Ethical Theories

Question 1

Utilitarian theory

Answer 1

Choose actions that will produce greatest amount of benefit.

Question 2

Does utilitarian theory approve of human research? Explain:

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Does utilitarian theory require consent? Explain:

Answer 3

No.

If more social good is gained without consent, then it may be morally legitimate on some utilitarian accounts.

Question 4

Immanuel Kant

Answer 4

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.”

Question 5

Is consent required according to Kant?

Explain

Answer 5

Yes.
No deception should be used. Always telling the whole truth.

Confidentiality is absolute.

Question 6

W.D. Ross system of ethics

Answer 6

Everyone has moral right to be treated as an autonomous agent and is entitled to make decisions affected their own life.

Question 7

Is consent required with W.D. Ross ethical theory?

Answer 7

Yes
Everyone is entitled to know truth and be educated in helpful ways.

Confidentiality is expected.

Question 8

What does Prima facie mean?

And which person identified them as duties in his theory?

Answer 8

Prima facie means “based on first impression” “at first look” “on its face”

WD Ross

Question 9

What are the 7 prima facie duties?

WD Ross

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Bioethics

Answer 10

Moral principles and decisions in context of medical practice, policy and research

Question 11

Utilitarianism was most influenced by which 2 people?

Answer 11

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)

2 separate theories, but both theories are “classical utilitarianism”

Question 12

Utilitarianism says the usefulness of an action is important, not the action itself.
What else is important about an action?

Answer 12

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”

Question 13

Teleological

Answer 13

“End” or “goal”

Utilitarianism is a teleological theory.

Question 14

Categorical Imperative

Whose theory does this relate?

And what does it mean?

Answer 14

Kant

Has “maxims” such as “I will never lie to my patients.”

Maxims must satisfy universal law.

Question 15

Kant: what is his only one categorical imperative?

Answer 15

Always act so as to treat humanity, either in yourself or others, always as an end and never as a means.

(Everyone has worth)

Question 16

Deontological theories

Answer 16

Means duty or obligation

Kant
Ross

Question 17

WD Ross’s book

Answer 17

The Right and the Good

Seems to combine utilitarianism and Kantianism.

Question 18

How theories of Ross differ from Utilitarianism and Kantianism

Answer 18

Does not believe consequences mak

Question 19

John Rawls (1921-2002)
What was the name of his book and basic theory?

Answer 19

Published ”A Theory of Justice”

Attempts to integrate the strengths of both:
1-Utilitarian (teleological) ethics
2-Kant and Ross (deontological) ethics

Question 20

Rawls’s theory:

What are some words and phrases that go with his theory?(6)

Answer 20

The original position
Veil of ignorance
Primary goods
Justice as fairness
Maximin (maximizing the minimum)
Natural duties

Question 21

Rawls believes that there are natural duties. List 4 of them:

Answer 21

1-duty of justice
2-duty of helping others in need
3-duty not to harm
4- duty to keep promises

Question 22

Natural law theory
Basic idea was expressed first by who? And when?
And what is?

Answer 22

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.”

Question 23

After Cicero, who else had influence on Natural Law?

Answer 23

Roman Catholicism

St Thomas Aquinas

Question 24

4 principles of Distributive justice

Answer 24

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)

Question 25

Virtue ethics

Answer 25

Ethics based on character.

Virtuous person does right because that is the type of person they are.

Question 26

Care ethics

Answer 26

Interpersonal morality

Question 27

Ethic of care vs. ethic of justice

Answer 27

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