Question

What are the three forms in which ethical guidelines can be written?

1) In the form of laws and regulations
2) In the form of professional codes of conduct
3) In the form of organizational policies and procedures
4) In the form of personal beliefs and values

Answer 1

Ethical guidelines exist in the form of laws and regulations, professional codes of conduct, organizational policies and procedures, and personal values. Areas like applied ethics and normative ethics differentiate in focus, with normative ethics providing systemic moral frameworks like consequentialist and deontological theories.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ethical guidelines can be encapsulated in various forms such as laws and regulations, professional codes of conduct, organizational policies and procedures, and personal beliefs and values. In the context of applied ethics, these guidelines apply moral principles to controversial issues to determine the right actions, guide conduct within various professions and organizations. For instance, the IEEE-CS has established a Software Engineering Code of Ethics for software engineers, highlighting the role of professional codes of conduct in maintaining ethical standards.

Normative ethics is concerned with moral behavior and establishing criteria for correct behavior, differing from metaethics and applied ethics in its focus. Normative ethics is systematized through approaches like consequentialist, deontological, and virtue ethics. Formal norms, including laws and organizational policies, represent explicit and enforceable rules, reflecting cultural values and moral theory foundations.