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INTRODUCTION TO MORAL INTRODUCTION TO MORAL DECISION MAKINGDECISION MAKING

Steven McCraryJohn Brown University

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Problem: How do we make ethical Problem: How do we make ethical decisions?decisions? Mind map Technology challenges Christian values, e.g.

– human dignity, – God as source of knowledge, – technology is neutral.

Technology challenges traditional ethical theories, e.g.,– aggregations of harm,– generational responsibility, – distributive justice.

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Purpose:Purpose:To clarify and broaden our ethical values

by developing a Christian-view of technology based on the following major ideas.

To understand ethical tools. To apply these tools to difficult

technologically-based choices.

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Premise Premise The difficult decisions in life are solved using

both means (principles) and ends (consequences).

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Sub-Topic 1: The Cultural Sub-Topic 1: The Cultural MandateMandateTo reform cultureHowever, our Christian duty to reform

culture clashes with selfish human nature that demonstrates itself in technicism.

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Sub-Topic 2: A 7-step Model Sub-Topic 2: A 7-step Model for Making Responsible for Making Responsible DecisionDecisionWrite down the case scenario Identify the Issues and Stakeholders Outline the Options Determine Applicable Moral Standards Evaluate the Arguments Conduct Numeric AnalysisMake a Decision

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Sub-Topic 3: Ethics and Sub-Topic 3: Ethics and Christian Decision MakingChristian Decision MakingWhat are recognized ethical theories?What is a Christian Ethic?

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Sub-Topic 4: Responsible Sub-Topic 4: Responsible Technology: Normative Christian Technology: Normative Christian PrinciplesPrinciples Cultural: appropriatenessSymbolic (lingual): openSocial: promotes communicationEconomic: stewardshipAeshetic: harmonyJuridicial: justMoral: caringPistic: faithful

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An ExampleAn Exampleusing the Model in a case about abortion.

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Model for Making Moral Model for Making Moral DecisionsDecisions

Steven McCrary

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Introduction--PurposeIntroduction--PurposeA model based in Christian normative

principles.Minimize the means/ends problems caused

by technology.A robust decision making tool.Clarify your values.

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Steps for Making Moral Steps for Making Moral DecisionsDecisions1. Write the Case2. Identify the Issues & Stakeholders3. Outline the Options4. Determine Applicable Moral Standards5. Evaluate the Arguments6. Conduct Numeric Analysis7. Make a Decision

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Step 1: Write out the CaseStep 1: Write out the Case Mrs. Plass is seven months pregnant with twins. She is

considering having an abortion. She is forty-five years old and does not want to have a high

school age children when she is in her sixties. Mrs. Plass has complications due to her diabetes and early

onset of arthritis, so her doctor advises that her health is in danger.

Plus, due to her age and health, the twins are in real danger of birth defects as well.

She has been thinking about the decision for five months, but has just now decided that she wants to have an abortion.

She has also just won a free cruise to the Caribbean, and she will miss it if she does not have the abortion.

Is it morally permissible for her to have an abortion?

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Step 2: Identify the Issues and Step 2: Identify the Issues and StakeholdersStakeholders

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Step 2a: Who are the major Step 2a: Who are the major stakeholders?stakeholders? Stakeholders refers to all individuals whose

interest could be affected by the decision made in the case.

Typical stakeholders include: local, state, and federal government; local business; benefactors; taxpayers.

Stakeholders in this case: – the mother (the decision maker), – the fetus, – the father, – the doctor, – grandparents, siblings, other family members, – the government, and society-at-large.

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Step 2b: What are the major Step 2b: What are the major moral issues? moral issues? “Moral” or ethical statements

– 1. express a value judgment, – 2. references a norm, a value, or a standard.– 3. Cannot be confirmed by appeal to facts

alone.For our example case:

– The value of the fetus.– The rights of the pregnant woman.

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Step 2c: What are the major Step 2c: What are the major factual issues? factual issues? Factual statements are claims that can be

confirmed or disconfirmed by experiment, observation, or research.

Facts in this case:– the mother’s life appears to be in danger; – the child may have a disability; – the mother does not want children when she is sixty; – the cruise to the Caribbean will be lost if she goes

through with the pregnancy; and – the mother has been thinking about the abortion for

five months.

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Step 2d: What are the major Step 2d: What are the major conceptual issues? conceptual issues? Cannot be settled by appeal to factual or moral

standards alone. Involve meaning and definition of an abstract

notion. Involve conflict of values, perspective, and/or the

use (“fit”) in particular situation. Therefore, an adequately definition must include

meanings of words changing due to: – perspective of stakeholder, and – situation of application.

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Conceptual Issues (con’t)Conceptual Issues (con’t) Suppose “X” refers to a concept, such as

“safety.” – Concerning definition of a concept:

"what X is“ that is, what characteristic(s) does X have? SO what is safe?

– Concerning application of a concept: whether a given situation counts as an instance of X. For example, should the given situation count as

safe? The answer to that question will vary from person-to-

person and from situation-to-situation.

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Examples of Difficult Examples of Difficult Conceptual IssuesConceptual Issues Difficult concepts:

– bribery, healthy, safety, welfare, conflict of interest, extortion, confidentiality, trade secret, and loyalty.

Difficult definitions: – proper definition of “safe” and

“substantial” health risk. Difficult application:

– given the definition of “keeping confidentiality”, does a given situation count as confidentiality.

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Our case’s Conceptual issues:Our case’s Conceptual issues: Conceptual issues include “equality of sexes,”

“convenience,” “life.” Major views on convenience

– Mother should have the freedom to exercise abortion whenever. Government intervention is a violation of

the right to privacy, the right to ownership of one’s own body, the right to equal treatment (men cannot get pregnant), and the right to self-determination.

– Mother should never have that freedom since the rights of the unborn far outweigh any right of the mother.

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Assumed, or controverted Assumed, or controverted facts.facts.The extent to which Mrs. Plass’ and the

twins’ health are in danger.  Mrs. Plass reason for postponing her

decision by three months.

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Step 3: Outline the OptionsStep 3: Outline the OptionsWhat are the main alternative actions or

policies that might be followed in responding to the ethical issues in this case? Is “do nothing” an option?

What are the principle motives that might be used to justify those options?

How does this case relates to the application of technology?

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Step 3: Outline the OptionsStep 3: Outline the OptionsExample

– Options:have the abortion; continue with the pregnancy and either

– keep the child, or – give the child up for adoption.

– Motives for self-preservation, to save her life; for convenience; or for eugnenics, genocide, or gender selection.

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Step 3: How are the issues Step 3: How are the issues related to technology?related to technology?Relate the case to the application of

technologyOur case:

– detection of fetal health;– detection of mother’s health;– ability to perform abortion;– convenience of vacationing;– others.

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Step 4: Determine Applicable Step 4: Determine Applicable Moral Standard(s)Moral Standard(s) A standard (norm) is a principle that will be used to

measure the action and the results.   Be sure the standard prescribes and instructs conduct (use IF...THEN statements).

4a. Write a standard for each of 4 ethical theories.   Use guidelines given by Harris.– Natural law– Respect for Persons– Egoism– Utilitarianism

4b. Write the applicable moral standards for Christian Normative Principles.

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Step 4: Examples of Moral Step 4: Examples of Moral Standard(s)Standard(s) Egoism:

– Side-constraint: In the case of eugenics: Eugenics is a poor justification for

abortion. Justification on this basis could lead to bad, at-large societal policies.

Therefore, side-constrained to prevent eugenic abortions.– IF a mother chooses abortion within the moral side-

constraint above, – AND that choice promotes her self-interest at least as

much as any of the alternates, – THEN that action is moral.

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Step 4: Examples of Moral Step 4: Examples of Moral Standard(s)Standard(s)Natural Law:

– IF a mother chooses abortion– AND it violates the fundamental values of

Life, and/or Procreation, – THEN that action is immoral– UNLESS a qualifying principle applies.

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Step 4: Examples of Moral Step 4: Examples of Moral Standard(s)Standard(s)Utilitarian:

– IF a mother chooses abortion– AND her life or health is at risk– AND her serious interests outweigh those of

the fetus,– THEN the action is moral.

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Step 4: Examples of Moral Step 4: Examples of Moral Standard(s)Standard(s)Respect for Persons:

– IF a mother aborts her unborn fetus at anytime through the seventh month of pregnancy

– AND her serious interests are at stake, – THEN that action is moral, – UNLESS it fails a qualifying principle THEN

check the alternate.

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Biblical Norms:Biblical Norms: Choose the Biblical Norms (from Monsma’s list) that are

not adequately represented in the other theories: Cultural appropriateness –The right action is the one with

– the most culturally adapted or manageable technology (means), and

– whose consequences are most consistent with our values for life of fetus and liberty of mother.

Open Communication–The right action is the one that – promotes values for human life represented by the mothers' well-

being and the fetuses' life. Delightful Harmony–The right action would be the one

that – develops the greatest "harmony" among the major stakeholders

(mother, father, and child).

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Step 5: Evaluate the Options Step 5: Evaluate the Options for each Standardfor each Standard Analyze the various moral standards to

determine what ought to be done in this case. Determine whether the different moral standards

yield converging or diverging judgments about what ought to be done.

Determine whether there are any – unwarranted factual assumptions that need to be

examined.– unresolved conceptual issues in each argument.– fallacies or logical errors.

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Evaluate the ethical reasons and arguments for each option in terms of how well the option fulfills the Moral Standard, assigning VALUES to each option

10 = perfect fulfillment 9 = excellent fulfillment 8 = very good fulfillment 7 = good fulfillment 5 = adequate fulfillment 3 = poor fulfillment 2 = very poor fulfillment 1 = absolutely no fulfillment 0 = does not apply

Step 6: Conduct Numeric Step 6: Conduct Numeric AnalysisAnalysis

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Step 6: Conduct Numerical Step 6: Conduct Numerical EvaluationEvaluation

Determine the importance of each Applicable Moral Standard to the case. Assign a WEIGHT to each standard, where:– 4 = absolutely essential consideration– 3 = very important consideration– 2 = somewhat important consideration– 1 = a consideration of only minor importance

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Step 6: Conduct Numerical Step 6: Conduct Numerical EvaluationEvaluation

Multiply WEIGHTS by VALUES to get WEIGHTED VALUES for each option. Then SUM the WEIGHTED VALUES.

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Tabular AnalysisTabular Analysis

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Step 7: Make a DecisionStep 7: Make a Decision Decide which of the identified options you would

recommend or judge to be the ethically best way to deal with the issue presented in this case based upon which option has the strongest ethical reasons behind it.

Determine how a critic of your position might try to argue against it using other ethical reasons, and present a rebuttal or counter‑argument in defense of your judgment.