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Ethical Frameworks

Ethical Frameworks. Engineering 185EW Winter 2011 Herrick Chang Slides extracted from Prof. Weltman’s Slides. Ethical Philosophies. Attempts to systematize, rationalize and prescribe societal and personal ethical choices. Historical Ethical Theories Rights Ethics Duty Ethics

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Ethical Frameworks

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  1. Ethical Frameworks Engineering 185EW Winter 2011 Herrick Chang Slides extracted from Prof. Weltman’s Slides

  2. Ethical Philosophies Attempts to systematize, rationalize and prescribe societal and personal ethical choices. • Historical Ethical Theories • Rights Ethics • Duty Ethics • Virtue Ethics • Utilitarianism • Pragmatism • Alternative Ethical Theories

  3. Rights Ethics • Fundamental Concepts • Human rights are basic • Rights are a fundamental human authority • Respect for rights is obligatory • Types of Rights • Liberty Rights: • Related primarily to individuals • Concern non-interference and property protection • Welfare Rights • Related primarily to collections of people • Concern for others within a moral community • Rights include benefits under contracts and promises • Examples • Declaration of Independence • Constitution and Bill of Rights • Modern Rights: Privacy, education, safety, health care, etc.

  4. Duty Ethics • Fundamental Concepts • Duties are basic • Mirror image of rights -- for every right, a duty • Emphasis on what we owe to others • Related Issues • Unification principles • Autonomy – Governing one’s own life morally • Universality – Principles apply equally to all people • Respect -- Other peoples’ desires, needs, efforts • Lists of basic duties (Kant and others) • Examples • The Decalogue • Code of Chivalry • Cadet Honor Code • Professional Codes (Engineering, Medicine & Others)

  5. Virtue Ethics • Fundamental Concepts • Essential virtues are desirable as • Attitudes, emotions & motives • Guides to conduct • Being a virtuous person • Related Issues • Evolution of virtues • Association with societal classes

  6. Utilitarianism • Fundamental Concepts • Most good for the most people • Balance of good vs. bad consequences • Maximization of net good • Related Principles • Rule-Utilitarianism • Rules determine acts • Act on those rules that produce most good, etc. • Act-Utilitarianism • Actions supercede rules • Chose action that produce most good, etc. • Use rules as guidelines and not as absolutes • Examples • Cars: Speed & Convenience vs. Safety & Economy • Air and Water Pollution: Public Health vs. Industrial Costs • Genetic Engineering: Medical Benefits vs. Risks & Morality

  7. Pragmatism • Fundamental Concepts • Context – In which facts and values must be balanced • Flexibility – In integrating and harmonizing competing values • Analysis -- Ethical reasoning vs. fixed rules or ideals • Related Principles • Guidance in methods of analytical thought • Warnings of negative consequences • Case Solutions • Cases are concrete dilemmas – with differing moral/ethical opinions • Emphasizing principles often leads to accentuation of differences • Emphasizing particulars over principles often leads to pragmatic reconciliation of differences • Didn’t we earlier say the opposite with regard to the Golden Rule? “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

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