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There are different ways moral dilemmas can be approached:

Consequentialist- what is morally right is determined by the outcome.

Deontologist- in contrast is not concerned with the outcome more with the correct motivation behind the action.

Virtue Ethicist- considers what a decision says about the character and behaviour of that person

There are three theories on ethics which try to explain how we should act on our own or around others:

Meta-ethics- Asks what is good or bad. This is different from ethics in that it seeks to find an analysis of how we use our morals. It is not trying to find out how we should behave in a situation rather find the meaning behind the moral terms.

Normative ethics- This is concerned with what should one do and how we should live and act and concerns what people believe to be right or wrong; in order for us to live well. One element of this is virtue ethics as explained above.

Applied ethics- Is finding the solution of a moral problem such as professional ethics or research ethics.

What I have learned so far is that in my current position of work (Ballet Company and an English ballet school) I rely heavily on Normative Ethics and being a Virtue Ethicist. For example in the company we are not expected to push another dancer down the stairs because we could dance their role better therefore improving the standard of the performance; this would be an example of extreme Consequentialism. Instead we seek the moral high ground (Consideration and respect for all colleagues and employers and Be responsible for your own safety and the safety of those around you) and do what is “good”, what we should do in the respect of what people believe to be right or wrong (Normative Ethics).

On the teaching side of things we do not turn to being a Consequentialist where the ends justifies the means by crushing a student’s spirit and body to next to breaking point just because it would make them a prima ballerina in the future. We hear horror stories from Russian and Chinese Ballet training, for example, where they break the dancers’ feet to improve the line. Instead we focus on the wellbeing of the pupil so they can grow in a relatively stress free environment so they can unlock their true potential. (Not to say that western training is easy as we all know) It’s all about asking ourselves what is “good” and “right” in the social setting as described in Normative Ethics.

I have also learned that Applied Ethics often come into play in my workplace. Injuries is a big example: If I am injured, do I take time off to recover increasing someone else’s work load or do I suffer in silence hoping that it just gets better but might endanger the quality of my work and therefore the entire show? We try to find the solution to this moral problem (applied ethics). A Consequentialist would probably always take the time off because in the end they get better and the show’s quality is maintained however a Virtue Ethicist who is considering what a decision says about them as a character, especially in the eyes of others (employers/colleagues) would stay on so they can do the right thing by not increasing some else’s workload.

What have I learnt from ethics in a professional context?

Ethics applies in every aspect of the way business runs- affecting the people that work there and therefore the entire organization. Reading about and hearing from my own colleagues and employers different codes of practice has provided me with a better understanding of and a wider spectrum of professional ethics. It always comes down to what an individual values, which in turn can often, but not always, stem from their position in the workplace and then where that workplace fits in society. For example James, Head of a countries biggest export company has more financially riding on his decisions than Gary who owns a Laundromat. Therefore James will sometimes make a socially unaccepted decision for the greater good of his country’s economy. Consequentialism even if James’s common sense has told him otherwise; he values his job and the wellbeing of his nation.

Decisions often start with common sense but are sometimes changed by what is legal, then what is specific to a certain company (Code of conducts to that company) Ethics in the work place give guidelines for employees to help solve problems in a socially acceptable way. However, there are times when a decision has no obvious answer. In this case virtue ethics would chime in using what is personally right to us.

Professional ethics are based on the requirements and expectations of your job and sometimes you may have to set aside personal ethics to use professional ethics in order to achieve your profession’s goal. This has led me to the conclusion that in business, Consequentialism is very dominant!