Dealing with Complexity

Introduction

As you have learned, ethics is challenging for all of us, in the workplace and in our personal lives. Part of the challenge comes from the fact that our society has become so complex. A few decades ago, life was far simpler than it is now: work, for example, was often a 9-to-5, Monday through Friday job in a particular setting. Now, for many people, work is far more flexible, often done outside of traditional business hours and sometimes through virtual means. And think of entertainment: Just a generation ago, most entertainment was done through face-to-face interaction (going to the movies, playing card games or video games at a friend’s house). Now, we have nearly unlimited options for entertainment, even virtual reality gaming with people we have never met, even someone in a different hemisphere!

This complexity, while it makes life interesting, also impacts ethics. The more accelerated the development and changes in our society, the more complex that ethical dilemmas become. What seems right to you may seem wrong to another. Additionally, one academic or professional discipline can influence ethical behavior in another discipline. In this assessment, you will consider a complex contemporary issue and describe how the issue is influenced by different disciplines. You will consider at least two distinct ethical positions on the issue and defend your own position.