Chapter 1
Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
the ancient days of Socrates to the present. It traces its root to the Latin
define good and bad and to realize our vision of the good in our actions.
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how they are derived can make difference in our social, personal and
Ethical Theories
c) Virtue ethics
Teleological Theory
Jeremy Bentham and J.S. Mill. It says that the basic or ultimate criterion
consequences that are brought into being. The final appeal, directly or
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and only if it or the rule under which it falls produces, will probably
does not do so. An act ought to be done if and only if it or the rule under
value of what they bring about or try to bring about. The drawback of
persons.
Deontological Theory
murder or theft3.
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the kinds of acts they are and not simply because of their ends or
consequences.
innocent of consequences.
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determined by rules alone, for rules can have exceptions. If rules have
of obligation are all purely particular ones like “In this situation one
should do so and so”. Each case must be judged on its own merits, for
Categorical Imperative
from a claim that human happiness is the sole good (which we cannot
proposes simply that reasons for action must be reasons for all. He
insists that we can have reasons for recommending only those principles
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universalizable principles.
which you can at the same time will that it becomes a universal law’.
The second formulation that has had and still has the greatest
to act in such a way that the maxim of our actions could be raised to a
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would be destroyed and many would find that they could not get their
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treat yourself and every other person as of equal intrinsic value; behave
realizes his own good in promoting the good of others. The third
own autonomy and that of others. Autonomy is based on the idea of self-
reason.
Virtue Ethics
used the term ‘virtue’ to explain our moral obligations. ‘Virtue’ may be
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Aristotle admits that virtue is not just a matter of the right amount,
and that it is difficult to bring all virtues and vices into his scheme:
‘anger and pity… may be felt both too much and too little, and in both
cases not well; but to feel them at the right times, with reference to the
right people; with the right motive, and in the right way, is what is
and actions, of which there can be either too much, or too little, or the
and prodigality. There are no simple rules for deciding what the mean is
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suppression of them.
reason. The mean in which virtue lies must be determined by the sort of
reason by which the prudent person would determine it. Virtue aims at
what is best14.
know what is virtue, but in order to become good. One becomes good by
and actions will be free of the conflict and pain. Acquiring this position
lies in mean popularly called the ‘golden mean’. Choosing in this way is
generosity at the right time, toward the right people, in the right way,
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Applied Ethics
the above mentioned professions and their workers. The issues discussed
and guidelines for public policy16. Any moral issue may be the subject
of applied ethics. The study of applied ethics goes beyond the assertion
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upon the kind of ethical theory applied to deal with the problems17.
Mass Media
post modern world solely rely on the media for first hand information. It
is media which helps democracy become ‘of’ and ‘by’ the people. It
the governor.
on our life, our government and our society as a whole. In view of the
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conscious of its negative impact. As saying goes everything has got its
doubt it has positive contributions and positive impact on our society but
its negative impact can also be not denied as people have raised their
voices against media at several occasions. Apart from this media have
have negative impact, we must use this powerful instrument with great
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Media Ethics
1850. The first use of the word in the heading of an article criticizing the
formulated in 1890.
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US in early 20th century revived the interest in ethics. In the 1920s, some
journalism ethics with the emphasis on scientific naturalism and with the
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US18. Now almost all journalism schools have a paper of ethics or ethics
conduct have been formulated from time to time, to guide and help
their calling as a trust and must guard and serve public interests.
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comments.
comments.
reactions.
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interests.
explicitly stated.
always be respected.
purposes.
personal interests.
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facts and the rights of their comments and criticism and principles
15. Matters which encourage vice and crime shall be restraint from
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Advertising Ethics
ensures that the general accepted standards of public decency are not
use of National Emblems. Some excerpts from the code of ethics for
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of purchase.
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general public.
the public as between goods by one maker and another maker should
be used as it is unfair.
slogans.
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subject21.
are not statutory rules but general principles to help journalists to self-
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avoided.
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them.
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for journalist are not cast-iron statutory rules, but voluntary. There are
organization themselves.
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good or bad, right or wrong in any arising situation and for justifying
their actions.
taken in the profession of journalism then even minor mistake can bring
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existing traditions of the society have invited ire of the critics, protests
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