What Has Helped Influence Your Personal And Professional Gro

What Has Helped To Influence Your Personal And Professional Ethical Pr

What has helped to influence your personal and professional ethical practices? Would you most closely align your ethical practices with deontology, utilitarianism, or virtue ethics? Make sure to fully explain your thoughts.

Paper For Above instruction

Ethical practices serve as the core foundation guiding behavior and decision-making in both personal and professional contexts. My ethical practices have been largely shaped by a combination of personal experiences, cultural influences, education, and professional exposure. These elements have collectively emphasized the importance of integrity, responsibility, and compassion, which serve as guiding principles in my daily interactions and choices. Personal reflection reveals that my commitment to honesty and fairness aligns closely with virtue ethics, emphasizing character development and moral virtues such as honesty, courage, and temperance (Hursthouse, 1999).

In the workplace, professional ethical guidelines reinforced by organizations and professional bodies, such as the American Psychological Association or the International Federation of Social Workers, have further cultivated my ethical mindset. These standards emphasize beneficence, non-maleficence, and respect for persons, aligning with principles of deontology—approaching ethics through adherence to rules and duties (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013). For instance, honesty in reporting research findings or client confidentiality exemplifies deontological commitment—doing what is right regardless of consequences.

While deontology offers a structured framework emphasizing duty and adherence to moral rules, I find that utilitarianism also influences my ethical perspective, especially in decision-making that considers societal outcomes. Utilitarianism prioritizes actions that maximize overall happiness and reduce suffering, which is particularly relevant in public health or policy decisions (Mill, 1863/2002). For example, when advocating for community health initiatives, I consider the broad impact and aim for interventions that benefit the majority, demonstrating utilitarian reasoning.

However, my predominant ethical inclination aligns more strongly with virtue ethics, which focuses on moral character and virtues as the foundation for ethical behavior. Virtue ethics encourages individuals to develop good character traits that naturally lead to morally correct actions (Aristotle, 350 B.C.E./1999). This approach fosters authenticity and moral integrity, guiding me to act consistently with virtues such as compassion, integrity, and responsibility, both personally and professionally. For instance, showing patience and understanding in challenging situations reflects virtues that I strive to embody.

Integrating these perspectives, I view my ethical practices as a hybrid approach. While principles of deontology ensure adherence to moral duties and rules, utilitarian considerations help evaluate the broader societal impact of my actions. Virtue ethics underpins my moral character, emphasizing the importance of being a good person in all circumstances. This integrated approach offers a comprehensive ethical framework where rules guide conduct, consequences inform decisions when appropriate, and virtues shape moral character.

In conclusion, my ethical practices are influenced by a combination of personal virtues, professional standards, and societal considerations. I most closely align with virtue ethics, as it promotes the development of moral character and authenticity, which resonate deeply with my values and experiences. Nonetheless, I recognize the importance of deontological rules and utilitarian outcomes in navigating complex ethical dilemmas effectively. This balanced perspective allows me to act responsibly, compassionately, and consistently in both personal and professional settings.

References

• Aristotle. (1999). Nicomachean Ethics (W. D. Ross, Trans.). Batoche Books. (Original work published ca. 350 B.C.E.)
• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of Biomedical Ethics (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Hursthouse, R. (1999). On Virtue Ethics. Oxford University Press.
• Mill, J. S. (2002). Utilitarianism. Hackett Publishing Company. (Original work published 1863)
• Schneider, C. (2012). Practical Wisdom in Ethic Practice. Routledge.
• Ryan, J. C. (2014). Ethical Practice in the Helping Professions. Pearson.
• MacIntyre, A. (2007). After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory. University of Notre Dame Press.
• Kant, I. (1993). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (M. Gregor, Trans.). Cambridge University Press. (Original work published 1785)
• Singer, P. (2011). Practical Ethics (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• Fletcher, R. (1966). Situation Ethics: The New Morality. Westminster Press.