What is an ethical choice?
The interest concerning ethical choice stems from the fact that such a situation sooner or later confronts every person. Ethical choice is a person’s choice in favor of either good or evil, the choice of ethical alternatives. Thus, “ethical standards are what the majority accepts as good, and the way they behave without imposed rules and regulations” (Chmielewski, 2004).
The situation of ethical choice reveals the true nature of a man: some people are guided by common values and rules whereas the others - by greed, selfishness, self-preservation instinct. People always have a choice between good and evil, between life according to conscience or opportunism, between the adherence to the cause or service to other people. Thus, we live in a society where rights imply respective reciprocity, according to Vocke Jr. (n.d.). Hence, a decision may be considered as ethical when it is accepted by larger part of the society, according to Jones (1991).
Ethical choice is usually used interchangeably with moral choice. The former one relates to a person’s choice within the society whereas the latter one relates to the choice with regard to personal view and values. However, it is quite obvious that personal values are usually formed by the social ones and vice versa.
Ethical choice or the appropriate standards of ethical behavior in society, can often be different from the rational, beneficial for a person in terms of convenience, saving time and effort, monetary gains and so forth. What a person prefers in the process of committing his or her choice can be both moral and immoral. However the process of committing the selection still shall be called "ethical choice".
According to Kraut (2001), Aristotle believed that ethical choice should be different from the person’s desires, be known and relevant to humans and be conscious. We live in a free society, so freedom is the determining factor of a moral position of any person.
The concepts of "good" or "bad" are abstract for each person, despite the generally accepted standards. Although in any society, human morality is considered through a person’s behavior, actions, and attitudes to certain things, to his or her freedom of choice. This is where a person reveals himself or herself, appearing at the same time as a creative and independent one.
When in a difficult life or emergency situation, a person is able to express himself or herself in the way as it would have never been another time. On the contrary, his or her behavior will be as usual, and it will also be an indicator of ethics.
Moreover, the man’s will power is also a great indicator of ethics, though not everyone possesses it. If a person has a strong will power, which in fact turns out to be much more significant and essential than many other factors, then he or she is unlikely to face the problem of ethical choice.
Therefore, the "ethical choice" being a process of moral evaluation of what a person is going to feel, think, say, do or not do while making a decision, accurately measures what are the person’s moral and ethical attitudes with regard to the outside world. That is what a person allows or forbids to himself or herself, are there any doubled standards, how he or she manages moral principles.
References
Kraut, R. (2001, May 1). Aristotle's Ethics. Retrieved December 20, 2014, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-ethics/#Bib
Chmielewski, C. (2004).The Importance of Values and Culture in Ethical Decision Making. Retrieved December 20, 2014 from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Clearinghouse/View-Articles/Values-and-culture-in-ethical-decision-making.aspx
Vocke Jr., W. (n.d.). Three Pillars of Ethical Choice. Retrieved December 20, 2014, from http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/education/001/ethics/0002.html
Jones, T. M. (1991) Ethical decision making by individuals in organizations: An issue-contingent model. Academy of Management Review,16(2): 366-395.
