Introduction
Values are beliefs, norms, or conducts that are essential to people. They entail actions that one perceives to be right. Values help people differentiate right from wrong. Ethics, on the other hand, is doing right or wrong. Since individual values and ethics differ, disputes are inevitable. Consequently, people are always judged in a court of law or by others for their actions and motives. People may feel that their actions and motives are right, hence defend themselves from others’ perceptions using ethical theories such as utilitarianism and deontological theories. In daily life activities, values and ethics drive people and organizations because they help in attaining personal and organizational goals.
My Values
My values are based on relationships with others because they help me practice, live, and lead a healthy lifestyle. For instance, I believe that respect for the other people is an essential value to learn, as it enables me to live well with others in the community. Through respecting other people, I can equally get to gain respect for myself. As a personal value, I realize that where my self-respect is threatened, I am most likely to feel abused or demoralized. Consequently, I strive to ensure I do not place others in a similar situation.
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The origin of my values is from family, books, and the bible. My family has often encouraged me to be respectful to other people through leading by example and making it a golden rule. Biblically, it is against the ten commandments of God to be disrespectful. When a person is disrespectful to others, the person lacks respect for themselves. Actions of self-disrespect are often evident through not believing in oneself, letting fear lead an individual, constantly feeling unloved, blaming oneself for everything, hiding true emotions, obsessing over appearance, and getting stuck in toxic relationships, among others. Consequently, it can become a psychological challenge.
The influence of my ethical beliefs, as noted above, is from family. My parents would lead by example, through showing respect for others in the family, For instance, personal space was respected, and my parents did not only insist we respect each other’s personal space, but also showed it, My mother would not go through my things without asking, unless she thought I was in trouble. As a result, I and my siblings were inspired to show respect in a similar way. It was also a rule in the house that we treat others as we expected to be treated. As a result, my mother never tolerated raising the tone of voice especially to the elderly or showing defensive body language. Such actions would always be met with punishment. Finally, we were also encouraged to be open with each other. Sharing of thought and feelings was allowed, and it was made clear that disagreeing is acceptable. Self-respect was further encouraged through positive encouragement, and attention. I was able to see positive images of myself, for instance, since my mother often encouraged my every small attempt to do something good or innovative. By having a positive sense of myself, I grew to value the need to respect others too.
One incidence that is ingrained in my memory that contributed to building respect for self and others occurred when I was quite young. I needed to use colored pencils in an artwork in school, so I took my brother’s pencils. He was not around when I took them and I did not think he would mind. After all, he was my brother! Unfortunately, my brother did not forgive me immediately for that. It happened that he had needed to use them too, and I greatly inconvenienced him. Additionally, he did not feel at peace not knowing who had his pencils. Thus, when he found out I had them, he was infuriated. I did not like that my brother did not speak to me for a number of days after the incident, since he was my best friend. He was the only person I enjoyed playing with, and by not respecting his space, I had ruined that friendship.
Utilitarianism vs. Deontological Theories of Ethics
Utilitarianism is a rule that justifies any act provided it has a better outcome than the available actions. This theory can defend or support acts such as abortion, stealing, lying, and cheating depending on whether they maximize positive results (MacKinnon & Fiala, 2018, p.103). For instance, it may support that lying is right to make a person being told a lie feel better and the liar safer. Suppose an individual in a particular situation does not offer a fabricated statement, both he or she and the receiver of the news will be unhappy as opposed to telling a lie that will make both of them happier. It is one theory that disagrees with itself on how people should think and act morally.
Based on the utilitarianism theory that focuses on positive results or consequences, disrespecting other people leads to unfortunate results, such as what happened with my brother above. Lack of respect for self, on the other hand, may cause psychological challenges. In this case, utilitarianism supports my ethical view that the lack of respect for self and others is wrong. The consequences of disrespecting other people are multiple, and they can affect one both at home and at work. For instance, raising ones voice at the senior supervisor in the office is a sign of disrespect, and can make a person lose their job. In other words, utilitarianism disapproves lack of respect for self and others. As a result, utilitarian’s like Mills support the need for people to show respect for others as they would expect to be treated.
Deontological theory, on the other hand, majors on duties, rights, and obligations. Unlike utilitarianism concept, the deontological moral view does not focus on consequences but on what is right based on one’s duties, rights, and responsibilities (MacKinnon & Fiala, 2018, p.115). It is a concept that does not lean on the benefits produced by an action. According to deontological theorist Kant, people deserve happiness only when they perform their duties. His perception of happiness differs from utilitarian ethics because utilitarianism centers on rendering more pleasure for a more significant population.
Based on Kant’s theory of deontology, my ethical belief can either be morally right or wrong depending on the performer and receiver of the action of respect. For instance, I feel it is my obligation to show respect, and the action makes me happy. As a result, it is morally right for me. “Kant believe that ethics is the rational condition of happiness” (MacKinnon & Fiala, 2018, p.115). He deems that human beings should obey God’s commandments just like Abraham regardless of the outcome and the sadness it brings along. In other words, it emphasizes putting duty ahead of the consequences.
During my childhood, my parents and the Sunday school I used to attend emphasized in telling the truth regardless of the outcomes. Such teaching was based on the deontological theory of Kant. On the other hand, there were times when the same Sunday school and parents told me that sometimes it is good to lie to make others people feel better. Their contradictory statement is based on utilitarianism concept of ethics that focuses on the greater happiness for more people. As a result, their teachings brought me confusion. However, I found myself choosing when to lie and when not to. For instance, when I missed the school opening exams, I would lie that I was sick and make my parents write me a note for my excuse to the teachers so that I would be given the exams at a later date. The lie comforted my angry teachers and me since I would still receive the tests. Disputes are part of our daily lives because people disagree to agree. There were some group of boys who used to bully other students in the school. At times they would gang fight a student or grab one’s lunch pack. I was caught in their situation thrice, as a witness. When taken to the disciplinary office, I realized that I had a duty, to tell the truth, to set the bullied student free regardless of the unhappiness of the students who attacked the other. In such a position, I combined both the deontological and utilitarianism theories of ethics. That is because, even though I was concerned about fulling my duty, I also considered the bullied student’s happiness and that of other students who hoped for a day that the bullies would be punished. Hence, my act was out of courage because I did not consider the fact that the bullies would still come after me.
Conclusion
I believe that beliefs and actions drive people's reactions. If one decides to focus on the happiness of a greater population or on duties that are worth one’s satisfaction, then the person is still morally right depending on the theory that one applies. I think I am still the same person with the same ethical approaches because I find myself using the two ethical methods that are deontological and utilitarianism. I still believe that respect is essential whichever moral framework that I apply. I am still the same person because I know how to blend in the two theories when in every situation. Since I want to excel in my profession in future, I will focus more on my duty respect others and self. Respect for others will ensure I maintain good working relationships. Respect for self, on the other hand, will see to it that I do my best at work. I want to be the person that other people can confidently confide in and trust. At work, I want to be dependable. In this case, I may be a different person from the one I was when I was still young, disrespecting my brother’s personal space. I may, however, be the same person I am now, as I strive to show respect in many ways.
References
MacKinnon, B., & Fiala, A. (2018). Ethics: Theory and contemporary issues .
