Bioethics Flashcards
Universality
If One person is wrong for an action, everyone else should be too.
If one person is wrong for an action, everyone else should be as well.
Universality
When a person makes someone’s point appear extreme or distorted.
Ex. “Immunization will only kill 1 child out of 5000.”
“So you think the life of a child isn’t worth anything?!”
Straw man fallacy
Deontology
The rightness of actions is determined partly to entirely by their intrinsic value. (Kant)p-she.
The idea that everyone is/should be treated equal. (Unless there’s a morally relevant difference in persons.
Impartiality
What is this fallacy?
If A, then B, then C, THEN Z!! 😟
(Z is likely to be improbable)
Slippery slope fallacy
To participate in morality
Reasonableness
Normative dominance
Moral norms are presumed to dominate other kinds of norms
The study of morality using the tools and methods of philosophy.
Ethics
The use of moral norms and concepts to resolve practical moral issues.
Applied ethics
Coercion
Using severe harm or threat to control another’s actions
What is the term for a bad/defective argument?
Fallacy
Moral norms are presumed to dominate other kinds of norms
Normative dominance
Apply in all cases unless exceptions are made.
- Respect for autonomy
- Beneficence
- Non Maleficence
- Utility (justice)
Prima Facie Principles
Overriding a persons actions or decision making, or known preferences, for the persons own good.
Paternalism
There are moral norms or principles that are valid or true for everyone.
Moral objectivism
Use severe threat or harm to control another’s actions
Coercion
A person comes to believe something through the merit of reasons (not controlling influences)
Persuasion
Conveying info in a way that makes the person do something he or she might not want to do otherwise
Manipulation
Ethics
The study of morality using the tools and methods of philosophy
Overriding the preferences of a competent person.
Strong paternalism
We owe others to help them further their interests. We owe this to those we have a special relationship. Ex. Parents, teachers, lawyers, physicians
Specific beneficence
A just distribution is one that produces the most overall happiness
Utilitarian
Reasonableness
To participate in morality
Casuistry
A method of moral reasoning that emphasizes cases and analogy rather than universal principles and theories, from which moral judgments are supposed to be deducted
Emphasizes personal freedoms and the right to pursue one’s own interest without interference. They want limited government
Libertarian
If followed consistently, would create for everyone involved the most good.
Rule utilitarian
The rightness of actions as determined partly or entirely by their intrinsic value
Deontology (Kant)
Asserts that the rightness of actions depends solely on their consequences
Consequentialism
Impartiality
Everyone is/should be treated equal (unless there is a morally relevant difference in persons)
Character is the key to the moral life. For Aristotle, a morally good person flourishes is in life
Virtue ethics
The virtuous person has an ingrained habit and can be relied on to be kind, honest, etc. virtuous traits are those that are good for people to have.
Virtue (according to Aristotle)
Good Samaritan actions
Supererogatory
Caring for those with whom you have a special, intimate connection. Obligation to do right by patients, family, and friends
Care ethics
What are the 6 virtues?
- Caring- Willingness to act on behalf of persons.
- Compassion- an active regard for another’s welfare
- Conscientiousness- motivation to do what’s right because it’s right
- Discernment- the ability to judge well
- Integrity- being honest and having strong moral principle
- Trustworthiness- to have confidence in ones character and conduct
What is an argument?
At least one statement (premise) providing support for another statement (conclusion)
What is a deductive argument?
Argument intended to give logically conclusive support to its conclusion
ex. “Jane is a female sibling, therefore a sister.”
What is an inductive argument?
An argument intended to give probable support to its conclusion.
Ex. The weather
Do we evaluate conclusions?
NO!
Egalitarianism
All people are equal, and deserve equal opportunities
Moral arguments
If you accept the premises, then you should accept the conclusion.
•A moral argument is one whose conclusion is a moral statement.
Has: At least 1 moral premise and at least 1 nonmoral.
Hypothetical imperatives
Dependent on desires.
If you want X, then do Y.
Ex. If you want good grades, go to school.
View that right actions are sanctioned by ones culture.
Cultural relativism
Arguments within an argument intended to establish the truth of premises that aren’t already accepted.
Sub-arguments
Why are the 2 aspects of argument evaluation?
- Evaluation of the premises
•(True or acceptable? Are they all around false? Acceptable or need further support?) - Evaluation of the reasoning from the premises to the conclusion.
•(Does the conclusion follow from the premises? Do the premises provide enough support for the conclusion to justify it?)
Fallacy
The bad/defective argument
Specific beneficence
We owe others (positive obligation) to help them further their interests ex. Teachers, physicians, parents.
Moral standards are not objective, but are relative to what individuals think or believe.
Ethical relativism
Strawman fallacy
When a person makes someone’s point appear extreme/distorted
Slippery slope fallacy
If A, then B, then C, then Z!!! 😟
Not obligated to help others we don’t have a relationship with, but it’s encouraged
General beneficence
Applied ethics
The use of moral norms and concepts to resolve practical moral issues
Bioethics
Applied ethics focused on healthcare, medical science, and medical technology
Prima Facie Principles
Apply in all cases unless exceptions are warranted or conflict with another principle
Criteria for an autonomous choice?
Voluntary
Informed
Must have decision making capacity
Absolute Principles
Apply without exceptions
Moral objectivism
There are moral norms or principles that are valid or true for everyone
Ethical relativism
Moral standards are not objective, but Are relative to what individuals think or believe
All people are equal and deserve equal opportunities
Egalitarianism
Cultural relativism
Right actions are sanctioned by ones culture
Paternalism
Overriding a persons actions or preferences for their own good
Persuasion
A person comes to believe something Through the merit of reasons
Applied without exceptions (Ex. No lying in any situation)
Absolute principle
Manipulation
Conveying info in a way that makes the person do something he or she might not do otherwise
Weak paternalism
Overriding known preferences of a person thought to be incompetent to decide
General beneficence
We are not obligated to help others when we do not have a special relationship with them, but it is encouraged
Strong paternalism
Overriding the preferences of a competent person
Libertarian
Emphasize personal freedoms, would like limited government, and the right to peruse ones own interests w/o interference
Consequentialism
The rightness of actions depends solely on their consequences (utilitarianism)
Rule utilitarianism
If followed consistently, would create for everyone the most good ?
Virtue ethics
Character is the key to the moral life. Aristotle believes a morally good person flourishes in life.
Virtue (Aristotle)
Person can be relied on to be kind, honest, etc. (it’s habit) virtuous traits are those that are good for people to have.
Respect for Autonomy and ex of rules
The ability to choose and make decisions for oneself
- Tell the truth
- Obtain consent
- Respect privacy
What is non maleficence and ex of rules
Asks us not to intentionally or unintentionally inflict harm on others
Ex. If a nurse recklessly, or ignorantly harms a patient by administering too much med
Or
If a nurse gives medicine knowing it would induce a heart attack.
- Do not kill
- Do not cause pain or suffering
- Do not deprive others a good life
Categorical imperatives
Unconditional claims not dependent on desires
Do X PERIOD
EX. Keep your promises, tell the truth, don’t steal.
Criticism of Act Utilitarianism
•Goes against our intuitions about justice and the rights of individuals
~Convict an innocent individual in order to satisfy a family?
•Too demanding, requiring us to perform supererogatory actions.
Problems with Rule utilitarianism
•We should allow for exceptions, but how do you determine when exceptions are appropriate?
Theories of obligation or duty, and examples?
What makes actions right or wrong, which actions are morally obligatory, permissible, forbidden, etc.
Ex. Utilitarianism, Divine Command, Kant.
Virtue based Theories and example?
Focus on the development of certain character traits.
Ex. Virtue ethics and care ethics
First and second formulation of the CI?
- Act according to the maxim that it would be become a universal law.
•so if everyone stopped and fed the homeless would this result in good everywhere? Yes. - Act so that you always treat others as an end, never as a means to an end.
•so if I feel obliged to feed the homeless man and do so, I’m not thinking about the consequences or benefits to myself. I treat the person as an end. If I feel inclined to do so because I’ll feel good about myself afterwards, I treat the homeless person as a means to an end.
Problems with Kants theory
- Can you build exceptions into your maxim about actions like lying, stealing, etc. so that it could be universalized?
- What do you do when 2 moral rules conflict?
Beneficence and ex of rules
Advance the welfare of others and prevent or remove harm to them.
Ex. Health care professionals, researchers, etc. already have an obligation to promote good. It’s their jobs.
- Protect and defend others rights
- Rescue persons in danger
- Remove harm
- Prevent harm
Purpose of Doctrine of Double effect and criteria
If doing something morally good has a morally bad side effect, it is ethically ok to do it providing the bad side effect was not intended.
~Ex. Getting an abortion because if would save the mothers life.
•the bad effect may be foreseen, but not intended
•the act itself was not intrinsically wrong
•the good effect is desirable to compensate to the bad effect
•the good effect is produced by the action and not the bad effect.
Applied ethics focused on health care, medical science, and medical technology.
Bioethics
Overriding the known preferences of a person thought to be incompetent to decide.
Weak paternalism
