5 October to 12 October

Ethical reflection: 'Ethics is' and 'Ethics isn't'
When first approaching matters of ethics with a group of professionals, I usually ask everyone to write two statements, one beginning 'Ethics is' and one beginning 'Ethics isn't'. Their responses always repay reflection, for example:

ETHICS IS
· Treating everyone with respect, equality, sensitivity and empathy.
· Protecting people, whilst considering and respecting their personal beliefs and values.
· A compass to guide our behaviour.
· Being respectful and considerate of the humanness of every individual.
· Treating individuals with respect and the way you would want to be treated: not harming, insulting or offending them or putting them in danger.
· A group of personal beliefs and morals gathered together over a lifetime, that one lives one's life by.

ETHICS ISN'T
· A set of values or beliefs shared by everyone.
· Imposing your views of how things should be on others.
· Set in stone.
· Forgetting peoples' individual needs.
· Being unfair, putting your views onto others, being disrespectful.
· A static concept or set of rules by which we all live, or a means of obtaining power over others.
· Doing something that harms, abuses or disempowers someone.

What do you think ethics is, and isn't?

Gavin Fairbairn, Running Stream Professor of Ethics and Language, School of Applied Global Ethics. g.fairbairn@leedsmet.ac.uk

For advice about writing ethical reflections click here