Ethics are a set of rules of conduct of human behavior that are agreed upon by a majority of individuals across a group or culture. Ethics often pertain to what is right or wrong conduct in the examination of an individual's motives and ends. One of my favorite quotes related to ethics was uttered by fictional television psychiatrist Fraser Crane on the former his sitcom Fraser, "Ethics are what you do when nobody's looking." I like this quote because it demonstrates that you can fool others by acting ethical on the surface, but it is what you do when you know nobody is watching that really defines your individual ethics or moral code of conduct.
To act ethically, a number of critical thinking processes are involved from thinking rationally to sound decision-making. For example, it is often easy to be emotional about the ethics involved in issues like individual autonomy versus conformity to authority. For instance, the Student Code of Conduct maintains disciplinary action will be taken for "Failure to promptly comply with any reasonable directive from faculty or University officials" ("Student" 2). Critical thinking would demand asking what is defined as a "reasonable" directive. Likewise, the question of what defines "promptly" might need addressed to determine motives or ends for not promptly responding to directives. Such questions demonstrate how motives and ends are considered in ethical questions. Viewing the motives or potential bias of those on both sides of the debate would also involve critical thinking that require ration and objective thought to come to a valid conclusion about the ethics involved.
"Student Rights and Responsibilities," (2007), 1-2.
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