Ethical Theories Flashcards
Utilitarian theory
Choose actions that will produce greatest amount of benefit.
Does utilitarian theory approve of human research? Explain:
Yes.
sacrifices of few bring benefit to many.
But design experiments to minimize suffering.
Forbids any frivolous or unnecessary research- not worth its cost in human or economic resources.
Does utilitarian theory require consent? Explain:
No.
If more social good is gained without consent, then it may be morally legitimate on some utilitarian accounts.
Immanuel Kant
Believes every person is autonomous and rational.
Consequences are not as important.
An action is right when it accords with a rule satisfying a broader principle that Kant calls “ categorical imperative.”
Is consent required according to Kant?
Explain
Yes.
No deception should be used. Always telling the whole truth.
Confidentiality is absolute.
W.D. Ross system of ethics
Everyone has moral right to be treated as an autonomous agent and is entitled to make decisions affected their own life.
Is consent required with W.D. Ross ethical theory?
Yes
Everyone is entitled to know truth and be educated in helpful ways.
Confidentiality is expected.
What does Prima facie mean?
And which person identified them as duties in his theory?
Prima facie means “based on first impression” “at first look” “on its face”
WD Ross
What are the 7 prima facie duties?
WD Ross
1- fidelity- keeping promises
2-reparation- making amends
3- gratitude- repay or redo favors or say thank you
4- justice and fairness
5- beneficence- bring about happiness in others If possible
6- self improvement- making the best of ourselves
7- non-malfeasance- do not harm, hurt or cause unhappiness
Bioethics
Moral principles and decisions in context of medical practice, policy and research
Utilitarianism was most influenced by which 2 people?
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
2 separate theories, but both theories are “classical utilitarianism”
Utilitarianism says the usefulness of an action is important, not the action itself.
What else is important about an action?
Only the consequences and the usefulness are important.
Measure the amount of good vs the amount of harm in the result.
“ calculus of pleasure and pain”
Teleological
“End” or “goal”
Utilitarianism is a teleological theory.
Categorical Imperative
Whose theory does this relate?
And what does it mean?
Kant
Has “maxims” such as “I will never lie to my patients.”
Maxims must satisfy universal law.
Kant: what is his only one categorical imperative?
Always act so as to treat humanity, either in yourself or others, always as an end and never as a means.
(Everyone has worth)
Deontological theories
Means duty or obligation
Kant
Ross
WD Ross’s book
The Right and the Good
Seems to combine utilitarianism and Kantianism.
How theories of Ross differ from Utilitarianism and Kantianism
Does not believe consequences mak
John Rawls (1921-2002) What was the name of his book and basic theory?
Published ”A Theory of Justice”
Attempts to integrate the strengths of both:
1-Utilitarian (teleological) ethics
2-Kant and Ross (deontological) ethics
Rawls’s theory:
What are some words and phrases that go with his theory?(6)
The original position Veil of ignorance Primary goods Justice as fairness Maximin (maximizing the minimum) Natural duties
Rawls believes that there are natural duties. List 4 of them:
1-duty of justice
2-duty of helping others in need
3-duty not to harm
4- duty to keep promises
Natural law theory
Basic idea was expressed first by who? And when?
And what is?
Roman philosopher Cicero
103- 43 BCE
“Law is the highest reason, implanted in nature, which commands what ought to be done and forbids the opposite. This reason, when firmly fixed and fully developed in the human mind, is law.”
After Cicero, who else had influence on Natural Law?
Roman Catholicism
St Thomas Aquinas
4 principles of Distributive justice
Equality-everyone entitled to the same sized slice of pie
Need-basic needs of everyone should be met
Contribution-the more you contribute, the more you get back
Effort-the effort of each job should be rewarded- (CEO works as hard as the admin assistant)
Virtue ethics
Ethics based on character.
Virtuous person does right because that is the type of person they are.
Care ethics
Interpersonal morality
Ethic of care vs. ethic of justice
Theory that ethic of care is used by females
And ethic of justice is male response
Theory was by Gilligan and she says this is a generalization
