MINDS ON

Reflection 

In your workbook, write down the first 5 THINGS that come to your mind when you think of the word "ETHICS".

Record your answer in your workbook.

What Are Ethics?
Ethics are rules or principles that guide decisions and behavior. They help individuals and organizations determine what is right or wrong, fair or unfair.

Key Terms:

Morals:

Personal beliefs shaped by upbringing, culture, and life experience.

Example:
You were raised to always speak your mind, so you tell a friend their outfit isn’t flattering — even if it might hurt their feelings.
Your moral belief in honesty overrides your concern about how it might be received.

Other Examples:

• Choosing not to cheat, even if others are, because it goes against your personal values.
  
  

• Avoiding swearing because you were raised in a household where it's considered disrespectful.
  
  

Ethics:

Shared or institutional rules about right conduct.

Example:
At your part-time job, you're not allowed to use your phone during shifts. Even if you morally believe checking texts is harmless, you follow the rule because it’s your workplace’s ethical standard.

Other Examples:

• Respecting the teacher’s “no late work” policy even if you morally believe everyone deserves flexibility.
  
  

• Following school rules about academic integrity even if others in your group copy work.
  
  

Universal Ethics:

Widely accepted values like fairness, honesty, and respect that apply across cultures and societies.

Example:
You see someone getting bullied at school. You step in or report it, even if you don’t know the person — because respect and fairness are universally valued.

Other Examples:

• Not stealing from a locker — honesty is universally expected.
  
  

• Saying "thank you" and "please" regardless of where you are — kindness and respect cross cultures.
  
  

Contextual Ethics:

Values or expectations that vary based on situation, culture, or profession.

Example:
In your drama class, you're encouraged to take risks and express emotions openly — even if that’s not how you normally behave in math class. The ethical expectations are different depending on the context.

Other Examples:

• In sports, it's expected to play aggressively but respectfully — different from how you act in class.
  
  

• In healthcare, confidentiality is critical — a friend volunteering at a clinic can't share patient details, even if it seems harmless.

Real-World Example:
Imagine you find a lost phone. Your personal morals may tell you to return it, while ethical workplace rules would also expect that action. Both support the same behavior — doing the right thing. What would you do? Think about the possible outcomes to this decision for this situation.