assignment where I had to define Good Time. Good time is taking off of the length of a prisoner's sentence because of good behavior. You could also call this respectable behavior. If an inmate comes in and maintains a attitude of disrespect he cannot expect to reap any of the few benefits that are afforded to inmates. But if he comes in and does what he is told and "keep his nose clean" then he will reap some of the benefits.
Once you earn respect, trust should follow. Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something. Now that you are respected by others they should be able to trust you. They will be able to come to you for advice, professionally or personally. If the trust is ever broken then the respect that you had will be broken as well.
Trust must go both ways between parties. It was a little more difficult finding an artifact from criminal justice about trust. This field's primary customers are criminals. What does criminals and trust have in common? In my Correctional Theory class I had an assignment about parole. The question I had to answer was how is parole essentially a contract between the parolee and the state? Before the inmate is granted parole he has to go before a board (or a records review is done) and he has to explain why he is or is not ready to be "trusted" now in society. If he is granted parole great. If he is granted parole and the trust is broken then the contract is null and void and he returns to prison/jail.
Ethical reasoning will continue to play a vital role in my life. Not only in the work place but also in my personal life. Being a deacon in my local church I have to be able to talk with everyone differently based on their walks of life but the same based on my ethics. I have learned that because not everyone is the same we all want to be treated fair and with trust and respect. I will be sure to continue to apply all that I have learned and continue to treat people the way that I would like to be treated.
A future learning goal will be to continue to learn more about ethical reasoning and why some people make the choices they make. I know this will take more studying and maybe more education on this matter. I would like to know if people make choices based on what they believe or what they value or maybe even both. I would like to be able to immediately recognize when ethical reasoning should be used and when it is not being used properly. I am not sure if I can say whether or not it is being used properly because my right way could be someone else’s wrong way.
public_corruption.docx | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
File Type: | docx |
good_time.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
parole.docx | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
File Type: | docx |