How to think about professional ethics

Abstract

The preceding chapters make it clear that the pursuit of ethical truths and the sustaining of ethical behaviors are intellectually demanding tasks. These efforts are also emotionally demanding; they require high levels of personal courage and a substantial measure of persistence. Thinking about ethics can be intimidating. This concluding chapter enumerates and challenges some of the prevalent myths that inhibit clear thinking about professional ethics, and it closes with an exploration of the relationship between the process of caring and our thinking about ethics. If student services professionals can discard common notions about ethics and substitute an ethics of care as the motivating core, then ethical thinking will be a natural, expected activity and thus have a profound impact on daily professional practice. Ethical MythsMyths often serve as convenient explanations for behavior. They provide a rationale for taking action or, perhaps more often in the case of ethical myths, for avoiding action. Some of the more common myths about ethics follow with brief commentary and challenge. H . J . Canon, R. D. Brown (Eds.). Applrrd Efhirr in Y u d r d Scruicrr. New Directions for Student Services, no 30 San Francisco Jossey-Bass, June 1985.

Building an ethical and effective relationship with student government leaders

“…As applied to student affairs, the work of Kitchner is most helpful (see Canon and Brown, 1985). Kitchner posits the use of five principles in the re:;olution of ethical and moral dilemmas: respect autonomy, do no harm, help others, be just, and be trustworthy (Canon, 1993).…”

“…A sense of perspective, an understanding of fairness and the common good, versatility, a sense of adventure, a commitment to community, and a generative spirit together represent commitment to an ethic of care. Canon and Brown (1985) and Gilligm (1 982) have characterized this concern for relationships as a higher-order skill. When an ethic of care is present, "one invests hisher time, talents and trea-sures .…”