Page 149 - The Ethics of ASEAN

CHAPTER
13

How to build a positive

ethical future for ASEAN

ur conceptual model of five ethical types allows us to understand how different
ethical perspectives can come into conflict and create knots in ethical decision-
Omaking. In the context of ASEAN, the conflicting priorities of nationalist ethics
versus regional ethics have created problems in our ethics of freedom, human rights,
democratic governance and a workplace free of protectionism and discrimination.
On the other hand, recognising and balancing different types of ethics has advantages
for a diverse region like ASEAN. Recognising ethical types reduces bias in taking a single
ethical perspective. Including multiple ethical types ensures stakeholder inputs as well as
impact. Integrating different types of ethics is useful for analysing an issue and creating
an inclusive and balanced framework to deal with it. Prioritising ethical types untangles
conflicting ethical values and leads to robust decision-making. Including ethical types in
education courses and ethical training builds critical thinking and mature ethical decision-
making.
Ethical diversity and inclusion are an important part of ethical capability in ASEAN.
Capability follows a logical chain of steps starting with awareness of an ethical issue,
leading to taking ethical action and learning from its results. Here is a simple logical ethical
model: 1
1. becoming aware of ethical implications of an issue and analysing ethical types
and stakeholders;
2. organising inclusive discussion of ethical issues from stakeholder perspectives
and developing arguments for making an ethical judgment;

1 Logical chains of ethical action going back in philosophy as far as Aristotle’s practical syllogisms. This an
adaptation of the “four components model” developed by University of Minnesota psychologist James Rest. “The
Four Components of Acting Morally” by Darcia Narvaez & James Rest in Moral Development: An Introduction
published by Allyn & Bacon 1995 pages 385-400. Retrieved 3 August 2023 from the University of Notre
Dame electronic reserves https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Darcia-Narvaez/publication/313099978_
The_four_components_of_acting_morally_Moral_behavior_and_moral_development_An_introduction/
links/6075c2b8299bf1f56d55e854/The-four-components-of-acting-morally-Moral-behavior-and-moral-
development-An-introduction.pdf

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