Ethical Persuasion

 Ethical Persuasion

    

     Since ethical behavior is very important for persuasion. I will detail the importance of

this type of behavior, but I will also define several theories on ethical behavior. So, I can explore

the impact that ethical practices have on persuasion.

    Ethics are important when persuading an audience, because learning to persuade effectively

begins with making the right choices, in other words knowing how to persuade an audience

with the use of proper ethics. “Persuaders could, I contend, present their best advice for

solution to a problem in as sound and influential a way as possible”(Johannesen, 2002, Pg. 63). 

Because the use of improper tactics can lead to serious consequences, or can even cause harm

to the audience. Furthermore, if persuasion denies a person’s ability to choose then it is no

longer considered persuasion. For example, “Coercion the use of force to compel an audience

 member to do what a persuader desires. Persuaders who use coercion deny audience members

 the opportunity to freely identify with them”(Borchers, 2005, Pg 65).

    

     But ethics is also important, because the audience judges the person who is persuading

 , and if the message is perceived incorrectly, the audience may reject the idea. Also, with all the

 different technological advances, it is much easier to deceive the audience, or  embellish the

 truth. For example, commercials may use people or doctors to promote a product, but the fine

 print in the commercial can state that the product is not scientifically proven to work.

   Furthermore, “When persuaders obtain information through audience analysis, they have

 ethical responsibilities to protect that information from others who would use it without

 discretion”(Borchers, 2005, Pg 69). Because such information is so sensitive it can be used to

 damage a persons reputation, or to steal from bank accounts and credit cards, in other words a

 person who is persuading an audience may have to deal with personal or private information that must 
 be secured.

    

     Therefore, to persuade effectively one must establish credibility with the audience, which is

 why following a proper code of ethics, is very important. For example, there are several ethical

 theories that are used to define the proper code of ethics. The first is called Kantianism, which

 states that doing the right or correct thing will eventually generate fulfillment in a person’s life.

 But if a persuader follows this ethical theory, they must fulfill their obligations and provide

 what is necessary for the audience.

   

    They must do what is right by providing facts that are not misleading, even if it means making

 less of a profit, in other words spending more money to make a product safe, or beneficial to

 the audience.  Also, the philosopher Immanuel Kant who invented the theory of Kantianism,

 argued that ethical standards are categorical imperatives. “Kant meant that there are some acts

 that are always right and some acts that are always wrong”(Borchers, 2005, Pg 71). Therefore, a

 persuader who embellishes a message is deceiving the audience, and since deception is 

 unethical it is a wrongful act according to Kant’s theory.                                         

                            

                                                                          References

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