Introduction to Ethics in Design

Designers have to make conscious decisions during the design process. Designers need to orient themselves some of the following issues for the rational answers. The ethical responsibility depends upon understanding conflicting issues rather than following preconceived rules. Ethics is a continuous process of learning. Based on socio-cultural and political environmental conditions ethics may change. Therefore it is not being accepted as permanent solution for ever.
(Read more:http://mlab.uiah.fi/polut/Yhteiskunnalliset/lisatieto_ethics_primer.html; March 25, 2013)

Understanding Ethics?

Ethics philosophically implies rational study of differences of morality in human behaviour. Human societies have conceived various guiding principles because of societal characteristics. It is a set of conducts based on beliefs and virtues. Some of them are implicit or explicit. A personal action may be considered moral, immoral or amoral from the point of view of ethical studies:

• Moral - Concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behaviour and character based on those principles and societal moral codes (ethics)
• Immoral - an act or thought that is against personal or societal moral codes (ethics)
• Amoral - an act or thought that does not confirm choices based on moral codes (unmoral)

Moral issues may have multiple options depending on the given condition. The prevailing condition may derive number of options just like in design solutions. Moral values may justify determining the choice of action. Moral issues are highly subjective based on specific conditions.