Thinkers Guide

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Thinkers Guide

Part I

I was not sure that the Thinkers Guide text would be such impactful to me. After a careful exploration of its well-arranged text, I was significantly enlightened and educated specifically on developing ethical abilities to create an ethical world. I was introduced to understanding the intellectual tools appropriate for reasoning through ethical problems and issues in a more insightful manner. I made sure that I covered every topic and subtopic of the text to ensure I did not miss anything. After reading the Thinkers Guide text, I acquired the ethical reasoning foundations. Generally, in the Thinker’s Guide text, I found numerous ideas exciting and helpful, especially in my profession; however, some were unhelpful and disagreeing.

Interesting, Helpful, Likable Points or Ideas

I found various points helpful after reading the Thinker’s Guide text. For example, I now see ethics as a specific domain by itself—I previously confused ethics with acting according to the law, religious beliefs, and conventions. After exploring the Thinker’s Guide text, I agreed and understood that ethics are principles and concepts that guide all people. For instance, through ethics, I can be able to determine the behaviours that are helpful such as showing love and care in social work. Also, I found it interesting that we all use shared ethical principles and concepts as guides in reasoning, particularly through usual ethical issues such as dealing with unethical leadership in social work. I agree that we have an essential responsibility to learn to differentiate between ethics questions, the law, religion, and social conventions (Paul & Elder, 2019). For instance, ethics is entirely different concerning its purpose and foundation. Thus, if we establish skilled, ethical reasoning as the norm, we must cultivate the ability to establish whether all laws, rules, practices, or belief systems are ethical.

Moreover, I find the two functions of ethics helpful, that is, acts enhancing the well-being of other individuals, which results in us being praised, and acts that diminish or harm the well-being of other people warrant our criticism. For example, when we treat other people with care and respect, they praise us, but when we disregard or insult them, we become criticized. Hence, I find it interesting how a person must develop ethical reasoning abilities because there exists a strong tendency towards self-deception, self-justification, prejudice, and egotism (Paul & Elder, 2019). Also, I find ethical reasoning abilities helpful, for example, ethical, affective dimensions such as exercising ethical reciprocity, ethical micro-abilities such as clarifying ethical claims and ideas, and ethical micro-skills such as identifying facts from ethical ideas, values, and principles.

Unhelpful Ideas and Points

Nevertheless, after reading the Thinker’s Guide text, I found some points and ideas unhelpful and disagreeing. These include the significance of perspective and facts; for example, although it is typically appropriate for an individual to analyze data appropriate to a question when prompted with a complex ethical question, I do not find the provision of the significance of perspective and facts in the Thinker’s Guide text helpful in forming my fundamentals of ethical reasoning. Also, I can’t entirely agree with the ideas ethical facts are frequently ignored or distorted by mainstream news. For example, I usually find mainstream news observing desirable traits such as honesty and impartiality when providing news to different viewers and listeners. Thus, the Thinker’s Guide text would not have involved the mainstream news as ignorant of ethical facts. In addition, I found simple ethical questions and complex ethical questions unhelpful in the text. Although they can be argued in multiple ways, I do not see it necessary to discuss types of ethical questions.

Key Takeaways Essential in Future

Additionally, after reading the Thinker’s Guide text, I found some meaningful ideas that I might utilize in future in social work. Some of the ideas and points particularly encouraged me to reflect on knowing myself ethically. This includes ethical reasoning, where after examining ethical reasoning logic in text, I can be able to analyze the logic of any ethical question in my profession, such is it legal? Hence, I can assess and analyze parts of my thinking as I explore the question; this has made me know myself ethically by assessing and analyzing every ethical question I make. Also, ethical reasoning elements and logic encouraged me to reflect on knowing myself ethically (Paul & Elder, 2019). For example, I am to understand that if I have to reason ethically well, I must learn to distinguish and assess my use of ethical reasoning elements such as integrity and passion. Hence, whenever I think, I think with a specific purpose within a viewpoint on the basis of assumptions resulting in consequences and implications.

Some ideas and points contributed to my cultural and ethical competence in my professional practice. For example, the use of theories and ideas to interpret experiences, facts, and data to resolve issues, solve problems, and answer questions; has increased my ethical competence in social work. Also, I have become aware of my own cultural values and beliefs and how they may differ from other individuals’ cultures. I am also able to honour and learn about the varying cultures of those around me. Thus, these have contributed significantly to my cultural competence. In addition, I am now able to recognize my feelings when encountering what is unethical or ethical in certain situations. I can also reflect on these feelings to ensure directing my decisions and ensure acting in ways that result in the highest level of ethics. Therefore, these increased my cultural and ethical competence in my profession.

Part II

Overall Reaction to the Articles

My overall reaction to the article is mixed. For instance, I like how the ethical guide has discussed the issue of mini-reasoning. I have been brought up in a society where ethical reasoning is vital. As a member of society, I have to contribute to decisions affecting the people and the projects undertaken in society. Ethical reasoning guide equips one with the essential knowledge needed during ethical reasoning. The knowledge of ethical reasoning is also evident in today’s lifestyle as every day. I have to reason out what is ethical to be conducted and what is not ethically right.

I agree with the author that the majority of people confuse ethics with living to the standards of society (Paul & Elder 2003). Every society has indeed defined rules, beliefs, religion, and social conventions. However, some of these beliefs and defined rules may not be ethically right in our modern society. For example, our society believes it is right for a woman to remain submissive to her husband. Applying ethical reasoning, this may not be applicable and is not ethically right since both the husband and the wife have equal capabilities and therefore deserve equal rights.

Contribution Of Articles to Thinker’s Guide Text Understanding

I can arguably say that the articles expanded my knowledge of the values and ethics, which strongly focus on understanding the Thinker’s Page 6 of the 10 Guide text. For example, in the article “Rethinking Cultural Competence: What Can We Learn from Levinas?” As a result, I have learned more about cultural competence, which is a critical factor of ethics, as explained in the Thinker’s Guide (Ben-Ari & Strier 2010). Another example is in the article “social work values: The moral core of the profession” where the author emphasizes the importance of professional knowledge on social work mission and values (Bisman 2004). Both articles have expanded my understanding of ethical values and their application to society.

Illustration of Concepts in the Articles in Practice

I live in a society where being morally right is a virtual of humanity. I practice social counseling and give advice to the youths in our society. Therefore, I can generally appreciate the ideas in the article and the reports for the deep knowledge and academic research concept on matters regarding ethics and morality. The ideas and concepts have enabled me to make better decisions on a matter requiring ethical reasoning.

Impact of Articles Concepts on Ethical Competence Thought

The articles and reports discuss the importance of ethical competence in society. They suggest that ethical competence is necessary in order to make good decisions, resolve conflicts, and build trust. These ideas impact how I think about ethical competence by emphasizing the importance of developing this skill to succeed in society. For instance, our society is full of matters that need an ethical decision to be made. For example, the emergence of technology that allows those who are almost to die to be removed some vital organs and the organs to be used for organ transplant to patients is still causing the ethical dilemma. The ideas and concepts discussed in the article may help in solving some of these ethical dilemmas in society.

References

Ben-Ari A & Strier R (2010). Rethinking Cultural Competence: What Can We Learn from Levinas?

Bisman C. (2004) Social Work Values: The Moral Core of the Profession.

Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2019). The thinker’s guide to understanding the foundations of ethical reasoning : based on critical thinking concepts & tools. Rowman & Littlefield.

Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2003). Ethical reasoning. Dillon Beach, CA: The Foundation for Critical Thinking.