What are these 7 principles of ethics you speak of? What are their names; ethics, truth telling, integrity, non-maleficence, autonomy, beneficence, and truth telling? What are their functions and meaning?
Ethical principles are usually classified into two groups. The first group includes those that are descriptive of what ethical behaviour is; that is, what a person should do or not do, as regards what is morally right. The second group includes those that have more to do with what a person does in relation to achieving some given ends or effects. For instance, respect, honesty, trustworthiness, and concern for others form part of the second group of ethical principles. They are then sub-divided into two further groups.
The first set of ethical principles concerns how we should relate ourselves to others. These include what we ought to say, do, or be. The other set of ethical principles concerns what we should do, how we should behave, and what we must have respect for. Within these broad themes, there are then further smaller but equally important themes that lie within them. These are known as the values, the motivation, and the commitment to undertake which the principles support.
In this article we will consider the meaning and relevance of the values, motivation and commitment to undertake that the ethical principle of truth telling indicates. The moral principles that support truth telling stress that people have to tell the truth about what they do and why they do it. This includes both what they knowingly do and what they unintentionally do. The same goes for the values that support honesty and respect.
Ethical persons are those who practice the ethic or value of honesty. Everyone is obligated by the unwritten moral codes of honesty to speak the truth and help one another. If a person violates the ethical code and the law, it is not the end of the world. It is considered a transgression and the consequences of such action are often severe. An unethical person is not one who is willing to take responsibility for his actions and does not accept the consequences of his actions – this is an example of a moral failure.
Justice is another of the ethic principles that concern the behavior of ethical persons. People who live by the moral rules of justice also live by the laws of morality so as to act justly among others. Justice involves fairness, impartiality and truthfulness. It is not justice that puts one in a position of advantage over others or rewards people who behave unjustly.
The moral issues that arise from the existence of these five human values and their application are important and deserve our attention. A person who lies commits a transgression and deserves to be punished for his crimes. A person who is involved in wrongdoing has respect for other people’s rights and does what is right. A person who practices injustice treats unequal classes of people unequally. A person who is dishonest has no respect for truth and honesty and always tries to deceive others. According to the ethic of justice, a man deserves to be respected and trusted. He should be provided with the necessities of life and he should be able to have the same respect for others that we have for ourselves. The family that consists of a mother, father, siblings and dependent children has a special relationship with the family. Each member has a duty to uphold the integrity of the family. Those who exhibit justice, honesty and integrity can have the respect of those they involve in their relationships and they will be granted the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of these