Preface and Pragmatic Necessity of Communication Ethics

There is no surprise that we establish our own moral and ethical ways of communicating. We all have developed communication patterns that have been established within our specific cultures, family ties or social classes over time. Communication ethics as the preface discusses is, "responsive to the demands and needs of the context, persons, and topics that shape our lives together" (Arnett, preface xviii). As you can see, the focus of difference in an ethical dialogue may have negotiation to connect with another. The negotiation is to protect each individual and is an ethical goal of promoting good in a conversation based on each other’s needs.  

Pragmatic necessity within communication ethics is a factor of including a realistic way of discussion while maintaining a normative practice among the two participates that might have different morals or values. As we have already discussed, morals and values hold different meanings to everyone, so the exploration of ‘the good’ approach is to determine a type of consensus between people that will also protect and promote the use of central values in the communicative practice (Arnett, Pg. 2).  

The good that is described as the most important in communicative practices as been established to promote a standard in communication for everyone to take responsibility for and come to a common ground on the fact there is good in a dialogue, even if the set of ideas or beliefs differ. I think this is a great way to look at ethics in communication because as stated in the first paragraph, the morals and values will be different between most people, but ‘the good’ will protect each individuals idea without having to necessarily come to a agreement on every thought. I use this concept when I speak to just about anyone. I have learned over the years conflict is not necessary and can be avoided by finding an ethical reasoning behind the narrative or conversation I am in. I use a lot of empathy but also maintain the level of my own morals without pushing them on to someone else.