Good Ethics Essay Example

Olivia Brooks

Ethics and Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is defined as reasonable, reflective thinking that is focused on deciding what to do or believe (Norris & Ennis, 1998). This kind of thinking is a set of skills that can be learned and improved through practice. Critical thinking grants freedom from self-deception, nonsense and half-truths. It promotes success, uncovers prejudices and reveals long-term consequences. People can gain clarity and perspective with critical thought.
Critical thinking skills are important anytime you need to make a choice or formulate a plan of action. It is possible to temporarily suspend judgement and remain open-minded while striving to understand the truth of your perspective. Ask questions, make observations and consider various points of view. Have the courage to pause and admit to yourself that you are unsure. It is okay not to know the answer. Continue using the critical thinking skills.
Use active listening techniques in conversations, which is expressing the other person’s point of view in your own words, to be clear about the message being communicated. Consider if what you hear is opinion or fact. Try to remain detached and objective, especially on emotionally charged issues. Be honest with yourself and others. Check your attitude for sincere willingness to hear other opinions with tolerance and respect and then appropriately utilize logic to analyze and evaluate the evidence. Determine the reasons for your decisions. Have you been influenced by a new idea you heard? You can change your mind without losing yourself, provided you have proof in support of your results.
These critical thinking skills go hand in hand to complement a strong personal belief system, which is a guide for me to navigate my professional and societal obligations. My ethical lens inventory reveals that I believe in equality over autonomy. The well-being of the society as a whole is important to me, demonstrating compassion for people and valuing friendship and fair treatment of individuals. I take seriously my role as a responsible, upstanding member of the community and I am mindful of my actions. I tend to believe that all people live out the positive traits of their character. I avoid rash behavior and do not apply one-size-fits all solutions to obstacles that must be overcome.
Being a good citizen encompasses being better informed in regards to pertinent local political, social and economic issues. I expect others to also exemplify ethical behavior in their leadership roles. The hazards of my blind spot in my ethical lens are that my personal expectations can sometimes be unrealistic. I can have a sense of entitlement and fall victim to believing insincere flattery. Sometimes, I am unreceptive to constructive criticism, which could help me improve my professional and interpersonal skills if I would be open to hearing and processing it. Incorporating such improvements on the job might lead to opportunities for professional advancement and further opportunities to make a positive impact in my workplace.
Finding a balance will involve checking to see if my head and my heart agree on my conclusions. I can be consistent without stagnating, balance the rights of individuals with the concerns of the whole community and live out the best of my ideals with compassion.

References

“Assessing Judgement” Chapter 4.
“Becoming a Master Student” Cengage Learning. 15th Ed. Chapter 7.
“Ethical Lens Inventory” Ethics Game Resource Center. April 6, 2015.
“Ethical Values and Commitments: From Student to Professional to Community Member” Ethics Game Comparison of Values to Codes of Conduct. May 2014.