Ethics and Ethical Analysis

Abstract

This chapter builds upon Chap. 2 in setting up the philosophical framework and analysis tools for discussing moral theories and problems in ethical relativism. We discusses the moral and ethical premises and their corresponding values in the changing technology arena. In particular, we give two fitting definitions of ethics; the traditional definition of ethics and the functional definition of ethics as involving a value mapping. We discuss ethical decision making as a process of making a decision which may result in one or more moral conflicts. We end the chapter with a list of codes of ethics in use by different professional organizations.