Ambiguity of Ethics

 Ambiguity of Ethics

 “. . . what is tragedy, but the conflict between inspiration and truth?” (George Santayana, in Henfrey 1968, 219).

Susan Manning addresses the difficulty that individuals have understanding and resolving dilemmas that involve ethics when she points out that, “Resolving dilemmas requires an ability to apply a reasoning process to situations that involve human beings in multidimensional roles, requirements, and experiences” (p.137). Situations that will arise in the Human Service field will not be black and white with a right and wrong choice. The situations will vary from time to time as well as the internal dilemmas.  David Carr explains the struggles as an “ongoing and interminable struggle for some measure of honesty and integrity in the face of a human nature that cannot but continue to be, in certain fundamental respects, Platonically divided and imperfect” (p.124).

Statement 27, in the Human Service Professional’s Responsibility to the Profession directs us to “seek appropriate consultation and supervision to assist in decision-making when there are legal, ethical or other dilemmas” (p.4). If we are doubtful or uncertain about a certain course of action, then it is our responsibility to seek clarification or interpretation.

In order for any one of us to identify our moral judgment, we must be able to identify there is a need for us to understand our roles in the ethical dilemma. By understanding our role and thoughts it shows us where our ethical responsibility lies. From this point, we have the ability to expand out ethical understanding. Manning believes this is “the first step in moral citizenship” (p. 138).

References

Carr, D. (2010). Moral Madness. Philosophical Investigations, 33(2), 103-125. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9205.2010.01410.x

Council for Standards in Human Service Education adopted 1996. Ethical Standards for Human Service Professionals. Retrieved September 4, 2012, from http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals.

Manning, Susan. (2003). Ethical Leadership in Human Services: A Multi-Dimensional Approach. Pearson, Allyn and Beacon, New York.