Ethical Theories and Decision Making Five theoretical approaches

Ethical Theories and Decision Making ® Five theoretical approaches ®Moral decision making ®Deciding current issues

Ethical Theories t. Consequentialist – which goal? 1. Social Utilitarian/Pragmatism Who benefits? What is the probability of benefit?

Ethical Theories ® Deontological – which rule? 2. Duty We have a duty to do good to other people, not evil. Two test to know our duty are: will that everyone would act as I plan to act treat people as ends, not as means only

Ethical Theories ® Rights 3. Natural Law – things are naturally good or evil 4. Divine Command – God made things good or evil

Ethical Theories ® Voluntarist – which virtue? 5. Character – moral ideal Justice Love

Not a Theory Relativism ® Social relativism ® Personal relativism ® Deconstruction ® Post-modernism

Deriviation of Ethics Conduct Character Consequentialism Deontology Law/Command Virtue What action? What good? What is right? Who is good? Utility Duty Rights Virtue (everyone) (imperative) (nature, given) (attitude, intuition)

Ethical & Moral Issues ® Abortion ® Cloning/DNA ® Economic Justice ® Environment ® Equality ® Euthanasia ® Globalization ® War

Arguments in Ethics ØIdentify an issue ØDefine the major sides on the issue ØDefine the key points of each argument ØDefine the differences between the arguments ØMake your own argument for the side of the differences you choose ØState a conclusion based on the previous argument

Personal Moral Decision Making ® Study the case & clarify the key issue ® Identify relevant criteria for a decision ® Determine possible theorys & actions ® Decide which action solves the problem or resolves the case

Decision making problems ® Generalizing ® Oversimplification ® Double standards ® My answer is best – pride ® Unwarranted assumptions ® Unintended consequences

Making the Decision - 1 ® Who are the stakeholders? ® What issue? ® What will create a win-win solution? ® Use a Decision Matrix

Making the Decision – 2 w Use a Decision Matrix Factor 1 Factor 5 Alt 1 Alt 2 Alt 3 Alt 4 Alt 5 Alt 6 Factor 2 Factor 3 Factor 4