Navigating Moral Dilemmas – Applying Virtue Ethics and Aristotle Golden Mean

Navigating Moral Dilemmas – Applying Virtue Ethics and Aristotle’s Golden Mean

A moral decision that would fall under honesty is when a professional accountant in a certain company suddenly realizes that there are cases of embezzlement in the accounts. The question that arises is whether it would be more productive to disclose these anomalies or remain silent. In this case, the virtue of honesty is relevant since it involves being truthful and having integrity.

In this situation, the accountant has the ethical duty to be honest, meaning that they should report the discrepancies to the proper channels in the company. This manner of expression is important because it maintains the principles of accountability and honesty in reporting the financial situation, which is a core tenet for the sustenance of the organizations and the economy (Rachels & Rachels, 2019). By opting for honesty, the accountant provides adjusted information in decision-making statements to the investors or any interested party in the organization.

Applying Aristotle’s golden mean, the accountant should aim for a balanced approach between deficiency and excess. Deficiency would entail avoiding the inconsistencies or even hiding them, which compromises ethical standards and may result in detrimental outcomes due to the breach of ethical norms (Meyer & Choo, 2023). Excess, on the other hand, might involve publicly shaming the company or exaggerating the issues without proper investigation. The golden mean in this context, therefore, is to report the discrepancies responsibly and within the right forums and without inflaming more detriment or panic than is necessary.

This dilemma also involves conflicting moral duties between loyalty to the company (professional duty) and integrity (ethical duty). Loyalty entails not speaking ill of the company and doing everything possible to avoid destroying the company’s reputation. The accountant is primarily responsible for the truth and the trust of stakeholders, and this should guide their decision-making process. Hence, the decision to report the financial irregularities in this particular moral dilemma is the right one as it espouses the virtue of honesty while also putting the good of the organization first.

References

Meyer, M., & Choo, C. W. (2023). Harming by deceit: Epistemic malevolence and organizational wrongdoing. Journal of Business Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-023-05370-8

Rachels, J., & Rachels, S. (2019). The elements of moral philosophy (9th ed.). McGraw Hill Education.

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Initial Post Instructions
Each person owes a duty to himself or herself and the world to study ethics and to engage in thoughtful debate about what is right, and what is wrong. It is this habit of thinking about and reflecting on ethics that will help you determine the right choices when faced with an ethical dilemma.

Navigating Moral Dilemmas – Applying Virtue Ethics and Aristotle’s Golden Mean

Articulate a moral dilemma wherein one has to show a specific virtue or virtues (it can be any virtue or virtues including honesty, courage, charity/generosity, compassion, etc.)

What is the moral dilemma about?
What virtue or virtues should be shown? (You are here to select the best course of action)
Why is that virtue or those virtues to be shown?
How should the virtue or virtues be expressed, and why in that manner?
Apply Aristotle’s golden mean to the dilemma.
Tell us how the dilemma involves conflict moral duties (loyalty to community versus to self, professional versus familial duties, national or personal obligations).
The dilemma must be a situation in which a choice has to be made.

Be sure you tell us why your chosen course of action was best.