Transcript MORAL REASONING - St. Edward's University

MORAL REASONING
• A methodology to
help people deal
with moral dilemmas
• The Key to doing
well on paper 3
Moral Reasoning and Paper 3
• Your paper has a value-laden problem
• Paper 3 uses moral reasoning to assess the
moral components of each position
• Read Section 4 of the Handbook
Moral Reasoning Requirements for
the Capstone Project
• For Each Side in Paper 3 you must identify
analyze for the proponents and opponents
– The Obligations inherent in the position
– The Values underlying the position
– The potential consequences of the position
– The position in terms of the normative principles
and theories that support it
Moral Reasoning and Capstone
• Don’t simply list the values, obligations and
consequences
• Use the literature to justify these things for
each side. Do not just assume that they
believe it.
WHAT IS A MORAL DILEMMA?
• Occurs when you are facing a value-laden
problem and…
• All the choices appear to have merit
WHAT IS MORAL REASONING?
• Ability to work through moral dilemmas using a rulebased framework
• Involves both decision-making and taking action
• Focuses on situations that involve value conflicts
– Beliefs about what is good/desirable and undesirable
What are Morals?
• What are morals?
• Moral Relativism
• Moral Absolutism
INSUFFICIENT, CRITERIA
FOR MORAL DECISION-MAKING
• Feelings
• Religion
• Majority view
• Law
ACCEPTABLE CRITERIA FOR
MORAL DECISION-MAKING
• Obligations
• Values
• Consequences
Be sure to consider each criteria before making
any moral decisions.
OBLIGATIONS
• Relationships imply obligations
• Obligations relate to governmental roles
• Obligations imply restrictions
• Formal
– Contracts, vows
• Informal
– Citizenship, friendship, family, professions
When Obligations Conflict
• Sometimes both sides will have legitimate
obligations
• Give preference to the more important one
• Try to find a middle ground and serve both
• If only one can be served
– What is the first obligation
– What will cause the greatest harm if not filled
WHAT ARE VALUES?
• Beliefs about what is good/desirable and
bad/undesirable
• Guide us on how to behave
• Unique to each individual
• Change due to time, experience
SOME EXAMPLES OF VALUES
(terminology: Milton Rokeach)
TERMINAL
National security
Family security
Economic prosperity
A peaceful world
Inner harmony
Salvation
Equality
Wisdom
Justice
An exciting life
INSTRUMENTAL
Imaginative
Honest
Kind
Friendly
Productive
Polite
Fair
Obedient
Generous
Questions to Help identify Values
• What utility do those holding a side expect to
achieve?
• What interest do those holding a given
position wish to protect or gain?
• What harm do those holding a position wish
to prevent?
When Values Conflict
• Select the higher ideal
• Select the action that will achieve the greatest
good
• If there is no good, then choose the one with
the lesser evil
CONSEQUENCES
They are the projected results that might occur
from any given action.
• Beneficial or detrimental
• Immediate or long-range
• Intentional or unintentional
• Involve the person performing the action
and/or others
Measuring Consequences
• Difficult to predict because people behave
irrationally
• Immoral Acts that produce good results – No
• Moral Acts that produce mixed consequencesmaybe
• What if a choice must be made