Professional Ethics by S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.

E
St.Joseph's Chennai
 Nichomachean Ethics (384-322 B.C.)
 Virtues as acquired habits that enable us
engage effectively in rational activities.
 Activities that define a particular aspect of
human beings.
 Wisdom or good Judgment as most important
virtue
 Moral virtues are tendencies, acquired
through habit formation, to reach a proper
balance between the extremes in conduct,
desire, emotion and attitude
Professional Ethics by S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's
Chennai
Virtue Definition of Excess Definition of Deficiency
Courage Rashness or Cowardice or no self
foolhardiness control in danger
Truthfulness Revealing all Secretive or reluctance to
information part with any information
Generosity Wasting resource Miserly
Friendliness Annoyingly Effusive Sulky or surly

Professional Ethics by S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's

Chennai
 Related virtue to Medicine •Promotion of
Health
social practices i.e.
cooperative
activities aimed to
achieve public good
– Internal Practice Law •Social Justice

 They differ from

external goods such
as prestige and
money – External •Learning and Self
Teaching
Practice Development

Professional Ethics by S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's

Chennai
 Creation of useful and safe technological
products while respecting the autonomy of
clients and the public especially in the
matters of risk taking

Professional Ethics by S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's

Chennai
 Service to some important aspect of Public
Good, in addition to exercise of advanced
theoretical and practical knowledge.
 Most important professional virtue is
professional responsibility.
 Umbrella Virtue – Specific virtues that
acquires importance in particular situation

Professional Ethics by S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's

Chennai
 Self Direction Public Spirited Team Work Proficiency
Virtue Virtue Virtue Virtue

Self Respect Justice Collegiality Diligence

Integrity Generosity Cooperation Creativity

Community of Effective
Self Confidence Competency
Sense Communication

Leadership
Courage
Qualities

Moral Judgment

Professional Ethics by S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's

Chennai
 Wisdom

Courage

Justice Temperance

Professional Ethics by S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's

Chennai
 Resolving Moral Dilemma
 Justifying professional obligation and ideals
 Justifying professional Morality

Professional Ethics by S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's

Chennai
Identify the reasons for dilemma

Evaluation & Analysis of information to resolve moral

dilemma

Ranking moral consideration in the order of importance

Identify various alternative course of action

Framework for comparing the alternatives

Reach more balanced and appropriate Judgment

Professional Ethics by S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's

Chennai
 Theory must be clear and formulated with
concepts that are coherent

None of the tenets must contradict each other

Neither the theory or its defense should rely

upon false information

Provide guidance in specific situation of interest

to us

Compactable with our most carefully considered

moral convictions about concrete situations

Professional Ethics by S.Arunachalam A.P/E.E.E St.Joseph's

Chennai