Ethics Challenges and Responses

One challenge: not enough training in ethical decision making and solving cases of moral dilemmas in our educational system.

Op-Ed Columnist:  If It Feels Right ...

By DAVID BROOKS

The rise of moral individualism has produced a generation unable to speak intelligibly about the virtuous life.

Some responses:

·         RIE/ICAI faculty recognized and sought after for their expertise.

Dr. Fishman quoted in the August 19 edition of the US News & World Report Education e-newsletter about efforts for trying to curb online cheating through the use of technology.

·         Ethics Across the Curriculum continues to be offered to CU faculty and Dr. Wueste mentioned in his letter, he and Dr. Fishman were invited to Australia with several pieces of work on a busy agenda at the University of Western Australia.

·         Align SC, a new business and education alliance in Anderson sponsored the 2^nd Annual B&E Summit with John Warner as the keynote speaker. The summit theme, “Trademarks of Excellence: It Takes a Village to Raise an Employee.” RIE was one of the sponsors on August 4^th at Hospice of the Upstate. To view a summary of the group work from the day, go to the AlignSC website and access a .pdf file. Dr. William Havice of the School of Education was a participant as well.

·         Rotary Club of Greenville Evening hosting its 2^nd annual Joust For Fun to raise funds to support the Early Act First Knight program that they sponsor at two Upstate middle schools – which are the only schools east of the Mississippi to have the program!

·         Character Matters In Greenville SC ensuring that the City of Greenville proclaims and celebrates Character Counts! Week, Sunday October 16, 2:00PM through 3:00PM October 22.  (Its FB page has grown to nearly 1000 members.)

If you know of other good works, responses to increasing the number of programs, events and activities that help bring the concept of integrity, good citizenship, ethical judgment within the Upstate and beyond, please share them.

Consequentialist ethics:

“…a great example of people living according to the tenets of Consequentialism, in a good way. (There are many examples of that being a bad thing, but in this case, it’s such a selfless act . . .) The story talks about a “brutally realistic calculus” but honestly, it seems like the opposite of “brutal” to me. “ Dr. Teddi FIshman
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/12/140402430/japanese-seniors-send-us-to-damaged-nuclear-plant

Aspirational ethics at its best…

In the August 22^nd issue of Ethics Newsline: Japanese Residents Return More than $78M in Cash Recovered in Tsunami Debris

http://www.globalethics.org/newsline/2011/08/22/tsunami-debris/

…and worst (when people in roles of great responsibility err)

In the September 12^th issue of Ethics Newsline: Administrators Found Culpable in Cheating Scandal Could Face Lifetime Ban From Field

http://www.globalethics.org/newsline/2011/09/12/cheating-scandal-2/

…and inconceivably worse …

As noted in The Scientist, The Nutshell on August 30^th:

http://the-scientist.com/2011/08/30/lessons-from-past-unethical-experiments/

And the official press release about it: “ETHICALLY IMPOSSIBLE” STD Research in Guatemala from 1946 to 1948

…yet bringing it out into the open to ensure it never happens again was a right and courageous step

"Open Workspace Promotes Ethical Behavior"

Survey reveals open workspace environments gain favor as companies see improved employee engagement and reductions in ethics violations

http://ethisphere.com/survey-reveals-open-workspace-environments-gain-favor-as-companies-see-improved-employee-engagement-and-reductions-in-ethics-violations/

There are far too many examples of ethical failures – everywhere and seemingly all the time.

If you have a great example of an ethical success, please share it with us. The mission of the institute is to nurture an ethical environment across life communities. We welcome any submissions that will contribute to uplifting and renewing hope and inspiring more good acts.