Ethics is moral philosophy. According to the American Heritage Dictionary it is, “the rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession”. Ethics are what guide us to do what we believe to be good or right. It is the theory or belief of what is good or “good living”. Morality is the living embodiment of ethics. There are personal, societal and community ethics to name a few. Ethics can vary by culture or country yet one could argue that there are some basic human ethics. These might include: Honoring basic human dignity and inflicting no harm on others. Ethics includes one’s philosophy of life, thoughts about what type of person we ought to be, how we should treat others, and what we should do and accomplish in life. Ethics necessarily implies personal freedom in that we have the choice to act based on our ethics; to do what we believe to be “right”. There is an assumption that there is a “right” or correct answer or action in a particular situation. Because ethics vary between communities and cultures some believe that there can be no consensus on what is morally correct.
Questions for Discussion
1. What ethical values do you hold? Are they personal, familial or cultural in origin?
2. How do your ethical values relate to how you perform your job and daily interactions with people?
3. How do you find common ground with someone whose ethical values differ from yours?
4. Do you find that ethical values change with age or vary within generations?
Sources
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. 3rd ed. (1992). Boston, Houghton Mifflin Company.
American Library Association. (2008). Code of Ethics of the American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/codeofethics/codeethics.htm
Adopted June 28, 1997, by the ALA Council; Amended January 22, 2008. Viewed February 13, 2008.
Baggini, J. and Fosl, P. S. (2007). The Ethics Toolkit. Malden, MA, Blackwell Publishing.
Broad, C.D. Ethics. (1985). Dordrecht, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.
Cahn, S. and Markie, P. (2002). Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues. New York, Oxford University Press.
Singer, Peter, ed. (1990). A Companion to Ethics. Oxford, England, Blackwell Publishers.
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26 comments:
What do you do if your personal ethics or beliefs go against the ALA Code of Ethics VII: " We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional duties and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation of the aims of our institutions."? What if a convicted felon, who was much hated in the community, wanted to give 15 million dollars to your library to build a much needed branch but the library had to be named after him. Would you accept the money even though it would create much ill will in the community?
First let me say, Tim...excellent question! Do you think that there would be a way to do something like this and appease both parties involved? Like if the library itself showed the community the long term plans or allowed them to have a question and answer session with the person involved or do you see it as a complete no win situation?
1. What ethical values do you hold? Are they personal, familial or cultural in origin?
While my ethical views would be a lot to list, I think it is fair to say, no matter how open-minded that one tries to be, it would be difficult to state that we do not have some level of our backgrounds that influence the way we think. Whether that is right or wrong or suitable for the environment we are working in would be the bigger challenge to examine.
2. How do your ethical values relate to how you perform your job and daily interactions with people?
I would like to say that they assist me in be respectful to all of the people that I interact with despite the differences that we may have with one another.
3. How do you find common ground with someone whose ethical values differ from yours?
I think the best way to find common ground is to communicate effectively. You can learn as well as teach another individual with the right amount of patience.
4. Do you find that ethical values change with age or vary within generations?
Absolutely. I think with age comes more life experience which would certainly impact the way one thinks and believes.
For me, I think that my ethics come from my culture. One thing that has been passed down in my family is intensely high standards for work attendance, and that is typical of many people of my ethnic background (Dutch).
My ethics definitely affect how I perform my job, particularly when it comes to grading. Students sometimes come to me and ask for "special favors" in terms of their grades, and I am reluctant to grant these because I believe that every student needs an equal opportunity to succeed. On the flip side, I feel it is unfair to punish a student for situations like a family funeral and sometimes make concessions for people in difficult circumstances, but not simply so that someone can pass or "earn" an A.
I am hard pressed to say how I find common ground with those who differ with me. If someone has higher standards than I do, I try to rise to the occasion. Otherwise, I try to be a good example and a positive influence without being pedantic.
Working with teenagers each day, I am concerned that young people are not developing a strong set of ethics. Cheating is rampant and seen as "no big deal" and many young people place loyalty to their friends as their #1 ethical priority. For them, right and wrong are almost entirely relative. I think that young people need to understand that, often, what are called "victimless crimes" do indeed have a victim, and this victim needs to be considered before the act is committed.
I to have high work ethics, I believe because this is how we were brought up in my family you always attend work and school. If you are that sick you should be at the doctors or in the hospital. To this day I thank my parents for the ethics/morals they set in us. I have never missed a college class and only missed two days of high school when my grandfather passed away.
I have not missed a day of work in four years due to illness or just being tired. I am seven months pregnant and have not missed a day of work during my pregnancy. I think when you like what you do, you just don't feel the need to miss work. I would have to say these are my personal ethics. People depend on me to be at work so I am going to be there.
I think that every individual holds several kinds of ethics. There are personal ethics which implies a moral code of conduct applicable to individuals. For instance, while I was chatting yesterday with my friend he was arguing that capital punishment is sometimes fair and I was in favor of the idea that no one have the right to put an end to a person’s life even if for a criminal who killed many people. There are also social and cultural ethics signifies moral theories applied to groups. For example sexual relationship before marriage is forbidden and very uncommon in my home country (Lebanon) while it is very natural and normal issue in most European countries and the United States.
Now that I am in the U.S., a country where its ethics are very much different from my home country, I just respect those ethics and follow the rules. Difference is healthy I don’t have to change my ethics but I just adapt to the new environment. After all ethics change with time from generation to another as people gain more experience and learn from life; so our children most probably are exposed to different ethics.
Actually in every profession there are instances where the individual has to make ethical decisions. What I use to face as a library assistant in an academic library is where a patron who isn’t allowed to have access to our resources, come to ask if he/she get this information. Provided that we are the only Lebanese library that has this resource, what should I do? I face a conflict; ethically I shouldn’t allow this person to access the information, but this is the only library that has this information and I believe that all patrons should have access to information! Our ILL is only for AUB’s community! This person can’t afford AUB’s extremely high tuition! What would you do???
Excellent point, Tim, about situations where your personal ethics are at odds with your professional code of ethics. Which standard do you hold yourself to? It seems to me, the professional standard is the one we must keep, just as we'd hold doctors or lawyers to to their professional code of ethics, whatever their personal codes. I suppose the difference is that doctors and lawyers are bound to their code legally, whereas librarians are bound only by their sense of honor and duty.
I suppose I've been fortunate in that I haven't really encountered anything that I might label as an "ethical dilemma" in my work with the library, at least nothing that really strikes me as such. Of course, there is there's always that phonecall, the one that comes just as the jacket's gone on and you're ready to hit the lights and head out the door. ... Do I answer? Do I leave it for the next day? Technically, the office is closed; closed two-and-a-half minutes ago. ...
Ethics has always been a difficult concept for me. I know who I am and how I act, but never really give a thought to how I came upon those beliefs. I have to say that I believe some of my own unique ethical standards are a product of my upbringing and the very culture in which I live. For example, my mom is a perfectionist and both mom and dad hold honesty and trustworthiness very high. I tend to honor these traits as important in my life, too, just by the very fact that I was exposed to them for the first 20 years of my life. Following the laws of my culture would be another example. Both cultural and familial ethics have shaped my own personal code.
I think my ethical values relate well to the job I'm in. I love dealing with the public, and have learned over the years that to be respected, one must respect others. I work hard to treat everyone the way I want to be treated, fair and equitably.
Finding common ground with someone whose ethical values differ from mine can be difficult. We have a library patron whose values are very questionable. He likes to talk very loudly and often will use swearing and sexual innuendo to call attention to himself, especially when speaking to "us girls." At the point that he gets too raunchy, I have no problem letting him know he is out of line for a public venue. As librarians, we have patron behavior policies to back us up, so lewd comments and swearing can garner a warning and if it continues, the patron will be asked to leave. I have no problem conversing with this patron and even joking around with him, but at the point he steps over the line, I let him know it. I believe he has come to respect this, at least when dealing with me.
Ethical values definitely change with age and vary over generations. I have learned over the years to temper my opinions and cover them with tact. In my younger years I was quite opinionated, and most people I came in frequent contact with knew it. I have learned to leave those opinions at the door before stepping inside, just as I would leave a bad mood outside. Neither one has much bearing on what I do inside the library. I am there for the patron, not for myself.
As many have stated, I believe we are a product of our upbringing. Whether we choose to embrace, or discard that upbringing builds what will become the base of our personal ethical system. Discarding does not necessarily mean that we are losing something important, or a core ethical system we should keep, nor does embracing mean we have not thought through our personal code of ethics in a mindful way. The choices we make (both good and bad) have made us who we are and if we believe that person today is an solid, ethical, mindful being, we cannot discount nay part of the past that brought us here. I am of a very global mindset when it comes to ethics and morality. If my actions honor and support kind and honest interaction, I feel they are ethical. If my actions are meant to harm and belittle, or inhibit another person's freedom, then I need to re-evaluate.
I am an ethical person and I expect others to be as well (in their interactions with me as well as their work). I guess I equate being ethical with being honest; and I feel honesty can cross all cultural divides.
Tim-
What about putting the idea of the branch library to a community vote? I think that would be the only fair way to go. If it was preceded by some fair and objective debate on the topic, the community might actually come up with solutions we, as the library community didn't see.
1. What ethical values do you hold? Are they personal, familial or cultural in origin?
I suppose my ethics are comprised of all 3. I try to do what is best for myself and my family, to be helpful and respectful, to not hurt anyone. I can't honestly say I never lie. I tell lies of omission to make my life easier. I tell "little white lies" to spare someone's feelings. I don't cheat or steal in general, but I have removed things from work environments and used them at home. There are so many shades of gray in determining whether something is "right" or "wrong". If I take some post-its or a pen, but not software or books, do I call myself a thief? I do not know. The more I focus on this week's topic, the more I learn about who I am and what my values are.
2. How do your ethical values relate to how you perform your job and daily interactions with people?
I think they allow me to work well with others, because I do consider myself to be a good person and want to help others as much as I can.
3. How do you find common ground with someone whose ethical values differ from yours?
It depends on how different the values are. I have a so-called friend who lies and talks behind people's backs as a daily habit. I want to be a good friend but it is easier in this situation to back away from the friendship a bit. Confrontation would accomplish nothing with this person. Our in-common friends no longer associate with her. At this point, I may not call her very often or hang out with her, but if she or her family ever needs my help, I would not hesitate.
4. Do you find that ethical values change with age or vary within generations?
Definitely, as a parent my beliefs are different than those I held as a teen. The perfectionist attitudes of previous generations have not quite passed down to me. I personally find it too stressful to try to have everything perfect. Good enough is good enough for me.
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As far as Tim's question goes...I would take the money of the convicted felon. The benefits for all the community outweigh their initial outrage. They can always call the library something else even though the felon's name is on the door.
How do your ethical values relate to how you perform your job and daily interactions with people?
When it comes to my job performance and my interactions with people, my ethical values play a major part. My ethics have provided me with guidance to show up to work everyday and perform my duties to the best of my ability, without compromising my beliefs. These same beliefs have helped me understand that people are different and that although I may not share their same beliefs, they too should be treated with respect.
My personel code of ethics is primarily derived from the family in which I as raised, and secondarily, from where I was raised. I've always been taught to respect my elders and also the opinions of others. Also, I was raised in a rather liberal region of the U.S and I've had the amazing luxury of being exposed to a variety of individuals with an equally diverse set of values.
Having said that, I think that although I've lived most of my adult life in one of the most divisive periods in American history, I can still retain my ethical value in terms of respecting the opinion of others Because at worst, a different opinion can only fuel a diverse discussion and expose one set of values to another.
Tim: Anyone can donate to the library. What ill will? Seems like a pretty nice gesture.
1. What ethical values do you hold?
I categorize myself as a secular humanist. I do what I sense is rational and does no intended harm to others. I consider myself pretty open-minded, but I've never found religion to be of any meaning to me. I act with integrity, but am not naive enough to believe that others do the same. I think the world needs to be more rational and should stop excusing their unethical behavior with the cloak of religion.
Are they personal, familial or cultural in origin?
My ethics are derived from personal experience and some family input.
2. How do your ethical values relate to how you perform your job and daily interactions with people?
I act in a way that I feel is rational and self-preservationist.
3. How do you find common ground with someone whose ethical values differ from yours?
I don't expect others to share my attitudes about life. I keep my expectations of people low, so I'm rarely disappointed.
4. Do you find that ethical values change with age or vary within generations?
I would agree with Tara that life experience is a big part of ethical values. Age doesn't seem to play a role in ethics. It depends on the person.
How do your ethical values relate to how you perform your job and daily interactions with people?
This is a great question. I think of myself as an ethical person. I am honest, dependable, loyal and fair. In regards to my job, I work with individuals who are also ethical. If I didn't feel that they were good people, I wouldn't work there.
In regards to the tasks I do at work, my ethics guide me to do my work in a timely manner to the best of my abilities. I work with the public, so I need to be respectful, honest and fair. Sometimes it is difficult, because customers come into the office and don't respect me, but I have to remember that they aren't angry with me, just the situation. Its difficult sometimes, but I always tell myself to "kill them with kindness" and it usually works!
Jessica Kay-Oosterhouse
1. What ethical values do you hold? Are they personal, familial or cultural in origin?
It is my personal belief that my ethical values are derived from all of the above. We learn from our families. We learn from our own experiences (personal). We learn from our culture. All of them come together to shape how we behave and defines what we think of as right and wrong.
2. How do your ethical values relate to how you perform your job and daily interactions with people?
I have found that often, my work ethics are different than my home ethics. At work (bookstore), I often deal with some bizarre requests for information/books that I would be uncomfortable with outside work. Okay, so I'm uncomfortable with them at work, too, but I brush it aside in order to help my customers. I put up with a lot more abuse from customers than I would ever put up with outside work.
3. How do you find common ground with someone whose ethical values differ from yours?
I think just agreeing to disagree is truly the best way. I encountered this a few years ago with a coworker who had very, very different political and religious views than my own. We had one discussion that ended with each of us angry and hurt. The next shift we worked together, I approached her and asked if we could talk for a few minutes. I told her that I really liked working with her and that I didn't want the stress of our disagreement to sit between us anymore. So, with that, we agreed that our views were very different and that we were both going to go on like nothing had every happened. From that point onward, we always got along very well. The best way to deal is to discuss your differences and then move on.
4. Do you find that ethical values change with age or vary within generations?
I think that for some people, they are exposed to very different values from a young age, while some aren't introduced to such varied values until they reach college. My mother raised me in a very open, accepting (of religious differences, homosexuality, etc) way. Some of my family members weren't so lucky and were very confused when they moved away from home and couldn't understand why people were so different. So, some people have values that are set quite early in life, where some people (as they learn and grow and experience new things) have values that change over time. For me, I have held the same values for most of my life, but that's not to say that they won't change later on.
I think the experiences a person has shapes their ethics/ values, thus there are personal, familial, and cultural in nature. It depends on the environment. When dealing with others I keep in mind the golden rule, do on to others. So be it at work or play, I try to treat people equally and be open-minded. I know that my age has changed my values and ethics. I definitely notice a difference from when i was younger.
Carla C. mentioned an interesting situation with ILL access. What if you work in an academic library that limits access to certain databases because of licensing agreements with vendors. Yet someone who does not have legal access to this database is very interested in using those restricted resources. Let's say they are doing legal research to keep themselves from being evicted. Would you give them access to this database? Would you give it to a friend? Would you login and print articles for them? Would that be illegal? Would allowing this access "hurt" anyone?
I have found looking at my own ethical values and hearing what you all have shared to be very interesting. I usually just take them for granted and they are fluid in a way. It is easy to say I believe this to be "right" or "wrong" but context and feeling are big factors in the ethics of daily living. Could a robot be programmed to be ethical?
Tim, You bring up a good question in your first post about the convict who wants to donate money. It is a hard decision to make because of the stipulation that goes along with his money. Back home we just built a new library and many community members were upset when a community member donated less than a million dollars with the stipualtion that the building be named after them. Granted it is not quite paying for a whole wing, which makes the situation a little different, but as a result of this (among a other things) the community did not renew the millage and the library system had to lay off employees, cut hours and close some branches. I always wondered if they had to do it again would they take the money? I have heard rumors that they might change the name of the library after a few years - is that ethical?
I think that Sarah had a good idea - that you should leave the decision to a vote. The only downside I see in that is that the person who wants to donate the money may become offended and withdraw the offer.
Do you find that ethical values change with age or vary within generations?
Having been fortunate enough to have had my great-grandparents around for many years, I strongly believe that ethical values vary within generations. Although my great-grand mother has instilled great work ethics in us, there are some things that she considers important that us younger kids do not. For example the older generation does not except change well and prefer to do things in a more traditional manner. However they will not question authority if they do not agree with or understand the change because of their strong idea of respecting the boss. Where the younger generation tends to accept change and question authority if the change does not seem adequate.
Wow Thomas, interesting and sad story! No, There aren't easy answers. As a side note, it would be wonderful if libraries didn't have to depend on sometimes wavering voters, politicians and economies to exist and thrive.
1. What ethical values do you hold? Are they personal, familial or cultural in origin?
I'd say that most of my ethical values come from my family, even if I've come to hold different values. (You know the story--conservative parents raise two liberal kids.) I think personal responsibility is the ethical value I'm nost thankful to my parents for instilling in me, though. I don't think I'd be the independent, well-adjusted person I am today if my parents hadn't set such high standards for taking responsibility for my actions.
2. How do your ethical values relate to how you perform your job and daily interactions with people?
As far as personal responsibility goes, I'm dependable and punctual, and I do my best to treat everyone I encounter with respect and empathy.
3. How do you find common ground with someone whose ethical values differ from yours?
This is almost always a question of empathy. It's hard to overestimate the importance of understanding someone's background when you're dealing with a conflict.
4. Do you find that ethical values change with age or vary within generations?
I would think so, simply because the world around us changes as time goes on. It stands to reason that people who grew up in the Great Depression are going to have different values than people who grew up during World War II or the 1960s, or from Generation Xers.
I think my ethical values play a large part in how I perform on the job and how I interact with people on a daily basis. I was raised to treat others the way you would want to be treated and to keep an open mind. I try my hardest to do this at all times. With this mind set it is not difficult to find common ground with others whose ethical values are different than mine. I really think mutual respect is the key.
I think that I get most of my ethical values from my family. They have been engrained into me - treat other s with respect, Work hard and to the best of your ability, Always do what is right, help others if they need it, etc. The ethics and values that I have make me who I am - I remember when I had to interview for my current position that there were a lot of questions of how I would deal/interact with patrons and co-workers. And I think that everything has to start with respect. You have to let people know that you respect them and their concerns and let them know that you care and will help if you can. Giving people the respect they deserve is a big first step when interacting with people, because if you do not give people respect how can you expect that they repsect you in return. Granted, this will not solve every problem - some people no matter how respectful, helpful, or understanding you try to be will still be disrespectful and hard to deal with. But as a general rule I try to give people the respect they deserve.
Good questions!!
1. What ethical values do you hold? Are they personal, familial or cultural in origin?
To list them would take too long, but some are personal, some familial and I'm sure some are cultural too. Humans are often a product of our environment and that shapes us, even in regards to our morals.
2. How do your ethical values relate to how you perform your job and daily interactions with people?
I think I have good morals, thus they help me in daily interactions. I like to think I am polite and respectful towards all people.
3. How do you find common ground with someone whose ethical values differ from yours?
Common ground isn't hard to find. Whether it's age, location, interests, or whatever, finding something in common with someone isn't hard. Communication is very important and it's never more important than when two people disagree about something. Being able to discuss things make awkward situations so much easier.
4. Do you find that ethical values change with age or vary within generations?
Yes, they do. My grandparents have different ethical values than I do, an so do my parents. As I said above, environment and experiences shape us. We all don't have the same experiences and environments, thus we get shaped differently. My grandparents grew up in a much different world than I, and my grandchildren -if I ever get any- will grow up in a world different than mine.
1. What ethical values do you hold? Are they personal, familial or cultural in origin?
I think that ones ethical values stem from all of the above. How we are raised helps us to form our ethical belief system, therefore I feel that personal and familial ethics almost go hand in hand. Of coarse as we grow up, become independent, and experience life, we then form our own ethical values. But our personal ethical values are stemmed from our familial ones. Finally cultural values play a part in my ethics as well. As stated, ethics will vary from culture to culture.
2. How do your ethical values relate to how you perform your job and daily interactions with people?
When on the job, I find it important to remain professional. I notice that many teachers at my school are very informal with the kids and the staff. I like to go to work to do my job. I keep out of the gossip that goes around, and there is a lot of it!
3. How do you find common ground with someone whose ethical values differ from yours?
You know this can be a challenge. I think that the most important thing is to be understanding that people's views are different and you must respect that, within reason of coarse.
4. Do you find that ethical values change with age or vary within generations?
Yes, they do. I know that my parents helped to shape my ethical beliefs, but as times change, so do beliefs. I know that I think its okay for a man and woman to live together before marriage, but my parents and earlier generations would definately not agree.
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