Personal ethics development: examining ethical systems, origins, and foundations

¶ … system that contributes towards the development of the personal ethics. Further the paper also discusses the effect of personal ethics on work performance and the need of ethics in an organization.

Personal Ethics Development - Personal Ethical System and Ground Rules, including its Origins and Development

Ethics

Ethics are considered to be the principles and norms that shape the human personality and behavior and underlie the formation of the character. Ethics generally can be considered as personal code of conduct. (Griffith University, 2011)Ethics constitute of the following aspects mainly:

Assessing and evaluating personal values, (Griffith University, 2011)

Understanding of the requirements and standards of society as well as knowledge of personal and universal standards, (Griffith University, 2011)

Analyzing the available choices, their impact on others and society and then accepting the responsibility of the choice made and be hold oneself accountable for it. (Griffith University, 2011)

Ethics usually shape the morals but ethics and morals cannot be considered as the same. (Griffith University, 2011)

Development of Personal Ethics

It is highly important to develop personal ethics as they build the morals and character of a person. This set ethics and ethical principles help a person decide about right and wrong and make appropriate choices in their lives. Ethics, however, grow and develop throughout a person's life and are influenced by a lot of factors. (Scivicque, 2013)

Each and every person has a different base and system through which the person passes and is influenced by that to incorporate and develop personal ethics. That is every person has a different set of examples and circumstances that develops and builds the ethics in a person and shapes his/her character. (Scivicque, 2013)

Factors that contribute towards the development of personal ethics are explained in the table below.

Factor

Explanation

Family and Friends

Parents and other elders in the family teach morals and ethics to individual. Parents generally are the first ones to develop a sense of right and wrong and guide the children through difficult choices. They help children understand how to choose difficult options and line of action because of the ethical reasons. (Scivicque, 2013)

Religion

The person's religion and belief system play an important role in developing his/her ethics, personality, character and morals. As religion generally lays the ground for right and wrong, permissible and prohibited, etc. These set religious principles and standards governs a person's life completely and helps him / her develop sound personal ethics that guide them in leading a life based on morality and righteousness. (Scivicque, 2013)

Culture

The creation and development of ethical norms is highly affected by the culture that surrounds a person. Culture plays a vital role in shaping ethics and generally dictating the concept of right and wrong. (Scivicque, 2013)

Experience

Experience of a person also effects the ethics as with practical experience a lot of circumstance in which due to emotional or personal reasons the person's point-of-view and beliefs are changed. (Scivicque, 2013)

Self-assessment and realization

Ethics are also shaped by an individual inner reflection and assessment of the self. The feeling of guilt and bad conscious after doing something that is wrong or amoral, either improves personal ethics or if over practiced kills the sense of right and wrong.

In my experience, I would say that I am constantly affected by all the above factors and all of them have played an important role in developing and improving my personal ethics. Further, I would also like to add that the culture and religion imposed changes in the ethics are usually 'duty based' as these impose and obligation duty to be followed. While the changes and development (in the form ethical principles) of ethics as a result of experience is usually 'relativistic'. Moreover, when the ethical principles are developed and improved because of the intervention of the culture it is covered in the 'right-based' ethical system.

These led to the development of principles like morality, self-righteousness, sense of responsibility, punctuality, loyalty, integrity, broad mindedness and empathy in my character. Throughout my life I have been influenced by my parents and teachers and they have contributed primarily in developing these principles in my character.

I tend to give honest opinions when asked and this habit, although how bitter at that instant or on that spot, make people realize their flaws and mistakes. I have also realized that because of my habit, my friends and colleagues have started to value my opinion over others and tend to ask for my advice on important or critical issues.

Potential Effects of Ethics on Performance at Workplace

Ethics play a vital role in developing a person's character and personality. These ethical principles not only shape a person's personal relations and dealings but also a person's professional relations and dealing.

The characters and qualities developed in me because of the ethical development process, has led me to perform my professional duties honestly and efficient.

The principle of honesty and integrity has led me develop a habit of performing my responsibilities honestly and express my views. This helps me to bring put change, challenge supervisors when required so as to perform my duties more effectively.

Moreover the sense of responsibility has helped to openly embrace my responsibilities and perform them on timely basis. It also helps me to put in all my efforts to complete those duties and add value in all the duties I perform.