Communicating Ethically This thoroughly updated third edition of Communicating Ethically provides a broad introduction to the ethical nature of communication, bringing togetherclassicalandmoderntheoriesofethicalphilosophytoaddressissues atplayinspecificcareersanddomainsthroughoutthefield. By incorporating a simple framework for ethical reasoning, the reader will be able to develop their own understanding of the various criteria for making ethical judgments. This book applies ethical theories such as virtue ethicsanddialogicalethicstocontextsofinterpersonal,organizational,polit- ical, and digital communication. This edition contains expanded coverage of contemporaryandnon-Westerntheoriesandcontexts,includingBlackLives Matter, #MeToo, social media and “fake news,” and concerns of inclusion andmarginalization.EachchaptercontainsOverviewandKeyIdeassections, andthebookcontainsaGlossary. This book serves as core textbook for undergraduate courses in commu- nication and media ethics, and can also serve as a supplemental resource for field-specific courses in strategic communication, interpersonal com- munication, and public relations. Online resources for instructors include sample syllabi, sample assign- ments, and quiz questions. They are available at www.routledge.com/ 9780367358471. William W. Neher is professoremeritusofcommunicationstudiesatButler University,USA,wherehetaughtfor42years.Overthoseyearshehasserved as Dean of the University College, Director of the Honors Program, Head of the Department of Communication Studies, the Chair of the Faculty Govern- ance, and most recently as the first Dean of the new College of Communica- tionthatopenedinJune2010.Heistheauthorofseveralbooksdealingwith organizational and professional communication, ethics, and African studies, plusseveralpublicspeakingandcommunicationtextbooks. Communicating Ethically Character, Duties, Consequences, and Relationships Third Edition William W. Neher Third edition published 2020 by Routledge 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017 and by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2020 Taylor & Francis The right of William W. Neher to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. First edition published by Pearson Education, Inc. 2007 Second edition published by Routledge 2017 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record has been requested for this book ISBN: 978-0-367-35430-5 (hbk) ISBN: 978-0-367-35847-1 (pbk) ISBN: 978-0-429-34228-8 (ebk) Typeset in Meridien by Integra Software Services Pvt. Ltd. Visit the eResources: www.routledge.com/9780367358471 C O N T E N T S Preface xiii Acknowledgments xvi 1 Introduction to Communication Ethics 1 Chapter Outline 1 Overview 1 Key Ideas 2 Everyday Ethical Decisions 2 Approaches to Reasoning about Communication Ethics 4 Definitions 7 The Supposed “Inconvenience” of Ethics 8 The Scope of Communication Ethics 10 Questions and Topics for Discussion 11 Notes 12 P A R T O N E Theories and Perspectives 13 2 Character in Communication and Virtue Ethics 15 Chapter Outline 15 Overview 15 Key Ideas 16 The Concept of Character and the Virtues 16 Background of Virtue Ethics 17 The Art of Persuasion and Ethics 19 v VI CONTENTS Aristotle: The Foundation for Communication Theory and Ethics 20 Contemporary Virtue Ethics 27 Implications for Communication Ethics 30 Courage as a Virtue in Ethical Communication 30 Case Study: Money And Friendship 32 Questions for Analysis of the Case 33 Chapter Summary 33 Questions and Topics for Discussion 34 Notes 35 3 Duties 37 Chapter Outline 37 Overview 37 Key Ideas 38 Is Lying Always Wrong? 38 Kant’s System of Deontological Ethics 39 Other Universal Ethics of Communication 43 Alternatives to Universal Systems 48 Modern Trends: Jürgen Habermas and Discourse Ethics 55 Case Study: Oskar Schindler, The Righteous Gentile 58 Questions for Analysis of the Case 59 Chapter Summary 59 Questions and Topics for Discussion 60 Notes 61 4 Consequences 63 Chapter Outline 63 Overview 63 CONTENTS VII Key Ideas 64 Introduction to Utilitarianism 64 The Principle of Utilitarianism 65 Foundations of Utilitarian Ethics: Bentham and Mill 66 Implications of Utilitarian Ethics 68 Variants on Utilitarianism 72 Highlights of Utilitarian Ethical Systems 76 Egalitarianism and Social Justice Theories 77 Rawls: The Ethics of Social Justice 80 Scanlon and Reasonable Obligations to Others 83 Highlights of Egalitarianism 86 Case Study: Surveillance at Sizgie Corporation 87 Questions for Analysis of the Case 88 Chapter Summary 89 Questions and Topics for Discussion 90 Notes 90 5 Relationships 92 Chapter Outline 92 Overview 92 Key Ideas 93 Dialogue in the “Real World” 93 Foundations of Dialogical Ethics 94 Martin Buber: I and Thou 94 Carl Rogers: Unconditional Positive Regard 98 Emmanuel Levinas: The Other 100 Paulo Freire: The Ethics of Empowerment 103 Summary of Dialogic Theories of Communication 104 Case Study: The Summer in France 105 Questions for Analysis of the Case 106 VIII CONTENTS Chapter Summary 107 Questions and Topics for Discussion 108 Notes 108 6 Contemporary Challenges to Traditional Ethics 110 Chapter Outline 110 Overview 110 Key Ideas 111 What Is Modern? 111 Postmodern Perspectives 112 Summary of Postmodern Ethics 122 The Feminist Critique of Traditional Ethics 123 Case Study: The Prodigal Child 133 Questions for Analysis of the Case 134 Chapter Summary 135 Questions and Topics for Discussion 137 Notes 138 P A R T T W O Issues, Settings, and Applications 141 7 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: Relationship and Character 143 Chapter Outline 143 Overview 143 Key Ideas 144 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication 144 The Nature of Interpersonal Communication 145 The Ethics of Dialogue in Interpersonal Communication 147 CONTENTS IX Principles of Dialogical Ethics 148 Conflict in Interpersonal Communication 150 Ethical Communication in Interpersonal Relationships: Character Counts 151 Trust and Manipulation in Interpersonal Relationships 153 The Ethics of Self-Disclosure 155 Case Study: Should She Tell? 157 Questions for Analysis of the Case 159 Chapter Summary 160 Questions and Topics for Discussion 161 Notes 161 8 Ethics of Intercultural Encounters and Inclusive Communication 162 Chapter Outline 162 Overview 163 Key Ideas 163 Issues of Diversity 164 The Demographics of “Difference” 165 Intercultural Communication 166 Ethical Perspectives on Intercultural Communication 171 Communication and People with Disabilities 176 Analyzing Ethical Issues of Harmful Speech and Political Correctness 182 Case Study: Security and Discrimination 187 Questions for Analysis of the Case 189 Chapter Summary 189 Questions and Topics for Discussion 191 Notes 192