What Constitutes Good Ethical Decision-Making?

Questionable ethical decisions and morally reprehensible practices are often motivated by pressures, the product of circumstances surrounding the socio-political and socio-economic world we inhabit. Having an awareness of the interacting connection between propagated actions of agents and the consequent effects on others (even non-actions can perpetuate effects), more often than not come down to the judgements made that consequently impact the lives, property, and/or environment. Therefore, good ethical decision-making requires distinguishing between different associated thinking processes with attendant consideration given to impact influences. In this reflective piece, the author argues that knowing first requires the knower – the embodied agent – having an understanding of that said to be known. The author recognises and accepts that the application of what constitutes ethics is a dynamic process which one can learn, that can be understood and practiced, but which requires internalising what constitutes ethical conduct through an embodying process involving critical broad range agential reflective thinking and indeed praxis.