Assess if you are aware of the ethical issue you’re a part of, with questions like:<ul><li>Do we know all the facts? </li><li>Is this an ethical problem or a legal one? Or both?</li><li>Can it be resolved simply by calling upon the law or referring to an organizational policy?</li><li>Am I aware of the people involved in this case and who may be affected by my decision and action?</li></ul>

A. Awareness of ethical issues

Establish your moral beliefs, principles, values and virtues, or lack thereof, with questions like:<div><ul><li>What kind of person am I? Would I want this done to me or to those I love?</li><li>Would it be responsible of me if I thought everyone should act this way in my situation?</li><li>Am I setting a good example or a bad example?</li><li>Can I continue to respect myself given the probable outcomes of my action? </li></ul></div>

B. Beliefs around ethical issues

Use moral imagination to think about consequences for yourself and others, not only now but into the future as well:<ul><li>Who may be affected by my decision?</li><li>How may my decisions/actions affect other and myself?</li></ul>

C. Consequences of ethical issues

Decide what is the best thing to do when faced with moral issues, considering questions like:<ul><li>Would I mind my action being broadcast on the six o’clock news?</li><li>Could I justify my actions to my family and close friends?</li><li>What advice would I give to a close friend who had the same decision to make as I do? </li></ul>

D. Decisions related to ethical issues

A series of questions we can use to examine ethical issues we are faced with, centered around 4 dimensions:<ul><li>Awareness</li><li>Beliefs</li><li>Consequences</li><li>Decision</li></ul>It can take us out of the trap of just assuming we’re good people, without truly delivering on that assumption.

The ABCD Guide to Ethical Decision-Making

A few weeks ago we talked to , Director of the Hoffberger Center for Professional Ethics and associate professor at the University of Baltimore, who told us about his goal to create a Philosophy Camp for adults and why such an initiative is important.

A. Awareness of ethical issues

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Types of people