Ethical Judgments Research Articles

Future Orientation Predicts BYOB (Bring Your Own Shopping Bags) Behavior Intention: The Mediation Effects of Perceived Importance and Ethical Judgement

Future Orientation Predicts BYOB (Bring Your Own Shopping Bags) Behavior Intention: The Mediation Effects of Perceived Importance and Ethical Judgement

A qualitative study exploring teenagers and their parents’ ethical judgments toward influencers as brand ambassadors

PurposeThe purpose of this study is exploring teenagers’ (aged 11–17) and their parents’ reflections and insights regarding influencer marketing on social media, with a particular focus on advertising literacy and associated ethical perspectives. It examines the impact of influencer marketing on teenagers’ decision-making processes and emphasizes the importance of influencers clearly indicating their advertising collaborations. The study delves into the ethical aspects of advertising literacy, highlighting the significant role that transparent signaling of commercial collaborations plays.Design/methodology/approachThe research involved conducting 40 interviews with both teenagers and one of their parents.FindingsThe study highlights a divergence in perspectives between teenagers and their parents regarding influencer marketing. While parents emphasized the importance of influencers clearly disclosing the commercial nature of sponsored content, teenagers did not see this as necessary. Additionally, the study found that parents often overlooked the ethical implications of honesty in influencer marketing discussions.Originality/valueThese findings underscore the importance of further exploring the complexities surrounding influencer marketing dynamics and the crucial role that parents can play in promoting ethical advertising literacy among teenagers.

Fostering meta-moral cognitive skills among pre-service teachers using creative problem-solving processes

Acknowledging strengths and weaknesses of an ethical judgment, called meta-moral cognitive skills, enables pre-service teachers to make better decisions. Engaging in critical thinking with creative problem-solving can critically evaluate ethical decision-making processes by analysing their different stages. Thus, this study investigated whether creative problem-solving can foster meta-moral cognitive skills. The researchers analysed solutions for a vignette based on real-life experience involving an ethical issue by 51 pre-service teachers using creative problem-solving processes: problem definition, information gathering, concept selection, conceptual combination and reorganization, idea generation, idea evaluation, solution monitoring, and implementation planning. A qualitative analysis of the responses showed that creative problem-solving supported pre-service teachers in identifying the rationale and criticisms of their ethical judgments and limitations in their proposed solutions. The implication is that it is crucial for prospective teachers to undergo training in creative problem-solving of various ethical dilemmas as part of their curriculum.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE INDONESIAN CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW THE ENFORCER’S CONSCIENCE

The purpose of this research is to analyze and evaluate the role of law enforcement in the Indonesian constitutional system, specifically focusing on how the enforcement of laws aligns with the personal conscience and ethical judgment of law enforcers. The study utilizes secondary data gathered through literature reviews, drawing from primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials, such as legislation, books, journals, and articles. The collected data is analyzed following the Miles and Huberman (2014) model, which includes processes of data reduction, data display, and data verification, to derive conclusions pertinent to the research questions. It sheds light on how ethical considerations influence decision-making, offering insights into the moral dimensions of the law enforcement beyond formal legal frameworks. Furthermore, this study contributes to discussions on judicial integrity and accountability, providing a foundation for evaluating how personal conscience impacts the fairness and effectiveness of law enforcing. It also offers practical recommendations for strengthening the ethical standards and professional judgment of judicial officials in Indonesia. Comparative studies on how different countries' judicial systems integrate human rights and democratic values into their law enforcement structures could provide valuable insights for reforming Indonesia's judicial system to meet global standards of justice and fairness.

Hobbes Reimagined: New Materialism, Ethics and Political Theory

Abstract This contribution to a symposium on Samantha Frost’s Lessons from a Materialist Thinker considers her innovative reinterpretation of Thomas Hobbes’s philosophy, situating him as a precursor of New Materialism. Frost’s reading emphasizes Hobbes’s conception of human beings as ‘thinking bodies’ inextricably intertwined with their environment. This materialist conception leads to a relational, peace-oriented ethic rooted in our interdependence. Frost’s interpretation is contrasted with those of Arash Abizadeh and Stephen Darwall. Abizadeh identifies two normative dimensions in Hobbes’s ethics: the prudential and the juridical. This perspective highlights the role of contractual obligations, which is less prominent in Frost’s interpretation. Darwall’s projectivist interpretation suggests that Hobbes saw ethical judgments as projections of our desires onto the world, which potentially challenges Frost’s materialist reading. While acknowledging the tensions between these interpretations, it is argued that Frost’s reinterpretation offers valuable insights for addressing contemporary ethical and political challenges.

Senses and Sensibility: Huckleberry Finn's Path to Truth and Freedom

Given that some masterpieces of English literature still conceal aspects that have not been fully explored, this analysis focuses on Mark Twain’s novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," which remains highly relevant in the context of current global affairs, where discussion on race and tolerance are mainstream. The article argues that the novel's protagonist, Huck, rejects the social programming of his time in favour of freedom, breaking through both social and religious barriers. This work highlights the central role of human senses as the ultimate arbiters of morality and truth in Huck's life. By examining Huck's journey, this analysis emphasizes the profound impact of his intuitive senses in navigating complex moral dilemmas and making ethical decisions. This exploration of sensory perception sheds light on Huck's commitment to moral integrity, revealing the intricate dimensions of human consciousness and ethical judgment. Additionally, the article discusses Mark Twain's effort to challenge and change the prevailing mindset on race. His subtle yet powerful attempt to recalibrate societal views challenges the conventional belief that one's social circumstances dictate their role within the collective, advocating instead for the potential of individuals to transcend societal boundaries and contribute to the pursuit of a more just world.

Ethical decision-making, plagiarism, and using ChatGPT in the first-year public speaking course

ABSTRACT This study explores the ethical decision-making of introductory public speaking students (n = 190) when considering using ChatGPT to generate speeches. Using a modified version of Jones (1991) model, this study examined how students perceived moral aspects, recognized ethical issues, judged situations, and formed intentions. Results showed that perceived moral intensity directly affected recognizing ethical problems. Better recognition led to more appropriate ethical judgments, particularly among those with higher perceived moral intensity. Ethical judgments significantly influenced intentions to use ChatGPT for speeches. Students who viewed the use of ChatGPT as ethically problematic were inclined to avoid it.

Garth Brooks Soundalikes, YouTube Misinformation, and Authenticity Politics

Country musician Garth Brooks has long resisted digital distribution of his recordings, which remain unavailable on most streaming platforms. This artificial scarcity has led audiences to settle for virtually identical recordings performed by cover musicians. Known as soundalikes, these recordings garner hundreds of millions of streams across platforms. On YouTube, uploaders often post soundalikes with misleading titles, causing listeners to mistake soundalikes for original Brooks recordings. This widespread practice inspires users to debate the ethical, aesthetic, and economic implications of soundalikes using YouTube’s comments forum. This article uses text data mining to examine online reception for thirty-seven YouTube videos featuring Brooks and his soundalikes, comprising over 24,000 comments. Alienated from musical labor and absent authoritative paratexts and distribution networks, these listeners compensate by relying upon social media to fill in epistemological gaps and develop a new ethics of listening. Echoing historical discourses on artistic forgery, some listeners invest in exposing deception, posing as style experts whose sometimes erroneous attributions often spill over into negative aesthetic and ethical judgments. Yet others enjoy soundalikes as adequate alternatives, focusing on personal meaning or mimetic craft, thereby eroding the authority of the original recording as a uniquely expressive artifact. Broader user reflections on digital distribution reveal YouTube as a significant site of meaning-making, community formation, and epistemic danger. As deepfakes and other musical deceptions proliferate, this article demonstrates how deregulated social media distribution can destabilize previously straightforward questions of authorship and reshape attitudes toward artistic integrity and just listening habits.

How personal values influence earnings management ethics: the mediation role of moral disengagement

ABSTRACT Earnings management (EM) is a critical ethical issue for the accounting profession. However, it remains unclear why accountants differ in their ethical judgements of EM, with some evaluating it as ethically acceptable while others do not. From the perspective of personal values, we explore how personal values influence accountants’ ethical judgement of EM through the mediation role of moral disengagement. A survey of 554 Chinese practicing accountants found that accountants with higher resultant conservation values were less likely to morally disengage, thus less tolerant of accounting manipulation, while accountants with higher resultant self-enhancement values were more likely to morally disengage, leading to greater tolerance for accounting manipulation. The results showed that moral disengagement fully mediated the relationship between personal values and ethics in accounting manipulation. Moreover, moral disengagement had no significant effect on ethics in operating manipulation. Our study has practical implications for educators, regulators, and companies combating EM.

A Mixed Methods Study on Character Traits of Nursing Students and Faculty Influencing a 100% Passing Rate in the Nursing Licensure Exam in the Philippines.

This study explores the character traits contributing to the 100% passing rate of nursing graduates in the Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE) in the Philippines over the past decade. Understanding these traits provides insights into the factors driving academic and professional success in nursing. Employing a convergent parallel mixed methods design, this study combined quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected through electronic surveys from 222 nursing alumni and 39 faculty members, focusing on character traits and behaviors linked to NLE success. The quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 29; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY) for descriptive statistics and factor analysis. Additionally, in-depth interviews with 21 alumni and 15 faculty members provided qualitative insights. Data saturation was reached with 11 faculty and 13 alumni, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the participants' experiences. Quantitative results from factor analysis showed that spirituality, love of learning, honesty, and kindness are among the qualities that are necessary for success in NLE. These character traits have a significant impact on both career readiness and academic performance. Qualitative results revealed the importance of resilience, faculty support, and peer relationships in fostering these attributes. It became evident that building a healthy learning environment required the support of peers and professors and that resilience was necessary to manage the stress of tests. Both datasets emphasized the need for a strong character and academic achievement in conjunction with long-term success. The study highlights that obtaining a high NLE passing rate is mostly dependent on academic knowledge in addition to character attributes. Character education techniques such as role-playing, reflective writing, and service-learning can be incorporated into nursing curricula to improve attributes such as empathy and resilience. Continuous faculty development and structured mentorship are also crucial. Character development must be incorporated into academic learning in nursing education. Focusing on qualities such as empathy, resilience, and ethical judgment, along with implementing character education tactics such as service-learning and reflective writing, are crucial to prepare graduates to succeed in professional practice and board exams. A comprehensive approach that blends character development with academic achievement produces skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals.

Spirit at work: a panacea for ethical problems caused by marketing managers’ love of money

PurposeLimited research has investigated how spirit at work, functioning as a “good barrel,” fosters ethical decision-making (EDM) even in the presence of unethical managerial behavior (“bad apples”). Therefore, this study aims to investigate the spirit at work, a situational variable, as a moderating variable in the relationship between the love of money (LoM), an individual-level factor, and EDM.Design/methodology/approachA time-lagged survey of the members of the Marketing Association of Pakistan was conducted. The data were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling.FindingsAdding to much of the existing research, which finds that LoM can influence ethical intention directly, this research finds that LoM influences ethical intention only through ethical judgment. Moreover, the spirit at work tempers the negative relationship between LoM and ethical judgment, thereby mitigating LoM’s detrimental effects not only on ethical judgment but also its downstream effects on ethical intention.Practical implicationsOrganizations, by planting the seeds of spirit at work, can institutionalize good barrels, which can alleviate the negative effects of the marketing managers’ LoM, the root cause of unethical behavior. This way, this study establishes a business case for spirit at work.Originality/valueThe novelty of this study is the development and investigation of a holistic conceptual framework for EDM of marketing professionals that incorporates LoM as an antecedent, ethical judgment as an underlying mechanism, ethical intention as an outcome variable and spirit at work as a boundary condition.

Religious Ethics in a Conflicted Word—On Ethical Motivation between Political Theology and Anthropology

The article seeks to define the concepts of religion and ethics as well as their compound. It does so (1) by asking for the supposed demarcation line between religious and secular ethics and (2) by considering the relation of religious ethics and political theology. Based on the respective findings, the article offers a meta-ethical perspective on the subject by challenging the anthropological backdrop of both secular and religious ethics. In conclusion, it proposes a formal approach to ethical judgment that may function as a discerning method when it comes to the assessment of specific models of religious and/or secular ethics. In this regard, the article provides conceptual thoughts on ethical motivation and the operationalization of ethics on an institutional level.

Bridging film education and philosophical practice: enhancing critical thinking and ethical reflection in young audiences

The article investigates the potential benefits of integrating philosophical practitioners into film education programs, particularly in enhancing students' critical thinking and broadening their educational experience. The study explores the synergy between film as a cultural medium and philosophy as a practice, arguing that films inherently possess a philosophical dimension that can be leveraged to deepen students' understanding of complex ethical and existential issues. By examining specific films from the CinEd collection, the article illustrates how philosophical inquiry can be effectively applied in educational settings to foster critical thinking, ethical reflection, and personal growth. The case study of the CinEd program provides a practical context for this integration, emphasizing the potential for philosophical practitioners to enhance the overall learning experience. The article concludes that incorporating philosophical practices into film education not only democratizes access to philosophical discourse but also promotes the development of critical thinking skills, ethical judgment, and an appreciation for diverse perspectives among young learners.

양 무제의 육식 금지령에 나타난 윤리적 쟁점 - 『단주육문(斷酒肉文)』을 중심으로

In East Asian Buddhism, the consumption of meat by monks has not been permitted since the sixth century. During this period, Emperor Wu of Liang, drawing from the teachings of Mahayana sutras including the Mahāparinirvāṇa sūtra, issued the 'Prohibition of Alcohol and Meat' (斷酒肉令). At the heart of Emperor Wu's prohibition of meat consumption is the ethical judgment that “meat-eating is inherently killing.” Emperor Wu maintained a strict stance that monks should not eat meat under any circumstances, including naturally deceased meat (自死) or for health reasons. This view contrasted with early Buddhist food ethics, differentiating between meat-eating and killing and allowing for the Three Pure Meats (三種淨肉). He also believed that monastic vegetarianism was essential for realizing the ideals of Mahayana Buddhism and establishing a harmonious society. Emperor Wu asserted that meat-eating inherently distanced one from all practices leading to nirvana, making enlightenment unattainable. While he did not directly challenge the autonomy of the monastic community in the Duan jiu rou wen (斷酒肉文 Abstinence from Alcohol and Meat), he argued that meat-eating monks had effectively forfeited their monastic status and could be punished according to secular laws. This paper examines the differing perspectives of Emperor Wu and the Vinaya masters on the ethical issues surrounding meat-eating and vegetarianism as presented in the Duan jiu rou wen. This decree, officially issued by the Emperor to standardize Buddhist vegetarianism, is significant as the historical starting point of East Asian Buddhism—not just as a theory but also as a practice. It also serves as a point of comparison for the contemporary approach to this ethical issue, which is still relevant today.

The Nakba in Israeli history education: Ethical judgments in an ongoing conflict

ABSTRACT The Nakba, which means “the catastrophe” in Arabic, is the most controversial historical topic in Israeli history education. Despite the Nakba’s significance to the history of Israel and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, until the last decade it has traditionally been excluded from Israeli public discourse and school curriculum. This article analyzes the different types of ethical judgments about the Nakba included in authorized curricula, teaching resources, and national exams currently used in the Israeli Jewish public education systems. Our data analysis reveals that the Nakba is explicitly mentioned in 40% of teaching materials used in Israeli Jewish schools, and the teaching materials include six types of implied ethical judgments. We developed a typology of three ethical justifications commonly utilized in the teaching materials: denial; acknowledging suffering, limited responsibility; and complex engagement. While some of the teaching materials promote critical engagement with the Nakba, others continue to deny its existence or minimize the negative consequences experienced by Palestinians. This research highlights how political beliefs influence the ethical judgments made in teaching materials and the importance of teaching about ethical judgments for helping students critically engage with and understand difficult histories.

Enforcement of the Code of Ethics for 2024 Election Organizers in Indonesia: A Substantive Justice Perspective

This study employs a normative legal research approach focusing on conceptual and legislative analysis. Its aim is to examine the dynamics of the enforcement of the electoral organizers’ code of ethics by the Indonesian Election Supervisory Agency (DKPP) and to formulate a reconstruction of this enforcement aimed at achieving substantive justice. The findings assert that the enforcement dynamics of the electoral organizers’ code of ethics by DKPP inherently pose two main issues. Internally, the enforcement requires oversight and public participation to ensure DKPP’s credibility and integrity in upholding the code of ethics. Externally, issues arise regarding the final and binding nature of DKPP decisions, which have been undermined by Constitutional Court rulings, allowing for their annulment by judicial bodies such as the Administrative Court (PTUN). Reconstruction or reform efforts concerning the enforcement of the electoral code of ethics for electoral administrators, based on substantive justice, necessitate a clear affirmation of the independence of ethical norms, particularly those related to the conduct of electoral administrators. This includes ensuring that the enforcement of these ethical norms is immune from legal norms and external intervention. Additionally, there is a need for a revision of the electoral laws in Indonesia to enhance the appeal process for ethical judgments rendered by the Election Supervisory Board (DKPP), which are final and binding and cannot be overturned by the courts, especially the Administrative Court (PTUN).

Making ethical judgement calls about qualitative social media research on sensitive issues

ABSTRACT Social media provides a repository of qualitative data relevant to difficult to research sensitive issues. Researcher practices vary in terms of how to ethically collect such data. Some argue that public social media posts can be collected without the informed consent of the authors. Others agree researchers can collect public posts but suggest anonymizing them to protect authors. For some, however, much social media activity consists of private conversations occurring in public that can only be researched with informed consent. This article contrasts confessional posts on support forums with confessional vlogs on YouTube to highlight how the affordances, norms, and genre of digital platforms require researchers to adopt different ethical practices in relation to data collected from different platforms. The article argues that researchers should familiarize themselves with a platform when they evaluate whether they are observing private conversations occurring in public or creative productions meant for widespread dissemination.

Shades of complicity: archives of the ‘implicated subject’

AbstractKnowledge of the Arandora Star is no longer limited to members of the UK's historic Italian community but is shared by a much larger constituency thanks to the greater accessibility of historical documents relating to the sinking of the ship, and to the substantial volume of new creative work inspired by it. This article examines this expansion of historical memory by following two discrete but entangled strands. The first follows the construction of the Arandora Star archive, starting from the author's chance personal encounter with a photograph. The second involves a close reading of Francine Stock's A Foreign Country (1999) and Caterina Soffici's Nessuno può fermarmi (2017), two novels that explore how people outside the historic Italian community recognise their implication in the sinking and its aftermath. Both foreground the intergenerational and transnational transmission of difficult memory and the ways in which the Arandora Star functions as an unstable point of historical knowledge and ethical judgement.

Right, Wrong, Logic and Mentality

This paper explores the nuanced relationship between right, wrong, logic, and mentality in ethical decision-making. It argues that ethical judgments are deeply subjective and context-dependent, influenced by individual and collective experiences, cultures, and cognitive frameworks. The paper introduces the metaphor of mentality as the fabric of the mind and logic as Lego pieces, illustrating how cognitive flexibility and logical structure interact to shape our moral understanding. While advocating for a fluid and adaptable approach to morality, the paper asserts the absoluteness of wrongs when actions cause significant harm. The "Twelve Gates of Wrong" framework is proposed to systematically evaluate ethical decisions, emphasizing harm avoidance. This model integrates traditional ethical theoriesvirtue ethics, deontology, and consequentialismwhile addressing the complexities of modern moral dilemmas. By balancing cognitive flexibility with logical integrity, the paper offers a comprehensive roadmap for ethical reflection and decision-making, urging a principled and empathetic approach to minimize harm and foster societal well-being.

Factors influencing the intention of financial managers to conduct whistleblowing action (A study on the Government of Kotamobagu City)

This study aims to analyze the factors influencing the intention of financial managers to engage in whistleblowing within the Kotamobagu City Government. Using an associative quantitative research method, data were collected via questionnaires. The population for this study comprises financial managers within the Kotamobagu City Government. Data analysis was conducted using partial least squares (PLS) to determine the influence of each variable on the intention on whistleblowing. The results indicate that whistleblower protection, ethical judgment, and organizational commitment have a positive and significant impact on the intention of financial managers to engage in whistleblowing. Conversely, ethical climate, locus of control, level of seriousness of wrongdoing, and status of wrongdoer do not show significant effects. The variables of gender, age, and tenure also do not significantly influence whistleblowing intentions. These findings suggest that adequate protection for whistleblowers, good ethical judgment, and strong organizational commitment can encourage financial managers to report illegal or unethical actions. This study is expected to contribute to the development of government policies and organizational practices that support a conducive environment for whistleblowing and provide protection for whistleblowers.