Transcript Methodology for Analyzing Ethics Case Studies

Methodology for
Analyzing Ethics Case
Studies
Part 2
Step 1 – Defining the Issues
Separate the information into three
categories
Factual Questions
Conceptual Questions
Moral Questions
Factual
Questions
Conceptual
Questions
Moral Questions
Step 2 – We Evaluate Our Ethical
Issues
Duty
Ethics
Virtue
Ethics
Rights
Ethics
Utilitarianism
We Have Defined the
Problem
– How Do We Analyze?
Line Drawing and / or Flow Charting
Line Drawing
Great for situations with clear applicable moral principles
but significant gray area about which ethical principle
applies
Unambiguously not
morally acceptable
Unambiguously
morally acceptable
Flow Charting
Especially useful when considering a sequence of events
or series of consequences flowing from each decision
The squirrels are
eating mama’s
garden
We’d be full
The veggies would be
safe
We’d have to eat
veggies
Should Sage and
Shilah eat the
squirrels?
The veggies would
disappear.
Mama would be
sad. Sage and
Shilah wouldn’t
have to eat veggies
Choices Between Two Conflicting Moral Values
1.If one is more obviously significant than the
other, the choice makes sense
2.Creative middle way – find a compromise
that will work with everyone
a. Frequently very hard to sell
3.Make the hard choice – the best choice
possible with the information available at
the time