Presentation Transcript

1. Virtue Theory (pt.2)

   Rels 300 / Nurs 330 19Sep 2013
2. “Natural Law” has 2 main components or elements: RATIONALITYand TELEOLOGY Aristotle’s Virtue Theory is a form of“Natural Law” theory RATIONALITY Morality is grounded in the human capacity for reasoning / intelligence Humans are free and autonomous Make own choices & carry them out TELEOLOGY Natural law is embedded in the nature of the universe Everything in the universe has its own natural purpose or end discovered, not created, by people 300/330 appleby
3. Virtue is a state of character that undergirds excellence in the human person Aristotle believes that excellent ends, goals or purposes can be discerned by all rational creatures When natural law is adopted within a religious framework, the belief is that the telosof human existence is rooted in God God created universe and persons God’s purposes are inscribed in nature God’s moral law rooted in creation 300/330 appleby
4. Saint Thomas Aquinas Saint Thomas Aquinas taught that human persons have the capacity to use reason to discern good and evil “Human beings act morally when they live in such a way as to satisfy in a consistent and harmonious way those needs basic to human life and common to all human beings…the natural law is our human sharing in God’s own wisdom about what kind of living will best fulfill the nature which the Creator has given us…” (Ashley & O’Rourke) 300/330 appleby
5. Examples of “natural law”moral norms The natural purpose or goal of sexual intercourse is to fertilize an egg leading to conception, implantation, gestation and birth Contraceptives prevent fertilization, conception and implantation Using contraceptives frustrates the natural telosor goal of the sexual act → contraception is immoral → it is wrong to engage in sexual intercourse without being open to new life 300/330 appleby
6. Parental love Children should be conceived within the unity of love, sexual intimacy and parenting within a marriage forms of assisted reproduction which separate conception from sexual intimacy, involving donor gametes or surrogate gestation, violate the spousal commitment to unity which is essential to the well-being of children → assisted reproduction is immoral 300/330 appleby
7. Catholic Moral Theology = natural law + faith + teachings of the Church Natural law is rooted in God’s creation Every creature has goals or purposes that are ordained by God God’s law is eternal and unchanging All human persons are capable of discerning God’s natural law – through their rationality Conscience of the faithful is formed by knowing and following this revelation, guided & interpreted by the Church 300/330 appleby
8. Virtues Take a look at the following excerpts from the summary of the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses. Rephrase each of the 7 headings so that it relates to a character trait or virtue. http://www2.cna-aiic.ca/CNA/documents/pdf/publications/Code_of_Ethics_2008_e.pdf 300/330 appleby
9. CNA: Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses This code is organized around seven primary values that are central to ethical nursing practice: [values = “standards or qualities that are esteemed, desired, considered important or have worth or merit (Fry & Johnstone, 2002)] Safe, competent and ethical careNurses value the ability to provide safe, competent and ethical care… to the people they serve. 300/330 appleby
10. Health and well-beingNurses value health promotion and well-being and assisting persons to achieve their optimum level of health... Informed decision-makingNurses respect and promote the autonomy of persons and help them to express their health needs and values… DignityNurses recognize and respect the inherent worth of each person... 300/330 appleby
11. Privacy and confidentialityNurses safeguard information learned in the context of a professional relationship…  JusticeNurses uphold principles of equity and fairness… AccountabilityNurses… act in a manner consistent with their professional responsibilities... 300/330 appleby
12. A 46-yr-old man … …comes to a clinic for a routine physical check-up needed for insurance purposes. His doctor suspects the man has a form of cancer likely to cause him to die within 6 months. Chemotherapy may prolong life by a few extra months, but will have side effects the physician does not think warranted in this case. In addition, she believes that such therapy should be reserved for patients with a chance for recovery or remission. The patient expresses no concerns about his health. He expects to take a short vacation in a week. 300/330 appleby
13. The physician has several decisions to make Should she tell the patient what she suspects? Should she withhold this information? If the doctor decides to reveal her concern: Should she wait until the patient returns from his vacation? Should she mention the possibility of chemotherapy and her reasons for not recommending it? Should she recommend chemo even though she believes it would not be warranted? 300/330 appleby
14. Further Discussion: What would the virtue ethicist advise the doctor to do? … for what reasons? What advice would the deontologist have? … and why? What would the utilitarian have to say about the dilemma? What would you do, and why? 300/330 appleby