LV EN RU DE FR

Professional Ethics

Course developer

Prior knowledge

Filz1013, History of Philosophy

Course abstract

The study course provides knowledge of the main categories of ethics, the key stages in the development of ethical thought, various moral concepts concerning moral values, and clarifies the essence of professional ethics. Within the course, attention is given to how significant ethical issues arise in contemporary society and how knowledge of ethical categories can be practically applied in shaping and managing both internal and external communication in public and private organizations, as well as how this knowledge relates to the profession of a sociologist. Ethics codes relevant to the profession are studied. In addition to lectures, the course includes seminar discussions, group work, and presentations of independent assignments.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge: The study course provides in-depth knowledge of the essence of ethics and its main categories, and their connection to areas of importance for society (1st test, seminars, discussions). It also covers the principles of professional ethics—specifically those of a sociologist—and their application in various situations of internal and external communication and management within organizations (2nd test, seminars, discussions, essays, and their presentation).

Skills: The study course develops skills to apply knowledge of ethics and its main principles in analyzing the management of organizations and society and related issues; to identify ethical problem situations in organizational and societal governance, analyze their causes, and find solutions for improving internal and external communication (1st and 2nd tests, seminars, discussions). General skills: the ability to plan time responsibly and complete assigned tasks; to independently obtain the necessary information, critically evaluate and analyze it using various sources; to collaborate effectively, participate in discussions, and defend one’s opinion with well-founded arguments (discussions, group work).

Competence: Students acquire competence to use knowledge based on the essence of ethics, the main categories, and the peculiarities of professional ethics of a sociologist to analyze the ethical dimensions of the sociology of organization and public administration.
Students are also able to use this knowledge and skills to solve various communication problems, the causes of which are to be found in non-compliance with ethical principles. (essay presentation and code presentation and analysis).

Course Content(Calendar)

Full-time studies:

List of lectures (16 hours)
1. Peculiarities of ethics and philosophy research methods. - 1 hour
2. Ethics as a practical philosophy. Ethics, morality, virtue, ideal. - 1 hour
3. Types of moral motivation. Moral and legal. - 1 hour
4. The main moral principles. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. - 1 hour
5. The main categories of ethics. Good and evil. - 1 hour
6. Ways of understanding of human as moral being. - 1 hour
7. Concepts of I and personality. Problem of Identity and quality of life. - 1 hour
8. Communication. Dialogue and ethics. Otherness. - 1 hour
9. Morality in public administration, economics, ideology and politics. Consumer society and ethics. - 1 hour
10. Professional ethics and its relation to the general theory of morality. - 1 hour
11. Genesis of professional ethics. The historical origin of professional morality. - 1 hour
12. Professional morality in modern society. - 1 hour
13. Professionalism as a moral quality of personality. - 1 hour
14. Codes of ethics for specialists - professionals in various social and humanitarian spheres. - 1 hour
15. Practical ethics in public administration. Possibilities of practical realization of moral action. - 1 hour
16. Peculiarities of the moral requirements of the profession of sociologist. Codes of ethics for sociologists. - 1 hour

List of seminars (16 hours)
1. Morality, virtue and ideal. Diversity of virtues (1 hour)
2. Moral motivation in different eras. (1 hour)
3. Differences between moral and legal. Analysis of examples. (1 hour)
4. Characterization of a moral problem situation and analysis of examples. (1 hour)
5. The essence and main categories of ethics. (test, 1 hour)
6. Moral principles in real life. Analysis of examples. (1 hour)
7. Categories of good and evil. (1 hour)
8. The essence of human in the context of ethics and communication. (1 hour)
9. Who is a person? Human as a moral being. Essay. (presentation, 1 hour)
10. The role of self-knowledge in the context of self-management, ethics and communication. (1 hour)
11. Moral paradoxes in the consumer society. (1 hour)
12. The essence of professional ethics in the context of the possibilities of the sociological profession. (test, 1 hour)
13. Relationship between ethics and professional ethics and professional morality. (1 hour)
14. Practical ethics in public administration. Individual work. (1 hour)
15. Codes of professional ethics for sociologists. (presentation of individual works, 2 hours)

Part-time distance learning:

All topics specified for full-time studies are covered, but the number of contact hours is reduced to half of the number specified for full-time studies.

Requirements for awarding credit points

The cumulative assessment on a 10-point scale is made up of: 1st test – 10%, 2nd test – 10%, discussions and group work – 30%; essay preparation – 10%; code development – 20%; essay and code presentation – 20%.


The study process in part-time distance learning is organised in accordance with Order of the Vice-Rector for Studies No. 2.4-8/54 on distance learning procedures at LBTU. Study courses are scheduled for each semester according to the study plan. Students acquire the topics covered in each course independently, using the materials prepared and uploaded by the lecturer in the e-studies environment (Moodle). Feedback on the learning of lecture and seminar topics is provided through self-assessment tests, discussion forums, and individual tasks, as well as during face-to-face or online consultations, lectures, and final examinations, according to the timetable.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

During the course, the student prepares and submits, within the specified deadline and in printed form, two independent assignments:
1. Who is a human being? The human as a moral being – essay. 2. Development and presentation of an ethics code – independent work.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Individual assignments are evaluated according to how well the quality of the work meets the established requirements. Discussions are assessed based on participation and the ability to explain and debate issues related to the course topics with well-reasoned arguments. In evaluating individual assignments and discussions, primary attention is given to the student’s development of critical and philosophical thinking and the ability to think independently.

Compulsory reading

1. Adkins, B. A Guide to Ethics and Moral Philosophy. Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press, 2017., 172 p. (Pieejams LU:Izgl.zin.-psihol. bibl.)
2. Blekbērns S. Ētika. Rīga: ¼ Satori, 2008. 168 lpp. ISBN: 978-9984-9966-8-4 (Pieejams LNB Grāmatu krātuve)
3. Brady, E. Sublime in Modern Philosophy : aesthetics, ethics, and nature. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2017., 227 p (LNB:Hum.& Soc.zinātņu las)
EBSCOhost Academic Search Complete)
4. Geuras D., Garofalo C., Practical Ethics in Public Administration. B.v., Management Concepts, 2005. 362 p. (Pilnteksts pieejams
5. Lasmane S. Komunikācijas ētika. Rīga: LU, 2012. 304 lpp. ISBN13 9789984455280 (Pieejams LBTU Lasītava pamatfonds (17 )
6. Milts, A. Ētika: kas ir ētika. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC., 1999. 56 lpp. ( Pieejams LBTU:Abonements, Pamatfonds(99/193 )
7. Naagarazan R.S. Professional Ethics and Human Values. Pieejams: https://soaneemrana.org/onewebmedia/Professional%20Ethics%20and%20Human%20Values%20by%20R.S%20NAAGARAZAN.pdf
8. Praktiskā filosofija. Jelgava: LLU, 2008. 549 lpp. (Pieejams LBTU: Mācību lit. abonements)

Further reading

1. Berlins J. Četras esejas par brīvību. Rīga: Sprīdītis, 2000, 254 lpp., ISBN10 9984699013; ISBN13 9789984699011
2. Bēgšana no brīvības? Ērihs Fromms un Latvija. Latvijas Universitātes Filozofijas un socioloģijas institūts, red. Šuvajevs I., Pieejams: https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/bitstream/handle/7/31746/Begsana_no_brivibas.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
3. Dzwonkowska, D. (2025). Virtue Ethics and the Environment. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003433156
4. Fromm E. The Fear of Freedom. Pieejams: https://pescanik.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/erich-fromm-the-fear-of-freedom-escape-from-freedom.pdf
5. Gēte. J. V. Fausts. Pieejams: http://www.korpuss.lv/klasika/Senie/Rainis/Fausts/4.1.html
6. Ingrems D., Pārksa Dž. Ceļvedis ētikā. Rīga: Dienas grāmata, 2011. 432 lpp.

7. Plato. Meno. Pieejams: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/meno.html

Periodicals and other sources

1. American Sociological Association Code of Ethics. Pieejams: https://www.asanet.org/sites/default/files/savvy/images/asa/docs/pdf/CodeofEthics.pdf
2. Journal of Moral Philosophy. Pieejams: https://brill.com/view/journals/jmp/jmp-overview.xml
3. Latvijas Sociologu asociācijas (LSA) profesionālās darbības kodekss sociālo un tirgus pētījumu veikšanai. Pieejams: http://sociologija.lv/etika-2/lsa-kodekss/
4. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Pieejams: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

5. Žurnāls "Rīgas Laiks" - ISSN 1407-1622.

Notes

Compulsory study course for ESAF academic bachelor's study program "Sociology of Organizations and Public Administration".