1 / 22

HU245 Ethics

HU245 Ethics. Unit Two Seminar. My Dog. Old Business!. Unit One Discussion. New Business!. Unit Two Readings: Nonconsequential Theories Bioethics. Consequentialist Theories. Consequentialist theories claim that the morality of an action depends only on its consequences.

kevyn-boyer
Download Presentation

HU245 Ethics

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. HU245 Ethics Unit Two Seminar

  2. My Dog

  3. Old Business! • Unit One Discussion

  4. New Business! • Unit Two Readings: • Nonconsequential Theories • Bioethics

  5. Consequentialist Theories • Consequentialist theories claim that the morality of an action depends only on its consequences. • It only considers the result of actions and not principles or rules in determining morality.

  6. Types of Consequentialist Theories • Ethical Egoism argues that each person should act in their own self interests. • Act Utilitariansim argues that each person should act in a way that produces the greatest happiness for everyone. • Rule Utilitarianism argues that each person should follow rules that tend to produce the greatest happiness for everyone.

  7. Weaknesses of Consequentialist Theories • Requires person to predict the future and all possible outcomes. • Can easily be used to justify questionable actions (the ends justifies the means).

  8. Types of Nonconsequentialist Theories • Divine command theory argues that we should obey the laws of God. • Kant’s Categorical Imperative states that we should always act in a way that is based on reason, duty, and would be considered ethical if everyone acted in the exact same way. Also, people should be treated as a ends and not as a means.

  9. Weaknesses of Nonconsequentialist Theories • Divine Command requires a high degree of interpretation skills. • Variety of religions makes standards hard to develop for all. • Can be rigid and ignore outcomes

  10. Variations on Nonconsequentialist Theories: Ross’ Prima Facie • W.D. Ross argued that we can rely on several prima facie (at first glance) duties to guide most ethical questions • Fidelity: telling the truth • Reparation: making up for wrongs • Gratitude: recognizing what has been done for us • Justice: preventing the improper distribution of good and bad • Beneficence: helping others • Self-Improvement: obligation to improve our character • Nonmaleficence: not injuring others

  11. Advantages and Disadvantages of Ross • Sets up principles but does not avoid recognizing outcomes of actions. • What criteria determine prima facie duties? • When is one duty "stronger" than another?

  12. Variations on Nonconsequentialist Theories: Justice Principles • Justice is associated with rights, fairness, and equality. These are major concerns in both social and business ethics. • Distributive Justice: How should good and bad be distributed in society? • Equal shares? • Need? • Effort? • Merit? • Social Contribution? • Retributive Justice: How should we punish wrong? • Compensatory Justice: How should we compensate those who are injured by wrong?

  13. John Rawls: A Theory of Justice • Rawls puts forth two main principles: • Equality Principle: There must be freedom for all • Difference Principle: Any inequality is permissible to the extent that it is to everyone’s advantage (i.e. paying a surgeon more than sales clerk). • Achieving this equality would be based on redistribution of wealth and using the “Veil of Ignorance”.

  14. Advantages and Disadvantages of Rawls • Allows for individual freedom but calls for equitable distribution of wealth. • Efforts to redistribute wealth violates the principle of property and limits individual freedoms as pointed out by Robert Nozick and other libertarians. • Redistribution of wealth may reduce incentive to work hard and efficiently.

  15. None of the Above? • Some argue that ethics cannot be “known” as we know scientific fact and thus all debate on ethics is a matter of opinion and not based on logic (nonobjectivism). • Some argue that all ethics are cultural and thus relative to society and reject the concept of a moral absolute.

  16. Seminar Question 1 • Has the bureaucratization and centralization of health care information eroded medical confidentiality? • Issues to Consider • Is it easier to get to information? • Are electronic files more or less secure than paper files?

  17. Seminar Question 1 Continued • How important is it that your own medical information be kept private?

  18. Seminar Question 1 Continued • Have concerns about privacy (or its lack) ever affected decisions you have made about your own health care? • Should you seek treatment in the same facility you work at? • Do people avoid seeking mental healthcare for this reason?

  19. Seminar Question 2 • Are there cases where society benefits significantly when medical information is released?

  20. Seminar Question 2 Continued • Do you think that medical confidentiality should be breached in these cases? • Is this a case for utilitarianism or rights? • Can virtue ethics apply?

  21. Pros and Cons of Centralized Records • Pros • Prescriptions more legible • Share medical information instantly to avoid negative drug interactions • Locate and contain outbreaks of disease faster • Reduces costs • Cons • Could lead to discrimination for employment • Could lead to public embarrassment

  22. Questions?

More Related