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Approaches to Ethical Thinking

Approaches to Ethical Thinking. Where have we been all semester?. Approaches to Ethical Reasoning. Principles Cases Virtues. Possible sources of ethical principles. Kantian ethics Utilitarian ethics Rights-based theories Religious ethics Feminist ethics (?) Communitarian ethics.

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Approaches to Ethical Thinking

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  1. Approaches to Ethical Thinking Where have we been all semester?

  2. Approaches to Ethical Reasoning • Principles • Cases • Virtues

  3. Possible sources of ethical principles • Kantian ethics • Utilitarian ethics • Rights-based theories • Religious ethics • Feminist ethics (?) • Communitarian ethics

  4. Kantian Ethics • Core Idea: We can use our reason to discern that some actions are wrong based on the nature of the action and apart from its practical consequences

  5. Utilitarianism • Core Idea: Ethics should be based on facts about the results of our actions upon human happiness and suffering in the real world

  6. Rights • Has a legitimate role in ethical reasoning • Grounded in basic theory of human flourishing • Sets constraints on maximizing good • Sets constraints on majority rule • In our culture, too often used to stop, not pursue ethical dialogue

  7. Rights (cont.) • Indicates the realm of “stranger ethics” • Compare: • Child’s right to an open future • Child’s right not to be abused or neglected

  8. Religious ethics • Not explicitly addressed in class • Argue: No need to allow a concern for separation of church and state in pluralistic society to exclude religious ethics from public dialogue as a possible source of wisdom

  9. Feminist ethics • Negative value • Critique of ethical conclusions that were arrived at without hearing the voices of the less powerful or without considering the standpoint of all involved people • Positive value • Ethics of caring, relationships • Role of emotion in ethics

  10. Communitarian ethics • Can serve as important corrective to excessive reliance on individual rights, autonomy • Reminds us that we are often most accurately described as “most real” as members of families and communities, not as isolated individuals

  11. Approaches to Ethical Reasoning • Principles • Cases • Either-or or both-and?

  12. Abstract principles Concrete specific judgments PRINCIPLES CASES

  13. Abstract principles REFLECTIVE EQUILIBRIUM Concrete specific judgments

  14. Reflective Equilibrium • Look for best overall “fit” • Reason both from cases to principles and from principles to cases • Sometimes a specific case judgment will seem better “grounded,” other times a principle will • Be willing to revise ethical judgments based on new ideas and insights

  15. Snapshot vs. videotape • What does it mean to do the right thing now? • Rules, principles, case study • What does it mean to live a morally good life? • Virtue

  16. Virtue Approach • Focus on questions of character and integrity (“professionalism”) • In health care: important values such as compassion and courage • Because more self- than other-oriented, won’t work as complete system of ethics

  17. A Better Understanding • A & S, p. 9 • Human life and behavior is exceedingly complex • To be workable as a theory or model, must be simpler than real life • Therefore, any one theory will have gaps and blind spots but may be good partial description of the moral life

  18. Blind Men and Elephant

  19. A Helpful Metaphor? • Approach each ethical problem as a job • Ethical theories are tools in your tool box which you bring to the work • Part of job is picking the right tools to perform that job well

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