About St James

About St James Ethics Centre

Established in 1989, St James Ethics Centre is an independent not-for-profit organisation providing a non-judgemental forum for the promotion, exploration and application of ethics. The relief of suffering and distress is the cornerstone of St James Ethics Centre activities. Operating both in Australia and abroad, the Ethics Centre is unique for the application of ethical principles to specific issues in companies, public institutions and not-for-profits, the creation and management of public debates and support to the general community on ethical issues.

What is ethics?

Ethics is about answering Socrate's question "What ought one do?"

This is a practical question: it's not simply about deciding what to think; it's about deciding how to act. And it's a far reaching question, a question which confronts us in all aspects of our personal and our work lives.

It can be a difficult question to answer. Most of us think we ought to tell the truth; and also that we ought to avoid causing harm. What ought I do then, when to tell the truth will cause harm? Ethics will often require us to reflect and talk with others about ways to try to balance different values, principles and interests.

The 'ethical landscape' is painted in shades of grey and not black and white. Sometimes our range of choice is reduced to picking the least bad alternative. Sometimes we may have nothing more than a well-informed conscience to guide us through the maze of ethical decision making.

Why ethics matters?

When your employer is under pressure to risk your safety in order to finish the job on time, does it matter that management recognise an ethical obligation that transcends the need to make a profit?
When scientists begin working on genetically modified organisms, should they operate within the boundaries of an established ethical framework?
When law enforcement officers seek new powers to combat terrorism or organised crime, is it important they strike a proper balance between the need for security and your right to enjoy your freedom?
When you wait in a queue for medical services, should the medical staff apply an ethical basis when allocating scarce resources?
When your child's school community is traumatised by the suicide of a favourite teacher, does it matter to you that the governing body be able to reconcile its duty to the living with that owed to the dead?

Why is ethics important? Why does it matter if we neglect to ask what one ought do; or if we try to answer that question in an unthinking way; if we do things simply "because everyone does it" or because "that's just the way we do things around here".

When we don't ask what one ought to do, there can be negative consequences. Some examples are corporate scandals and failures, the global financial crisis and the risks of making poor decisions around issues like carbon emissions, immigration, natural resources and health.

Equally, good things can result when there is a habit of asking the ethical question. Organisations flourish that have a strong shared purpose and framework of values and principles, which helps their people to consistently make good decisions in the interests of the organisation and its stakeholders.

And finally, we are social creatures. We also naturally give and ask reasons for what we do. In these ways ethics is part of living a fully human life.

Some ethical dilemmas

As an accountant in a large practice should you make a small accounts adjustment agreed by your boss or refuse at the risk of losing your job?
You picked up a great job straight out of uni. Now you're being asked to fudge false invoices for tax purposes. What do you do?
A very bright student has plagiarised a piece of work and confesses to this 'one-off' incident, due to overwhelming pressure of work and family circumstances. As his academic supervisor should you report him?
I came up with a business idea on work time and using company equipment. Is it right to use it for myself?
As an employer should you report a small breach of probation by a good new recruit or give him another chance?
Your company's website shows old performance figures that make it look good. Do you mention it?
One of my clients has close dealings with a tobacco company-does that change anything?
Should you support your friend and colleague in her sexual harassment charge against your employer?
In the interview should I tell a prospective employer that I'll soon be off for two months due to a knee operation?