Ethical Decision-Making Model Paper

Ethical Decision-Making Model Paper

RaShawn Smith

University of Phoenix

Com 403

March 23, 2014

Bob Hughes

This paper will focus on the definition of the role of ethics in communication. It will also give summaries of three of the seven ethical decision-making models covered within the text. By summarizing three of the models will allow a personal view as to which of the three summarized methods is the more favorable model personally. This final portion of the paper will focus on a description of a situation where the preferred model is used to strengthen individual logic for the selection.

The role ethics play in communication is that ethics provide the necessary guidelines of the communication exchange and the benefit. Ethics aid choice of right and wrong based on individuals, community, and societal greater good for all. Conventionally people have relied on ethics for various explanations of behavior, actions and conduct during all forms of communication exchanges. Ethics aid in the decision- making process of one’s judgment as to why or why not individuals choose right or wrong. Fundamentally ethics are used in every area of communication whether it’s professionally or personally individuals rely on ethics to assist in achieving the best outcome. In most cases individuals have chosen a set of philosophies, beliefs and morals learned by a person or ideal that becomes his or her core standards.

Aristotle’s Mean will the first of the three decision-making models to be summarized from the text introduction. This decision making model implores qualities that are of a virtuous mentality by using words like “temperance, justice, courage, and wisdom” (Christians, Fackler, Richardson, Kreshel, & Woods, 2012, p. 10). Although these words alone are not the definition of virtuous however, incorporated they embody all the qualities of a virtuous individual.

Kant’s Categorical...