Ethics and Land Use Behavior

Ethics and Land Use Behavior Introduction Ethics refers to a code of conduct that defines how individuals should behave or interact with others and the surrounding environment (MacKinnon 15). The code of conduct is informed by the principles of right (good) and wrong (evil).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethics and Land Use Behavior specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Engaging in ethical behavior involves making a choice between what is deemed to be right or wrong. An ethical individual must be able to distinguish right from wrong, as well as, good from evil. Furthermore, the individual must make a commitment to do only what is right or good (MacKinnon 18). Making ethical decisions is often difficult due to the values and attitudes that are held by individuals. Moreover, the professional, economic and social contexts in which a person operates can challenge his ability to pursue ethical goals. In this paper, a distinction will be made between rig ht and wrong behaviors in the context of land usage. This distinction will be underpinned by the premise that an ethical individual must do what is right to do rather than what he has a right to do. Land Use Behavior In most communities, individuals have competing values that create difficulties and contentions in the process of making land use decisions. Generally, land ethic is used as a principle for prioritizing the possible uses of the available land. Concisely, it helps community members and decisions of conflict of interest in land management initiatives include the following. To begin with, commissioners can enjoy personal financial benefits by voting for decisions that affect a region where they own large pieces of land (Sanghera and Satybaldieva 96-114).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethics and Land Use Behavior specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, a commissioner can vote against controlled deve lopment in a municipality where he owns land so that he can construct as many buildings as possible. Conflict of interest can also occur if the decision taken by a commissioner can benefit any of his blood relatives. The benefit can be in the form of financial gain or unfair acquisition of land. Finally, conflict of interest can occur if land use issues are used by politicians as a complain agenda in order to attract voters. In this case, politicians make land use promises which might be popular but not beneficial to the public. According to the principle of common good, any act that leads to conflict of interest in land use or management is wrong. A common good is achieved when land management decisions enhance social welfare in the community (MacKinnon 89). It is also achieved when land management decisions promote peace and security. In the contrary, conflict of interest often leads to tensions and confrontations. For instance, biased land use policies led to bloody confrontation s between Africans and whites in South Africa during the apartheid period. The principles of land ethic should be upheld in situations where conflicts of interest are likely to arise. In this regard, the behavior of a decision-maker is deemed to be right if he abstains from taking any decision or action regarding land use that directly benefits him or his close relatives at the expense of the society. For instance, a land commissioner should disqualify himself from voting in a decision-making process that affects a region where he owns a relatively large piece of land. Finally, ethical obligations should be applicable in the local and the adjacent jurisdiction (MacKinnon 112). It is apparent that communities do not exist in isolation. Thus, their land use behaviors are likely to affect neighboring communities. For instance, farming along the upstream banks of a river will lead to water pollution which eventually affects the downstream communities. This is likely to happen if the riv er is an open access water resource (Sanghera and Satybaldieva 96-114). Even though the upstream communities have a right to use the river’s water for farming, their action is wrong since it hurts the downstream communities. If the upstream and downstream communities belong to different jurisdictions, the right action will involve enforcing land use policies that are binding in both jurisdictions. Concisely, each community must take responsibility for its behavior by refraining from any action that pollutes the river. Conclusion Ethics refers to principles and guidelines that govern the behavior of individuals in the society (Brassard 497-500). In the context of land use and management, these principles help individuals and communities to distinguish between right and wrong behaviors. However, community members often disagree on what should be classified as right or wrong land use behavior due to underlying values and attitudes.Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, certain behaviors can be deemed to be right and acceptable by some individuals. However, the same behaviors can be considered to be immoral, inappropriate and unacceptable by others. Consequently, the community must agree on common ethical standards that will guide the behavior of its members in regard to land use. This leads to the conclusion that an ethical individual must do what is right to do, rather than what he has a right to do. Brassard, Paul. Social and Land Use Ethics Surrounding Land Trusts. Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economcis 42.2 (2000): 497-500. Print. MacKinnon, Barbara. Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print. Sanghera, Balihar and Elmira Satybaldieva. Ethics of Property, Illegal Settlements and the Right to Subsistence. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 32. 1 (2012): 96-114. Print. Wotapka, Dawn. College Housing Firms Aim Upscale. Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones and Company. 23 Oct. 2012. Web.