Activity 2: Ethical Statements
Activity time: 20 minutes
Materials for Activity
- Handout 1, Ethical Statements
- Pen or pencil for each participant
Preparation for Activity
- Copy Handout 1, Ethical Statements, for all participants.
Description of Activity
Introduce the activity with words like these:
We have explored a number of different ethical and moral frameworks and approaches during this program. This workshop offers a chance to name what guides your ethical and moral decision making.
Distribute the handout and invite participants to reflect on each of the statements. Are there statements with which they strongly agree? Ones with which they strongly disagree? For each statement, invite them to write the word "always, sometimes, or never" which best describes their ethical perspective. Then, invite them to mark the three or four statements which are most closely aligned with the approach they use when making a moral or ethical decision. After five minutes, invite them to share reflections and observations based on this exercise. Ask: "How easy was it to make your determinations?" Invite each person, if they wish, to share the three or four statements that best describe their ethical perspective. Is there broad agreement in your group or a diversity of perspective?
Suggest it may be that our ethical and moral decisions are guided by more than one of the approaches presented in this program, and that we may sometimes change our approach to adapt to circumstances or to new information or perspective.
Ask:
- As we think about our ongoing moral growth, how important is it that we aim to be consistent in our ethical approach, operating from the same general framework or perspective as we make behavior choices?
- When is it okay to be inconsistent in our ethical approach, adapting to each situation or challenge?