introduction to air force junior rotc lesson 5, chapter 11 ethics

Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC

Lesson 5, Chapter 1 1

EthicsEthics


Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics 2

MotivationMotivation• Ethics are rules of

conduct.• Today, you'll learn

about • Making ethical

decisions • The U.S. Air Force’s

core values



Lesson overviewLesson overview• What are personal standards?

• What is a value system?

• What are the core values of the U.S. Air Force?

• How are morals and ethics defined?

• What are cultural rules?



Lesson overview (cont’d)Lesson overview (cont’d)• How are ethical decisions made?

• What are the traits of an ethical person?

• What are the ethical traits of leaders?

• What are moral courage and maturity?

• What is a personal code of conduct?



Quick WriteQuick Write Jot down three personal

guidelines you would use to decide whether it would be right or wrong to take a specific action.



What is ethics?What is ethics?• Ethics

• Branch of philosophy• Rules of conduct• Study of people’s most basic beliefs

• Ethics deals with the struggle between good and evil.

• Conduct—a key word when discussing ethics



What is ethics? (cont’d)What is ethics? (cont’d)

• Four basic rules of ethics have endured.• Do good; avoid evil.• Be fair and equitable.• Respect the dignity of all people.• Be autonomous (self-governing).




• Guidelines derived from the four basic rules of ethics• Be honest.• Keep promises.• Obey and be loyal to proper authorities.• Be courageous.



What is ethics? (cont’d)What is ethics? (cont’d)• Grow in knowledge.• Be willing to work.• Be moderate.• Maintain and enhance your health.• Do not harm people.




• Habits• Most of our moral beliefs are based on habits

we learned as children.• Habits can affect reputation, social status,

finances, and overall sense of well-being.



What is ethics? (cont’d)What is ethics? (cont’d)• Not all habits are right.• Habits are right when they are ways of

helping ourselves and others.• Good habits help us develop our best

potential and respect people’s basic rights.



What is ethics? (cont’d)What is ethics? (cont’d)• Decisions seemingly unrelated to ethics may

have an ethical aspect.• Scientists mix harmless chemicals to create

disposable plastic containers.• This is helpful for restaurants for take-out service.• But plastic may harm the environment.

• Ethical dilemma: which do we value more?• The convenience of the disposable containers• The environment



What is a value system?What is a value system?

• Value system• Set of ideals, beliefs, interests, likes, dislikes• Ideals we use every day to make decisions• Involves freely chosen behavior• Involves beliefs that are very personal to

each of us



What is a value system?What is a value system?

• Our military has its own set of values. • Applies to all members of the Air Force

family

• The core values of the U.S. Air Force are Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.



What is a value system? (cont’d)


• Integrity First• Willingness to do right even when no one is looking• Moral compass, inner voice of self-control• Basis for the trust needed in today’s military

• Service before Self• Professional duties over personal desires

• Excellence in All We Do • Passion for continuous improvement and innovation





• Four types of values• Personal• Prudent• Conventional• Moral





• Personal: guiding our conduct

• Prudent: serving our best interests

• Conventional: generally accepted and enforced

• Moral: rooted in a comprehensive view of human life



How are morals and ethics defined?

How are morals and ethics defined?

• Ethics• Set of accepted rules of conduct • Written or stated

• Morals• Refers to our behavior• Often a substitute for the word ethics



How are morals and ethics defined? (cont’d)

How are morals and ethics defined? (cont’d)

• Moral code of Western society• Based on Greek and Roman philosophy• Based on the Judeo-Christian ethic

• The Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule• Rules have evolved over thousands of years.• Some rules take the form of laws.

• Laws against murder and arson• Others are moral standards.

• Laws against breaking promises or gossiping



What are cultural rules?What are cultural rules?• Every culture has morals, values, and a

concept of basic human rights.• Customs, habits, and institutions vary from

one culture to another. • What is right in one culture may be

considered wrong in another.• Groups, such as family, school, and JROTC,

also set moral codes.



How are ethical decisions made?

How are ethical decisions made?

• Systematic process for making tough decisions• Consider all the facts.• Determine the moral values or obligations at stake.• Act or make decisions in light of your knowledge of

the values and facts.

• Be respectful of the life and well-being of all people.



How are ethical decisions made? (cont’d)


• Universal norms—the normal beliefs of people in most cultures• All cultures do not look at the same actions in the same way.• Without rules or norms, institutions would crumble.

• Non-universal norms—norms that do not carry universal moral obligations• These include duties specific to one’s religion.• One should not impose personal obligations on others.





• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN adopted in 1948)

• Every citizen of every nation has the right to• Life, liberty, and freedom from personal attack• Freedom from slavery• Recognition before the law• Presumption of innocence until proven guilty• Freedom from torture





• Freedom of conscience and religion• Freedom of expression• Privacy, family, and correspondence• Freedom to participate freely in

community life• Education• A standard of living adequate for health

and well-being





• Values are also used to make decisions.• Values can be at odds with each other.

• Spend tax dollars for defense or social programs?

• Decisions should be based on doing the most good.

• Greatest value for military is the public good.• Personal values may conflict.





• What are situational ethics?• The circumstances of a situation help form

the basis for deciding what is right or wrong.

• What is appropriate in this situation?

• What is fitting in this case?





• Example: If we were shot down behind enemy lines, we might have to lie or steal to survive.

• We might be forced to choose a course of action that would violate our code of ethics and our sense of values.



What are the traits of an ethical person?

What are the traits of an ethical person?

• A person with a refined sense of ethics has• Consideration for other people’s feelings and needs• Integrity• Honor



What are the ethical traits of leaders?

What are the ethical traits of leaders?

• Leaders influence others to achieve goals.• Leadership decisions are based on many factors.• Each profession has a set of standards (moral or

otherwise).• A leader’s actions must help accomplish the goals of

the organization.• Right actions, or right choices, build confidence and

self-respect and earn the respect of those affected by the actions.



What are the ethical traits of leaders? (cont’d)


• Twelve questions to help you make right choices

• If I do what I’m thinking of doing, would I be willing to have my action enacted into law and required of everyone?

• If I am considering using someone else for my own personal gain, would I allow myself to be used in the same way?

• Would I be willing to explain to a jury why I chose this action?





• Would I do this if I knew it would be on the television news tonight?

• What would I think of this action if it were done by my worst enemy?

• If my reason for acting this way is that everyone else does it, would I do it if no one else did it?

• Would I do this if I knew I would have to explain my reasons to my family?

• Would I be content with this action if it were taken by my boss or a member of my family?





• Would I be content to have each of my followers behave exactly as I intend to in this situation?

• My team could win the game by violating a rule. Before I call this play, would I be upset if the other team took the same action?

• If what I do hurts no one very much, would I be willing to let everyone do the same thing?

• If there is very little harm in what I want to do, what kind of person will I become if it gets to be a habit?



What are moral courage and maturity?

What are moral courage and maturity?

• Vice Admiral William P. Lawrence defined moral courage this way:• To know right from wrong• To possess a firm set of values• To possess the strength to live by those

values and do what is right regardless of the consequences



What are moral courage and maturity? (cont’d)


• Cadets already possess• A conscience• A sense of justice• A personal code of conduct





• Conscience—the awareness of a desire to act properly and the awareness of guilt when improper actions are committed or intended• Is not automatic• Is the product of knowledge and intelligence • Is strengthened as knowledge increases and we

become more sensitive to human values• Strengthens our moral courage• Allows us to be confident without being rigid and

overbearing



What is a personal code of conduct?

What is a personal code of conduct?

• A personal code of conduct is a list of reminders that causes us to practice right behavior.• State rules positively.• Use “I will” statements.

• Living by a code of good conduct has its rewards.• Developing good habits• Fewer occasions to have to apologize• Greater self-esteem• The respect of others



Lesson reviewLesson review• Personal standards are decisions based

on ethics.• Ethics consists of the rules of conduct

that people should follow.• A value system consists of our set of

ideals, beliefs, interests, likes, and dislikes that we use every day to make decisions.



Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• The core values of the U.S Air Force are

Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.

• The word morals is another word for ethics.

• There is a systematic process to help you make ethical decisions.



Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)

• Universal norms are the normal beliefs of people in most cultures.

• In 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• Traits of an ethical person are integrity, honor, and consideration for other people's feelings and needs.



Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)

• Leaders are admired for their ability to motivate others to achieve goals.

• Moral courage is knowing right from wrong; having a firm set of values; and having the strength to live by those values and do what is right regardless of the consequences.



Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• The key to developing moral courage

and maturity is the ability to set goals and achieve them.

• A personal code of conduct is a list of reminders that causes us to practice right behavior.



SummarySummary• What are personal standards?• What is a value system?• What are the core values of the U.S. Air Force?• How are morals and ethics defined?• What are cultural rules? • How are ethical decisions made?• What are the traits of an ethical person?• What are the ethical traits of leaders?• What are moral courage and maturity?• What is a personal code of conduct?



NextNextDone— Ethics

Next— Common courtesies and etiquette

introduction to air force junior rotc lesson 5, chapter 11 ethics

Documents

ethics slide

air force junior rotc

basic rules of ethics

environment slide

contd habits

ethics4 lesson overview

basic beliefs ethics

ethics3 lesson overview