Chapter 1: Ethical Responsibility in Human Communication

This week, we have set Schultze aside and turned to the book, "Ethics in Human Communication," by Richard Johannesen, Kathleeen Valde, and Karen Whedbee.

Chapter one addresses the issue of ethical responsibilities in communication. Although I found the text to be fairly dense and hard to read (not bad, just written quite differently than Schultze), there were some interesting ideas I gathered from the text.

I liked the way the authors split the chapter into sections, such as "Ethics and Personal Character" or "Components of Morality and Integrity."

The authors explore different areas where ethics might be needed, or where ethics can be more of a fluid idea.

In the beginning of text, the authors offer counter arguments to people who might justify their ethical or nonethical behavior on the fact that ethics are just someone's personal opinion. This struck me as a fascinating idea.

If ethics are indeed, a personal opinion (I would say they are), are there certain circumstances where a person's opinion, although the First Amendment grants us the right to freedom of speech/media and so on, are inappropriate, and breech ethical standards.

Yes, of course. Ethical issues, although disputable, are needed and necessary for a culture or environment. For example, it is unethical to walk up to someone and demand that he or she gives the thief the money.

But what if the person stealing money was broke, and trying to feed his or her family with that money?

Does that make it okay?

That does not solely involve unethical/ethical communication, but actions as well.

That is why certain organizations follow a set of ethical guidelines. They may not be fully agreed upon, but they do form a pathway for people to follow.

For example, journalists often will follow the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics (http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp).

As Christians, does the Bible act as our code of ethics? I say yes. But what about non-Christians? Where do their ethical guidelines come from, or what sets the line between right and wrong?

Hmm...

What do you think?