Critical thinking and Ethics helped me question how I look at situations in my life and how to make better decisions.  Rationalizations, cognitive bias, and questionable ethics can slowly lead to some very poor decisions if we are not actively trying to understand and overcome our weaknesses. The theory behind various ethical values helps us to understand others and where they might be coming from.  Choosing our own value priorities will allow us to make decisions with integrity. 

Critical Thinking and Ethics relate to all aspects of public service. This course will help improve decision-making and communication skills when working in the public sector.  Understanding and communicating our ethical values will strengthen any organization and help us reach the goals of public service.  We need to have our ethical values at the forefront of all our decisions and in communicating with others.  Everything we do involves and affects the public, and they deserve to have public servants who are willing to think critically and prioritize ethics above even the organization we are working for. 

The theories of ethics are intertwined with the theories of public service and how others view our role as bureaucrats.  Understanding Administrative law is important, but knowing how to make an ethical decision when implementing a law or policy is the more important next step.  Public Policy is messy and constantly changing.  The need for critical thinking and ethics cannot be overstated.  In the end, public service is not individual-oriented work, it requires collaboration and teamwork.  Using our values and ethical lens through which to participate and lead as a public servant will lead to more success in whatever sector we are serving.

I need to review the ethical toolkit, my values, and my priorities regularly.  To commit to living a more ethical life, I need to be accountable to the people around me, which means sharing my values and asking for help to continue to make choices that align with my ethical values.  I believe an important part of a commitment to an ethical life means that when I make a mistake and do not adhere to my values, I take accountability, learn from the error, and try to do better.  Perfection is not an attainable goal, but progress is, especially when it comes to an increasing dedication to and real-world application of our values.