Reason and Impartiality: Ethics

Reason and
Impartiality
Ethics
Module No. 5
What is
Reason and
Impartiality?
2
Reason
From the Latin word
“Ratio” which means the
word itself.
It refers to the capacity for
logical, rational, and analytic
thought; for consciously making
sense of things.
Is the basis or motive for an
action, decision, or conviction.
3
Impartiality
Involves the idea that each
individual’s interests and point of
view are equally important.
A principle of justice holding

that decisions ought to be based
on objective criteria
Also called evenhandedness or

fair-mindedness. 4
Principle of
Impartiality in
Morality
5
Requires that we give
equal and/or adequate
consideration to the
interests of all concerned
parties.
6
It assumes that every
person, generally
speaking, is equally
important; that is, no one
is seen as intrinsically
more significant than
anyone else.
7
Steps in Moral
Decision
Making
Scott B. Rae, Ph.D.
8
1. Gather the Facts
Some moral dilemmas can
be resolved just by clarifying
the facts of the case in
question. Gathering the facts
is the first step prior to any
ethical analysis and
reflection on the case.
9
2. Determine the Ethical Issues
The moral issues should be
correctly stated in terms if
competing interests. The
issues must be presented in
P vs. Q format in order to
reflect the interests that are
colliding in a specific moral
dilemma.
10
3. Identify the Principles that
have a Bearing on the Case
It is very significant to
recognize these principles,
and in some cases, to decide
whether some principles are
to be weighted more heavily
than others.
11
4. List the Alternatives
This step involves coming up
with various alternative
courses of action as part of
the creative thinking
included in resolving a moral
dilemma.
12
5. Compare the Alternatives
with the Principles
The moral issues should be
correctly stated in terms if
competing interests. The
issues must be presented in
P vs. Q format in order to
reflect the interests that are
colliding in a specific moral
dilemma.
13
6. Weigh the Consequences
if the principles do not
produce a clear decision,
“then a consideration of the
consequences of the
remaining available
alternatives is in order. Both
positive and negative
consequences are to be
considered. 14
7. Make a Decision
Since deliberation ought not
to go on forever, a decision
must be made at some
point. It must be realized
that one common element
to moral dilemmas is that
there are no easy and
painless solutions to them.
15
Moral
Courage
16
A. The Importance of Will and Moral Change
• Moral Courage means “doing the right
thing even at the risk of inconvenience
ridicule ,punishment, loss of job or
security or social status.
• Moral courage demands us to make

judgements about what behaviors or
act are supportive of our ethical
ideologies or highest ideals and which
ones are destructive.
17
B. Developing Will and Moral Courage
A. Develop and practice self-discipline.
B. Do mental strength training.
C. Draw inspiration from people of great

courage.
D. Repeatedly do acts that exhibit moral

courage and will. Practice makes perfect.
E. Avoid deeds that shows lack of moral

courage and will. 18
Basic Theories as
Frameworks in
Ethics
19
Framework
- Can be defined as a basic
structure underlying a system or
concept.
- Refers to a “set of assumptions,

concepts, values, and practices
that constitutes a way of viewing
reality.
20
Three General
Subject Areas of
Morality
21
1. Metaethics
- Branch of ethics that studies the
nature of morality
- Talks about meaning, reference
and truth values of moral
judgements.
- Studies the meaning of ethical
language and metaphysics of
moral truths
- How we can know if something
is right or wrong?
22
Cognitism vs Non-cognitism
- Moral judgements convey
propositions, that is, they are
‘truth bearers’ or they are either
true or false
MORAL REALISM –the
existence of moral facts and the
truth of moral judgements are
independent of peoples
thoughts
23
Cognitism vs Non-cognitism
ETHICAL SUBJECTIVISM –
the truth of ethical propositions.
NON-OBJECTIVISM – denies
that moral judgements are either
true or false
EMOTIVISM
-moral judgements are more
expressions of our feelings and
emotions.
24
Empiricism v Rationalism v
Intuitionism
A.) MORAL EMPIRISM -
states that facts are known
through observations and
experience
25
Intuitionism
B.) MORAL RATIONALISM –
moral facts knowable a priori,
that is, by reason alone.
as rationalism, in epistemology
claims that knowledge about
reality are gained through non-
empirical deductive system.
26
Intuitionism
C.) MORAL INTUITIONISM –

claims that we have intuitive
awareness of value or morality
and that defines the basis of
our ethical knowledge
27
2. Normative Ethics
Studies how man ought to act
morally speaking .
- it evaluates standards for
rightness and wrongness of
actions and determines a moral
course of action
28
3 Kinds of Normative Ethics
1. DEONTOLOGY – it bases
morality on independent moral
rules or duties
- came from the Greek word
dean which means duty,
implying the foundational nature
of man’s duties or obligations
29
2. TELEOLOGY – refers to
moral system that determines the
moral value of actions by their
outcomes or results
- from the Greek word telos
which means end
30
3. VIRTUE ETHICS – places
emphasis on developing good
habits of character
- give importance to moral
education which molds
individuals to habitancy act in a
virtuous manner
31
2. Applied Ethics
examines specific, controversial
moral issues.
- that is there must be

considerable groups of people
both for and against the issue.
32
Five Branches
of
Applied Ethics
33
A. Biotehics
This concerns ethical issues
pertaining to life, biomedical
researches, medicines,
healthcare , and medical
profession.
34
B. Environmental
Ethics
Deals with moral issues
concerning nature,
ecosystem, and its non
human contents.
35
C. Business Ethics
Examines moral principles
concerning business environment
which involves issues about
corporate practices, policies,
business behaviors, and conducts
relationships of individuals in the
organizations
36
D. Sexual Ethics
Studies moral issues

about sexuality and
human sexual behavior.
37
E. Social Ethics
Deals with what is right

for a society to do and
how it should act as a
whole.
38
April Hansson
+1 23 987 6554
april@www.proseware.com

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Reason and

A principle of justice holding

Also called evenhandedness or

• Moral courage demands us to make

B. Do mental strength training.

C. Draw inspiration from people of great

D. Repeatedly do acts that exhibit moral

E. Avoid deeds that shows lack of moral

- Refers to a “set of assumptions,

C.) MORAL INTUITIONISM –

- that is there must be

Studies moral issues

Deals with what is right

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