Ethics: An Introduction to Philosophy and Practice, 1/e by ...



|Ethics: An Introduction |Long ago I was told that there was a difference between one who is a technician and one who is a |

|to Philosophy and |professional. The difference being, a technician knows what to do but not necessarily why it should be |

|Practice, 1/e by Stephen |done. A professional knows not only what to do but why it is important to do it. |

|J. Freeman | |

| |Ethical practice is a concern for all who practice in our profession. As professionals we strive to |

| |discern correctly what action should be taken in a given situation. In the quest for this elusive |

| |correctness (truth), it has been said that there is nothing as practical as good theory. Theory is a tool|

| |that helps us organize, evaluate, and integrate existing knowledge. Therefore, it logically follows that |

| |a sound way to facilitate ethical competence in counseling would be through knowledge and understanding |

| |of the foundations and theories of ethics. |

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| |My aim in writing this book is to introduce students to some of the most important works in moral |

| |philosophy, not in great depth, but enough to instill a sense of its importance and relevant use in |

| |addressing contemporary concerns. I attempted to present each theory in its best light and followed as |

| |closely as possible what I believed to be the original philosophers intended. |

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| |Finally, my writing is guided by the belief that comprehension is a necessary (though not sufficient) |

| |precondition for intelligent criticism. Analysis, interpretation, and comparison, are also co-requisites |

| |for intelligent criticism. The ethical dilemmas drawn from real life experience are provided to acquaint |

| |and assist students in these processes. |

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| |I am honored that your instructor has adopted my book for your class and it is my sincere hope that this |

| |book will contribute to your understanding of ethics and the rational approach to the process of ethical |

| |decision making. |

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| |How best to use this book: |

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| |I invite students to begin by reading chapter 2 (Codes of Ethics) first and then reviewing selected codes|

| |contained in the appendix. Having done this, return to chapter 1 and read the summaries of the twelve |

| |ethical dilemmas and answer the questions that follow. Dialogue and share with others in the class your |

| |responses. Keep a record of your thoughts and what led you to your answers. This will provide you with a |

| |baseline of your ethical decision making from which to work. |

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| |Proceed now to the theoretical orientations to ethics (chapters 3-11). Read each chapter with an open |

| |mind as if each was an experimental work, an opportunity to try out ideas that may later be developed, |

| |revised, or abandoned. Beginning with Chapter 5 and continuing, each chapter concludes with the section: |

| |Using Theory for Concrete Ethical Judgments. Here you will find the summary of an ethical dilemma and |

| |some guidance on how to apply what you have read to the situation. However, before addressing the dilemma|

| |be sure to review and answer the questions for additional reflection and thought. Keep thorough notes on |

| |your responses to these questions as well as your response to the ethical dilemma presented. Again, |

| |dialogue with and share your thoughts and responses with others in your class. |

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| |Part 3, Ethical and Legal Issues, may pose some difficulty for some in the class. The reason being, what |

| |is legal is not always ethical and what is ethical is not always legal. Here students are invited to |

| |utilize any of the various ethical theories and approaches you have learned as well as the information in|

| |this chapter to address the ethical dilemma provided. Once you have determined what action you would take|

| |and the ethical justification underlying it return to and review chapter 9, Ethical and Moral |

| |Development. Answer the following questions: How does your ethical moral development [stage of reasoning]|

| |influence your ethical decision; how does your social environment [grid/group] influence your ethical |

| |decision; what about factors such as groupthink, the tyranny of principles [law]… |

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| |Finally, return to chapter 1 and review your responses to the ethical dilemmas presented. Have they |

| |changed? Have you? |

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