Ethics

Relationship Procedure:

(Rawls/Justice Theories)

The Relationship Lens comes from the justice and communitarian strand of the deontological tradition. This tradition focuses on the whether the processes we have set up in our community are just systems. John Rawls and Amitai Etizioni are thoughtful spokespersons for this tradition. As we consider our systems, Robert Bellah and William Frederick remind us that we are profoundly connected to all persons and part of a community.

Core Contextual Question: How do I fit?

Core Ethical Question: What is a fair system?

Core Moral Question: What is the correct subordination of my rights to the group?

Core Spiritual Question: What is my place in the web of life?

Be Attentive:

* What is the context and assumptions? What are the facts which need to be considered? In framing the context, what assumptions as to competing rights and responsibilities are present?

* Who is the ethical actor? Who or what group will be taking the action in this particular problem? What are the implications of taking a middle view – knowing that I am one of the people in this problem but not knowing which one. I could be the most advantaged or the least advantaged.

* What is the very specific issue to be resolved? At this stage the person making the decision states the issue in the form of a question to be answered. The person making the decision must make sure the question is an ethical question, not a technical question about how to do a job or a matter of personal preference.

Be Intelligent:

* Who are the stakeholders? Who are those people and/or groups to which we owe a duty? What are the express and implied agreements that you have with each of the constituents?

* What are the values in tension? Make a preliminary identification of the values in tension. What are the tensions in the right treatment of people? What are the tensions in the right use of property… both individual rights and community rights (such...