Susan L. Fullmer
Boise State University
Author Note
UF 300 Assignment:
Ethics, 3/19/16
Table of Contents
My ethical beliefs have not come to me in one dramatic
moment, but rather, by a serious of countless moments over a life time. I have watched and noticed what is important
in life. I have questioned the beliefs I
was handed as a child, and I continue to question everything that crosses my
path. I look for outcome, because I have
found that that is where the truth of the process lies. This paper discusses those beliefs and the formats
they take in my personal and professional life.
The older I get, the simpler my belief
system becomes. I believe in inclusion,
and I believe I should treat people the way I want to be treated. And given that I want to be included, I suppose
I could simplify my list by one less item.
But I feel so strongly about inclusion that I’m going to leave it
in. So, I’m down to two items on my
Belief List. I’d say it’s a good solid
list, and it has served me well both personally and professionally. My life has included a series of painful
events – both as the recipient of the pain, and the observer of other’s
pain. I am a healer at heart, and so
pain and the causing of pain has always perplexed me. Why do we create it, if no one likes it? And I’ll take that one step further, why
don’t we do everything possible to prevent it?
From hard won experience I know that I can only change myself, and so
this I do. The world cannot know any
greater peace than I feel within myself.
I believe that I create a more peaceful experience for others by being
my own peace.
One thing I have
learned, for better or worst, is that we become more like the people with which
we spend time. This, of course, can be
used to our advantage both personally and professionally. James MacGregor Burns presents a leadership
theory which contains a strong ethical and moral component. It is called, “The Transforming Leadership
Theory”. Mr. Burns believes that,
“Leaders and followers raise one another to higher levels of morality and
motivation” (Burns 1978, p.20). I
believe that we inspire others and are inspired by others simultaneously, which
has a positive, moral effect on the whole.
Even though I feel solid about my ethical
decisions, I don’t pretend that this is an easy process. Especially between people whose moral values
conflict. Kidder (1995) refers to,
“those that pit one ‘right’ value against another” (p. 16). “The really tough choices, then, do not
center upon right versus wrong. They
involve right versus right. They are
genuine dilemmas precisely because each side of the problem is firmly rooted in
one of our basic, core values” (p. 18).
This is an area that I think I can improve upon. In school, I am working towards a certificate
in Dispute Resolution, and I know that this situation will be a challenge for
me. I found Kidder’s (2009) four
examples of the dilemma paradigm model helpful in understanding
right-versus-right choices. They are as
follows: Justice versus mercy, short
term versus long term, individual versus community, and truth versus
loyalty.
There is something else that I have
learned that helps in my moral decision making in all aspects of my life. I know that we humans are much more similar
than dissimilar. When I am dealing with
a conflict between people, I have found that if I get to the real heart of the
story – all sides of the story – that they tend not to be so far apart as first
thought. Hearing the story can give me
a better ethical compass from which to judge, and problem solve. I find that there is often a solution that
will be positive for all parties. And
this seems the best ethic of all.
Burns, J. M. (2003). Transforming
leadership: A new pursuit of happiness (Vol. 213). Grove Press.
Kidder, R. M. (1995). How
good people make tough choices. New York: Morrow.
Kidder, R. M. (2009). Moral
courage. Harper Collins.
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