Ethical Models

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Ethical Models
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Overview

• To frame our discussion, consider

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Outline
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Ethical Analysis

• Philosophical analysis rests on the premise that
  we examine the "reasons" for the positions we
  state.
• Your positions should be consistent from one
  argument to another.

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Dialectic

• Analysis is an ongoing process.
• Claim, argument, reason to reformation.
• Process is interactive using cases, analogy and
  theory.

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Claims

• Descriptive
• Describe the state of affairs.
• Normative
• Evaluation of arguments and reasons to justify
  actions.

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Ethical Relativism

• ETHICAL RELATIVISM holds that there are no
  universal truths in ethics. The moral codes that
  a given person or group holds are merely one set
  of codes among many. In general the position
  holds that
• What is right or wrong may vary fundamentally
  from person to person or from culture to culture.
  
• Values are conditioned by social or cultural
  circumstances such as local traditions and
  customs.
• Values are not universally applicable in all
  times or places.
• Values are correct or incorrect, acceptable or
  unacceptable only relative to whether or not they
  conform to a common norm.

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Utilitarianism

• What is important is the outcome or result, not
  the intent of the person.
• Guided by the principle Act so as to bring about
  the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest
  number of people.

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Deontological Theories

• An action is considered morally good because of
  some characteristic of the action itself, not
  because the product of the action is good.

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Kant

• Categorical Imperative
• Never treat another human being merely as a means
  but always as an end.

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Social Contract Theories

• Provides theories that help model the obligations
  humans have to one another. These theories are
  used in part to deal with relationships between
  individuals and government (other institutions).

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Rawlsian

• Each person should have an equal right to the
  most extensive basic liberty compatible with a
  similar liberty for others.
• Social and economic inequalities should be
  arranged so that they are both a) reasonable
  expected to be to everyone's advantage and b)
  attached to positions and offices open to all.

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Virtue Ethics

• Attempts to identify characteristics of "good"
  people.
• Focuses on the individual not on decision making
  or behavior.

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Evaluate Alternative Actions

• Which option will produce the most good and do
  the least harm?
• Which option respects the rights and dignity of
  all stakeholders? Even if not everyone gets all
  they want, will everyone still be treated fairly?
• Which option would promote the common good and
  help all participate more fully in the goods we
  share as a society, as a community, as a company,
  as a family?
• Which option would enable the deepening or
  development of those virtues or character traits
  that we value as individuals? as a profession? as
  a society?