As We Begin This Course We Enter With Biases, Beliefs, And P ✓ Solved

As We Begin This Course We Enter With Biases Beliefs And Perceptions

As we begin this course we enter with biases, beliefs, and perceptions about “when something is legal but not ethical and vice versa.” For this week’s assignment, write a one-page paper giving five examples of situations where you believe law and ethics differ and explain them.

Develop a 45-minute classroom lesson plan using the Secondary Lesson Plan: Academic Language Focus instructions. Use the Lesson Plan Template provided to present your lesson. Your lesson should integrate both reading and writing into the content instruction, tailored for a specific secondary grade level and content area. Ensure all elements are addressed, including standards, objectives, academic language, materials, instruction steps, classroom grouping, assessments, and supports. Modify the template as needed, and include any additional supporting documents if applicable.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Understanding the complex relationship between law and ethics is essential in shaping responsible citizens. While laws are formal rules established by governmental authorities, ethics are moral principles guiding individual behavior beyond legal requirements. The divergence between law and ethics can result in situations where legal actions are unethical, or unethical actions are legal. This paper presents five examples illustrating such differences, followed by an analysis of their implications.

Example 1: Tax Evasion vs. Tax Avoidance

Tax evasion involves illegally avoiding taxes by underreporting income or inflating deductions, whereas tax avoidance uses legal strategies to minimize tax liabilities. While both practices impact government revenue, tax evasion violates legal statutes and ethical standards of civic responsibility, whereas tax avoidance is legal but often ethically debated. For instance, corporations legally exploiting loopholes to reduce tax burden may be viewed as circumventing the spirit of tax law, raising ethical concerns about fairness and societal contribution.

Example 2: Assisted Suicide

In some jurisdictions, assisted suicide is illegal but can be considered ethically permissible, especially when it alleviates unbearable suffering. Legally, assisting in suicide might lead to criminal charges; ethically, many argue that individuals have autonomy over their end-of-life decisions, aligning with principles of compassion and respect for personal dignity. The ethical debate centers on respecting patient autonomy versus safeguarding life.

Example 3: Whistleblowing

Whistleblowing on unethical practices within organizations can be legally protected under whistleblower laws, yet it may conflict with loyalty to the organization. For example, exposing corporate fraud is a moral duty to prevent harm, but some companies may punish whistleblowers, viewing their actions as breaches of confidentiality. The ethical obligation to uphold integrity often clashes with legal or organizational policies protecting employer interests.

Example 4: Environmental Violations

Some companies illegally dump waste to reduce costs, violating environmental laws. However, if local communities lack enforcement power or the law is outdated, such activities might be technically legal or tolerated legally but are ethically condemned for harming ecosystems and public health. This highlights discrepancies between existing laws and moral responsibilities toward the environment.

Example 5: Trademark and Patent Infringement

Using a patented process without permission may be legally prosecuted as infringement, yet certain acts of imitation or borrowing may be ethically acceptable in contexts like educational or non-profit sectors. Conversely, some legal violations in this domain may still be ethically questionable if they undermine innovation or fairness, emphasizing the tension between legal rights and moral considerations.

Analysis

These examples demonstrate that legality does not always equate to ethical correctness and vice versa. The divergence often stems from differing underlying principles: laws are designed to regulate behavior uniformly, but ethical standards are subjective and context-dependent. The implications of these differences are significant. They can influence public trust, moral development, and societal progress. Ethical dilemmas challenge individuals and organizations to weigh legal compliance against moral responsibilities, often requiring nuanced judgment and ethical reasoning.

In conclusion, understanding the distinction between law and ethics helps educators, students, and practitioners navigate complex moral landscapes. Recognizing situations where the law may fall short ethically encourages critical thinking and moral reflection, vital components of responsible citizenship and professional conduct. By analyzing such examples, we appreciate the importance of aligning legal frameworks with ethical ideals to foster a just and morally-aware society.

References

• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University Press.
• Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2019). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making & Cases. Cengage Learning.
• Kidder, R. M. (2005). How Good People Make Tough Choices: Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living. HarperOne.
• Johnson, C. E. (2019). Ethical Challenges in Leadership. Sage Publications.
• Shaw, W. H. (2016). Business Ethics: A Textbook with Cases. Cengage Learning.
• Childress, J. F. (2014). Ethics in Public Life. Routledge.
• Kohlberg, L. (1984). Essays on Moral Development. Harper & Row.
• Bauman, C. W., & Rusch, D. (2014). Ethical dilemmas in the workplace. Journal of Business Ethics, 123(1), 1-15.
• Westra, L. (2018). Ethical issues in healthcare. Oxford University Press.
• Resnik, D. B. (2018). What is Ethics in Research & Why is it Important? National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.