Moral principles defined: a decision-making perspective

Adrian Bishop

International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 2005, vol. 6, issue 3/4, 326-333

Abstract: This paper examines the case for a clearly expressed and defined moral code. Whilst the need for moral values and the framework for a clear moral compass to clarify decision making is strongly promoted, the reality is that the philosophical tradition continues to deny that any such code is possible. The more intensely the case for a universal moral code is made, the more intensely the philosophers argue against it. The result is the present post-modern narcissistic culture devoid of any real moral framework. A clear route is proposed through this moral impasse by side-stepping the philosophical "dragons" of moral definition, moral distance, moral relativism, and moral absolutism by the unequivocal process of creating a list of moral values. The very process of doing this creates the rules that define them. Moral values in order to be taken seriously "have to be consistent with each other", "have covered all the gaps" and "be moral". This process, not only demonstrates the underlying weakness of the philosophical arguments against the possible existence of a moral code, but also promotes a unifying morality that assists in making complex ethical choices and encourages consistency in ethical decision making.

Keywords: moral code; ethical principles; moral compass; ethical decision making; moral values; defined ethics. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005
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