Ethics Flashcards
Ethics definition we use in this class
the formal process of intentionally and critically
analyzing the basis for your moral judgments for clarity and consistency. Ethics
evaluates actions and behaviors
Morals definition
refers to your own personal moral choices and beliefs
based on your upbringing, faith traditions, and experiences
Conscience definition
Conscience is based on an individual’s moral values: an inner feeling or voice acting as a
guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior
Integrity definition
Integrity is firm adherence to a strong moral code, acting in accordance with one’s beliefs,
and being honest; the opposite of hypocrisy
Cognitive dissonance
discomfort experienced when two cognitions – thoughts, beliefs, ideas – are incompatible with each
other
What makes a job a “profession”?
Specialized knowledge and skill, extensive education and training and practical application, responsibility
Unprofessional behavior
behavior that is not in keeping with the standards expected in a specific position
What are the 5 ADA professional principles?
AUTONOMY,
VERACITY,
BENEFICENCE,
NON-MALEFICENCE,
JUSTICE
What is autonomy?
Self-governance and self-determination
Professional autonomy=doctors choose their own treatments, also hold each other to high standards
What is veracity?
Honesty, truthfulness
What is beneficience?
Do good: quality and competent care, maintain integrity
What is non-maleficence?
Do no harm
What is Justice
Fairness, not always equal
Ethical decision matrix
- What is the question?
- What is my “gut reaction”?
- What are the facts?
- Who are the stakeholders? 5. What are my options?
- What should I do?
- What justifies my choice?
- How can I prevent this problem in the future?
Bad arguments: adhominem
attacking the person, not the argument
A common form is an attack on sincerity. For example, “How can you argue for vegetarianism when you wear leather shoes ?” The two wrongs make a right fallacy is related.
A variation (related to Argument By Generalization) is to attack a whole class of people. For example, “Evolutionary biology is a sinister tool of the materialistic, atheistic religion of Secular Humanism.”
Bad arguments: Straw Man
arguing against an exaggerated and/or incorrect version of the opponent’s case
For example, the claim that “evolution means a dog giving birth to a cat.”
Another example: “Senator Jones says that we should not fund the attack submarine program. I disagree entirely. I can’t understand why he wants to leave us defenseless like that.”
Bad arguments: appeal to fear
(Scare Tactics): opponent is wrong because if he is right, bad things will happen
For example: God must exist, because a godless society would be lawless and dangerous.
Or: the defendant in a murder trial must be found guilty, because otherwise husbands will be encouraged to murder their wives.
Bad arguments: False dichotomy
incorrectly painting the scenario as only black or white
assuming there are only two alternatives when in fact there are more.
For example, assuming Atheism is the only alternative to Fundamentalism,
or being a traitor is the only alternative to being a loud patriot.
Bad arguments: Burden of Proof
claiming that one is right because the opposition has not proven themselves right
Essentially the arguer claims that he should win by default if his opponent can’t make a strong enough case
Bad Arguments: Appealing to Emotions or Power
Pity, anger, guilt, yelling – anything other than reason
“You’ll burn in hell!” Anger
“I’m suffering here, how can you argue with me?” Pity
Bad arguments: Begging the question
circular reasoning. The thing to be proved is used as one of your assumptions.
“I will avoid fluoride because I don’t want to get cancer”)
“We must have a death penalty to discourage violent crime
Bad arguments: Argument from authority
Famous or important people said it “so it might be right”
Bad arguments: correlation vs causation
Sunburns and firework injuries are high on forth of july. Therefore sunburns cause firework injuries!
Bad arguments: slippery slope fallacy
the occurrence of one event will lead to an occurrence of another, much more reprehensible
event
Bad arguments: sounds good
Just cuz it sounds reasonable doesnt mean it’s right
Bad arguments: “what about…?”
Distraction and changing subject; bringing up a second topic and pretending it is relevant
