lec 6

Professional EthicsLecture # 6 Major Ethical Prespectives

by Khadija Ejaz

Ethical Reasoning Ethical Reasoning is reasoning about right and wrong human conduct. OR Moral reasoning can be defined as being the process in which an individual tries to determine the difference between what is right and what is wrong by using logic. Different approaches are being used by individuals/groups for ethical reasoning: Relativism Utilitarianism Universalism Right based ApproachFairness & Justice

This approach suggest that judgment about right & wrong, good & bad is related to individual person or culture.Self interest influence decision making in particular situation. According to this approach what is right for one group/individual/ culture is wrong for other group/individual/ culture and there is no universal standard for right & wrong and good bad. Positive points: Recognizing differences in values and culture.Negative points:One becomes self centeredLaziness

UtilitarianismIt is also called consequence based approachEverything is right whose result is rightWhatever the means you take does not matter, result should be positive.This approach consider following points:Decision should produce greater good for greater peopleBenefits should be greater than costsImmediate & future benefits are greater

Positive pointsCollective interests are considered rather than individual interestsIt estimates costs benefitsNegative points:What is definition of goodNot focusing whether the means taken are wrong or right, ethical or unethical, but only on positive results.

UniversalismThis approach is also known as Deontology or duty based approach.It suggest that means justify the end of actions not the consequences.Actions should be right even though consequences are negative.Its your duty that your action must respect all others.Positive points:it values every human beingFocusing on meansNegative pointsIts difficult to thinks of all humanity and treat everyone equally

Individual rights mean entitlements at birth. These entitlements usually include the right to life, liberty, health, dignity, and choice. what makes human beings different from mere things is that people have dignity based on their ability to choose freely what they will do with their lives, and they have a fundamental moral right to have these choices respected and to respect others in same wayPositive points: Human dignity and individual worth are always protectedNegative points:Clash between interest & rightWho would decide limit of rights

Fairness & JusticeThis approach suggest fair and equitable distribution of opportunities as well as of hardships. ORBenefits and opportunities -- as well as burdens -- are to be shared equally, regardless of power, position & wealth.The basic moral question in this approach is: How fair is an action? Does it treat everyone in the same way, or does it show favoritism and discrimination?Positive points: More easily codified into regulations and laws. Along with the Rights perspective this principle provides the foundation of many national laws.Negative points:Outside the jurisdiction of state who will decide who is right who is wrong

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