Many times in life we make
decisions based off of what we want in the “now”. This could be a decision
about a job, school, marriage, and a host of other situations. Regardless of
the situation, we sometimes want what we want and when. This sometimes comes
with a price if we don’t analyze our thoughts and consider the best situation
that best fits us. Depending on our individual morals everyone may have a
different answer as to what is the most ethical decision to make.
The ethics triad is a wonderful
tool for anyone to analyze their choices and thoughts before they make a big decision.
The triad includes: results-based analysis, rule-based analysis, and
virtue-based analysis. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the three step
process, each step focuses on a different approach to your choices. The results
based decision is used when attempting to seek the greater good for the
majority of society. Then there is the rule based approach, which is used to
follow all legal rules and regulations governed by the law. Lastly, there is
the virtue based ethics, this is used for personal development and well-being
of self.
The big thing to remember about all
of these approaches is that each of them are choices. The final decisions ultimately
have to be made by you. All these approaches do is give you three different directions
as to where you can go and the possible cost to benefit that may come along
with each choice. The decision that one chooses to make all depends on the mindset
and what they are trying to accomplish.
Watching
the movie Training Day will or any other movie makes you look at things through
differently lenses. Training Day makes you wonder why Jake Hoyt would stay
around so long after he noticed that Alonzo Harris was as corrupt as he was. It
also makes you wonder if the only reason why he decided to do something in the
end was because the murder was going to be put on him. Another major question
that came to mind was what made Alonzo so corrupt? Was it money, his ego, or
was he trying to take care of home?
Honestly,
until this year I have never heard of the ethical triad. However, one of the
most influential people in my life has always made decisions based on these
three approaches. That person who I honor and respect is my grandfather. Whenever
anyone in the family has a troubling issue he always knows how to get you to
make the best decision, not just for self but overall. He wanted you to think
about who your decision was going to affect; which is similar to the results
based approach. In addition, he wanted you to think about whether or not your
choices where legal, and if not what where the consequences. Lastly, he wanted
you to think about which decision would make you feel most comfortable with yourself.
Another
great movie that displays the ethical choices is seven pounds featuring Will
Smith. In this movie Will plays a character named Tim who loses his fiancée in
a car crash that he caused while using his cellular phone while driving. In
that crash his wife died along with seven other people. Feeling down and guilty
about the whole ordeal Tim decides to give away seven organs to seven different
strangers. In the end he decides to commit suicide in a tub with a jellyfish to
give away part of himself to two more citizens. For the greater good of all he
decided to save 7 people opposed to one. The things he did weren't necessary illegal.
Lastly, he did what he thought was right in his heart and he was at peace with
his decision
As a public administrator you have
to know your role and think about one important thing, and that’s what is good
for the greater number of people in society. This is not to say that one should
go against the law or tremendously sacrifice their personal views. Sometimes we
must find a common medium in order to perform our duty to the public. We may
have to step back and think about whether our moral values are being tested.
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