Personal Ethics Development
For an individual, group of individuals or even a business organization to succeed; it is necessary to come up with or develop well defined rules of engagement and behavior or set of ethics which are adhered to by each and every individual across the board. In most places all over the world, acts like making other people suffer (on purpose), stealing or even dishonesty are taken to be unethical. It is this view that informs the development of codes of conduct which are in some cases tailored to conform to specific cultural setups.
The Development of Ethics
According to Trevino and Nelson (2007), ethics can be taken to be those standards as well as norms and principles which govern the very conduct of an individual or several individuals. It therefore follows that well developed ethical standards play a critical role in group cohesion in addition to facilitating a harmonious working environment between individuals. As a matter of fact, proper development of ethical standards as well as the ability and willingness of people to be bound by these standards is the very foundation of human civilization. According to Josephson Institute (2009), ethical behavior is brought out by basic values which are christened the "six pillars" on which an individual's character is founded. Three of these values include citizenship, caring and responsibility.
It can be noted that in most cases, an individual's ethical standards or character starts to develop soon after birth. It is from an early age that children learn, or are taught, how to distinguish that which is inherently right from that which is considered wrong. Through an observation of how those around them behave, children are able to develop a character that is in conformity with the expectations of the society. Throughout my life, a significant...
For instance, my definition of morals as well as ethics has largely been shaped by not only those I have interacted with in the past but by my religious affiliation as well. With that in mind, it can be noted that an individual's behavior and interrelation with others in the society is largely shaped by the ethics and values he or she develops over a given time period.
My Ethical System (Underlying)
Simple is a word that can be used to define my underlying ethical system. In basic terms, my ethical system (underlying) can be captured by the mantra "treat everybody fairly." Brought up by disciplinarian parents who were quick to punish a wrong and equally swift in rewarding a right, my view of the world has largely been steeped in the concept of fairness. From an early age, I was taught that to mutually coexist with others; I had to be fair to my fellow human beings. To drive the point home, I vividly remember an instance where I attracted the wrath of my mother for handing over to my younger brother a significantly smaller piece of cake we had been asked to share equally. Further, it can be noted that being a relatively religious person, my ethical system (underlying) tends to be derived from the ethical standards set by my church. According to the teachings of the church, we should treat everybody the same way we would desire to be treated. Basically, experience has taught me that it is painful to be on the receiving end of an injustice. Therefore, each and every day, I align all my actions to fairness in an attempt to ensure that…
