Appendix

Logo: TERA.

A Guide to Developing a Multidimensional Ethical Conscience

1. Ethical Knowledge: Analyzing the Situation

During your analysis, highlight as many elements as possible that are associated with the ethic of justice and critique. Then make a note of elements associated with the ethic of care that are either present or missing. An awareness of these three ethical dimensions is the necessary first step in a moral analysis of the situation.

Here is a series of ethical questions linked to these three perspectives:

(a) Ethic of critique

Six questions are linked to the ethic of critique; they are intended to assist you in understanding all relations of power or manipulation:

Identify the person or persons who benefit from this situation. Identify the person or group who dominates this situation.
Identify the person(s) who are liable to be put at a disadvantage by this situation.
Describe the forms of injustice that could arise if this situation is not resolved.
What are the possible consequences from the standpoint of this ethical perspective?
What is the value that you wish to preserve in the light of the ethic of critique?

(b) Ethic of care

The questions linked to the ethic of care are:

How do you plan to safeguard the dignity of the person in question?
Have you listened to the persons concerned?
Do you truly understand the situation from the point of view of the persons concerned?
What are the possible consequences from the standpoint of this ethical perspective?
What is the value that you wish to preserve in the light of the ethic of care?

The questions related to the ethic of justice are:

Have you gathered the facts and the means of proof that bear on this situation?
Have you examined legislative measures, laws, policies, and procedures that relate to this situation?
Do you have the right (administrative or legal) to act or not?
What are the possible consequences from the standpoint of this ethical perspective?
What is the value that you wish to preserve in the light of the ethic of justice?

2. Volition

This phase aims to bring to light the value that will be preserved and on which the decision will rest. To shed light on the process of ethical judgment, we invite you to consider these questions, which are associated with the second phase:

What are the values implicit in this situation?
Which ethic will be given priority in this decision?
What higher value will be preserved?
Are you aware of the repercussions and consequences of your ethical choice or your decision? Have you thoroughly weighed the possibility that you neglected to consider a particular ethic (or ethics) in your analysis and the effects this could have?
What arguments exist to bolster your decision?
Are you in a position to present these arguments effectively to the public, to colleagues, or to committees and to face a detailed examination on their part? (the other)
Are you in a position to come to terms with this situation? (yourself)

Figure of Identified Ethical Dimensions.

▶ Expand / collapse: Extended Description

This figure describes an ethical leadership approach based on the three identified ethical dimensions of critique, justice and,care. This approach includes the following sequential steps, with each next step having a higher level of responsibility and authenticity. 1. Respond to the situation. 2. Check against organisational rules and policies. 3. Ethical conscience. 4. Ethical analysis, which is based on critique, justice and care, which includes personal and professional values, moral judgement and the decision making process. 5. Political support and validation. 6. Assertiveness, which involves confronting a concerned party or parties face to face while preserving one's dignity, respecting others, and presenting strong and transparent reasoning. 6. The process ends with closure and the anticipation of consequences- the effects on oneself, on one's surroundings and on others.

NOTE: Approach adopted by school board superintendents seeking to practice ethical leadership (Langlois 2004).

Once you have answered all these questions, you will have a solid basis on which to justify your action. This justification will give you the courage to act (volition).

3. Action

Describe the imaginary scenario in which you will present your decision, taking note of the fact that all three ethics played a part in your analysis and that, in view of the situation, your decision was founded on one ethic in particular, with the goal of preserving an overarching value.

Questions associated with this phase:

Will your decision set precedents?
If so, have you considered the conditions that will be put in place?
Are you convinced that your decision will be the best and most just in the long run?
Do you believe that your decision encourages and sustains an authentic and ethical organization?
Who will be affected by your decision (organizations, individuals, groups)?

List of References