Chapter 4 Professional Ethics PPT

7/28/2019 Chapter 4 Professional Ethics PPT

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Chapter 4Moral Reasons and Explanations


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Reasons and Explanations: An

Overview One of the necessary steps in

argumentation and defending your

position, is the development of moralreasons and explanations.

When we make or defend a decision or

judge a decision we give reasons. Whenwe choose a course of action we offer anexplanation.


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Important Points

Not all reasons and explanations arestrong

Not all reasons and explanations aremoral

THERE ARE WEAK AND NON-MORAL

REASONS AND EXPLANATIONS!


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Reasons

A reason is given in order explain something,how something came to be or came to happen.

Reasons:

1. Describe a cause2. Refer to a motivation

3. Are hypothetical explainers

4. Are stated independently of the actions or decisions

they explain5. Not necessarily tied to anything being explained

6. Are transferable

7. Can be used in various contexts


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When a reason is used to explain aparticular decision/action, it becomes an

explanation. An explanation occurs when a reason or

many reasons are used to explain

something; its the sum of all reasonsoffered for a decision.

Explanations


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Key Words to Guide You

Key words identifying an explanation:since, because, for, etc. precedes a reason

and the decision may be preceded by thus,therefore, hence.


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Moral Reasons

A moral reason must satisfy certain criteria.

A moral reason:

Is universalizable and not contingent Is thoughtful and reflective not based on natural

instincts, gut feelings, outside pressures, or thedesires of authority figures

Expresses concern for others

not selfishness

Expresses a moral value not an economic, legal orsocial value


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A reason must meet four criteria in

order to count as a moral reason1. A moral reason is universalizable in that it

is not unique to a particular person or

applicable to only one situation. It can begenerally applied and sets a policy forpersons in similar situations.


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2. A moral reason must be the productof ones own thinking, revealingthoughtful, reflective views not

entirely influenced by others,instincts, or feelings. Giving a moralreason requires making a

commitment deciding whether theopinions of others should count andhow much.


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3. In showing concern for others a

moral reason must not be selfish orbased on self-interest alone.

4. A moral reason identifies somethingas morally valuable points to a

moral values such as respect forpersons.


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Moral Explanations

A collection of moral reasons offered indefense of a decision is a moral

explanation. Moral explanations can include non-moral

as well as moral reasons. If some or at

least one of the reasons is moral then wehave a moral explanation.


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Give me an example of a reason.

Give me an example of a moral reason.

Give me an example of an explanation.

Give me an example of a moralexplanation.

Exercise


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Moral Dilemmas


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In deciding which action to perform and whichdecision to make, we may be confronted with

reasons the lead to incompatible choices dilemma. Decision-making requires us to resolveand avoid dilemmas.

Dilemma broadly understood, is any perplexingsituation or problem; a situation in which aperson has to choose between two equally

balanced alternatives. A person is faced with two(or more) assumptions or beliefs or reasons foraction.


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Moral dilemmas

Moral dilemmas are more difficult to dealwith than other types of dilemmas two

alternatives are at stake, backed up bymoral reasons.

Moral dilemmas force moral decision

makers to choose between incompatiblealternatives and, in doing so, to choosebetween moral explanations.


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Example

Position: We should use stem cell research because it can benefitpeople by preventing disease and advancing our scientificknowledge.

But there exists a dilemma: helping people by eliminatingor preventing disease is the right thing to do vs. we should

not use stem cell research because it destroys human life (destroying human life is wrong). This is an example of amoral dilemma.

Sometimes there is a third alternative that is supported byboth moral explanations e.g., doing adult stem cellresearch instead of embryonic stem cell research, since itpreserves human life and helps people by eliminatingdisease. However, many would argue that this thirdalternative forces us closer to one side than the other.


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Cases to Consider

Look at Cases 1 and 3 in your text book (pp. 108-109)When answering the following questions, give moraland non-moral reasons and explanations in support ofyour position. Write down your position (what youwould do) and your reasons/explanations.

If you were Theresa what would you do at this point? As the physician, what obligations, if any, do you have

to your patient? To Theresa? If you were Ms. Chung, what would you say or do with

Mary at this point? What would you say or do with herparents?


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Stop here!

For the next class:

Review your notes

Review what strong moral reasons andexplanations are.

Review what weak moral reasons and

explanations are. Study for your exam; there will be a review

session on Tuesday after the lecture.


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Evaluating Moral Reasons and

Moral Explanations Moral decision making involves giving a

moral explanation moral reasons for

having reached a decision or action.


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Evaluating a moral reason or a moral

explanation means judging how strongthe reason or explanation is, and thisrequires that we distinguish between

strong and weak moral reasons andexplanations.


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Important Points to Consider

Two people can reach the same decision,though one person may have a better

explanation. To resolve moral dilemmas and to

facilitate the assessing of moral

explanations, we must find a way toevaluate which reasons and explanationsare weak or strong.


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Strong Moral Reasons

Are relevant to the decision made (are

focused moral reasons) Take account of the person or persons

most affected by the decision.

Consider the values most central tothe situation rather than less centralvalues.


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Weak Moral Reasons

Are irrelevant to or only vaguelyrelate to the decision made.

Are indifferent to the person orpersons most affected by the decision.

Consider the values less central to thesituation and thereby fail to act oncentral values.


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Keep in Mind

A set of strong moral reasons does notnecessarily add up to make a strong moral

explanation. Even if moral reasons arestrong, motivating us to act, they may notprovide a strong explanation.


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*Comprehensiveness*

COMPREHENSIVENESS is anotherelement besides strong moral reasons that

will make explanations strong. A bettermoral explanation will comprehensivelyconsider all the perspectives that help us

apply values in a particular situation, allof the persons affected by the decision,and all the values at issue.


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Strong Moral Explanations

Use several perspectives to interpret andapply values (e.g., consider consequences,

motives, rights, virtues, and life stories) Take into account all persons affected by

the decision

Consider more values rather than fewervalues.


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Weak Moral Explanations

Focus single-mindedly on one perspective tointerpret and apply values (e.g., may consider

only consequences and ignore motives, rights,virtues, relationships, life stories, etc.)

Are indifferent to some of the persons affectedby the decision

Consider at least one values, but in doing soignore other values.


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Strong moral explanations take a broadview of the whole situation and involve

multiple strong moral reasons; severalperspectives are used to decide whethervalues to be enacted by focusing on

consequences, motives, and/or rights, etc.


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Exercise

Give me an example of a strong moralreason.

Give me an example of a weak moralreason

Give me an example of a strong moralexplanation

Give me an example of a weak moralexplanation


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Revisiting Cases 1 and 3

Return to what you wrote down duringthe previous discussion (your

reasons/explanations in support of whatyou would say or do).

Would you say that your moral reasons were

strong or weak? Why/why not? Would you say that your moral explanations

were strong or weak? Why/why not?

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Chapter 4 Professional Ethics PPT

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