ABSTRACT
Chaos exists when there is no method to resolve conf lict. Order and organization are necessary to avoid chaotic situations. An integral part of every professional organization is ethics – that is, order. “Ethics is at the foundation of our professional lives, as it is at the foundation of our humanity and what it is we struggle towards in our own personal development. The ethical attitude presupposes special responsibilities that we choose to adopt in relation to another.” 1
No institution wants a disruptive environment dominated by inconsistent practices. Chaos as arbitrary thinking exists when there are no guides to resolve conf licts of interest, misunderstandings, or ethical questions. Order and structure are necessary to avoid chaos; therefore, a code of ethics should be an integral part of every professional organization. Ethical consciousness is not a separate element added to the other responsibilities of museum personnel, but an integrated part of all museum activities.
