Speech Ethics

1
Chapter 3

• Speech Ethics

2
What is ethics?

• What comes to mind when you think of this word?
  (Brainstorm and share)
• Ethics has many definitions here are some
• A set of principles of right conduct
• A code of behavior
• The formal study of morality
• How we make the moral choices that shape our
  human values
• Morality

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Two approaches to ethics

• Ethical absolutism- The belief that people should
  exhibit the same behavior in all situations.
• Situational ethics- The belief that correct
  behavior can vary depending on the situation at
  hand.

4
Ethical Decisions

• Read pgs. 65-66 in your textbook.
• Form your opinion on how Joe should handle his
  situation.
• Vote discussion
• Can you think of other situations in which youd
  have to make an ethical decision about school or
  speech class? If so, write them down now,
  because youll need them later

5
How are ethics culturally relative?

• They vary from culture to culture.
• A cultures ethics will determine its norms.
• Some norms are universal (most societies frown
  upon murder, for example)
• Many norms are not so universal..
• Example If you look on another students test
  in a Chinese classroom, the teacher often
  interprets that as another kind of learning
  (obviously a different norm than here)

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So what do ethics have to do with this class?

• You make ethical decisions when you speak.
• Dont confuse ethical speech with legally
  protected speech.
• Just because its legal to say or do something
  doesnt mean its necessarily ethical.
• Discussion What were some examples of this from
  the textbook? Can you think of an example of an
  instance when a statement or action would be
  legal, but not ethical....?

7
Communicating Truthfully- Here are some examples
of how NOT to

• Lying- Its deceptive, manipulative, and your
  victims will lose trust in you.
• Half-truths- Revealing only part of the story.
  Example Ambulance story of father with chest
  pain.
• False inference- Suggesting something that isnt
  true

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More about False Inferences

• Taking evidence out of context (this is sly as
  well as unethical, and is unfairly tricking
  your audience into believing what you want them
  to believe)
• Omission- examples, anyone? (Put them on the
  whiteboard to discuss.)
• Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
  the truth.

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Plagiarism

• To pass off someone elses ideas as your own.
• This will earn you a zero on a paper in high
  school. It will get you kicked out of college.
  (People have had their degrees revoked because of
  this.)
• Plagiarism is a form of stealing.
• Document your sources as you do your research.
• This even applies to paraphrasing (rewording
  someone elses ideas).

10
Common Knowledge

• You dont have to cite pieces of information that
  are common knowledge.
• Examples of common knowledge
• The earth is round.
• Little Rock is the capitol of Arkansas.
• George Washington was the first U.S. president.
• BUT WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE YOUR SOURCE!!!

11
Using Sound Reasoning- Avoid Logical Fallacies
Like These

• Hasty generalizations- also known as induction.
  Examples of this logical fallacy The guys who
  bombed the trade center were Muslim therefore, I
  should fear my Muslim classmate. or- My Ford
  truck broke down therefore, every Ford is a
  piece of trash.
• This is simply illogical, and at worst,
  prejudiced and hateful. In any case, it will
  tarnish your credibility.
• (An ethical problem related to this is
  exaggeration.)

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Another Logical Fallacy

• Post-hoc (after the fact)- Also known as faulty
  cause-and-effect.
• Example Your brother or sister says, My stereo
  was working fine until you went into my room!
  Obviously, it broke because of something you did!

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Another Logical Fallacy

• Ad hominem attacks (personal attacks)- This is
  when you criticize the person instead of the idea
  being presented by the person.
• This is often tied with hate speech prejudice.
• Example Politician Smith wants to decriminalize
  drugs. Politician Davis calls Politician Smith a
  junkie in an attempt to refute her opponents
  political stance.

14
Another Logical Fallacy

• Ad populum fallacy (bandwagoning)- Assumes that
  if lots of people believe something, then it must
  be true.
• Especially common in advertising.
• The ad populum fallacy is not congruent with
  social change and scientific discovery. (For
  example, many people used to believe that the
  earth was flat, and that the earth was the center
  of the universe...)

15
Being an Ethical Listener

• In this class, you will have to be an ethical
  audience member when others give speeches. (Some
  teachers dock YOUR grade for talking over someone
  ELSEs speech in class.)
• Three aspects of being an ethical listener
• Show courtesy
• Demonstrate an open mind (dont prejudge)
• Hold the speaker accountable