🤔Intro to Philosophy Unit 10 – Applied Ethics

What's Applied Ethics?

• Branch of ethics focused on real-world moral dilemmas and decision-making
• Applies ethical theories and principles to specific situations and contexts (healthcare, business, technology)
• Aims to provide guidance and frameworks for navigating complex moral challenges
• Considers the practical implications and consequences of moral choices
• Recognizes the role of context, culture, and individual circumstances in shaping ethical decisions
  • Acknowledges that ethical dilemmas often involve competing values and obligations
  • Seeks to balance and prioritize different moral considerations based on the specific situation
• Emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, reasoned argumentation, and evidence-based analysis in resolving ethical issues

Key Ethical Theories

• Utilitarianism: Focuses on maximizing overall happiness and well-being for the greatest number of people
  • Considers the consequences of actions as the primary basis for moral evaluation
  • Argues that the right action is the one that produces the greatest net benefit or least net harm
• Deontology: Emphasizes the inherent rightness or wrongness of actions based on moral rules and duties
  • Holds that certain actions are morally obligatory regardless of their consequences (telling the truth, keeping promises)
  • Kant's Categorical Imperative: Act only according to principles that you would will to become universal laws
• Virtue Ethics: Focuses on cultivating good character traits and virtues (compassion, integrity, courage)
  • Argues that the right action is the one that a virtuous person would choose in a given situation
  • Emphasizes the role of moral education and habituation in shaping ethical behavior
• Care Ethics: Emphasizes the importance of empathy, compassion, and attentiveness to the needs of others
  • Recognizes the moral significance of relationships, interdependence, and contextual factors in ethical decision-making
• Rights-Based Ethics: Focuses on protecting and respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals
  • Argues that certain rights (life, liberty, property) are inviolable and must be upheld regardless of consequences
• Ethical Egoism: Holds that the right action is the one that maximizes one's own self-interest and well-being
  • Argues that individuals have a moral obligation to pursue their own happiness and flourishing

Real-World Dilemmas

• Medical Ethics: Addresses ethical issues in healthcare and medical practice
  • Informed consent, patient autonomy, and the right to refuse treatment
  • Allocation of scarce medical resources and triage decisions during emergencies
  • End-of-life care, euthanasia, and assisted suicide
• Business Ethics: Examines ethical issues in corporate and commercial contexts
  • Corporate social responsibility and the obligations of businesses to stakeholders
  • Ethical marketing practices, truth in advertising, and consumer protection
  • Whistleblowing, insider trading, and conflicts of interest
• Environmental Ethics: Explores the moral dimensions of human interactions with the natural world
  • Sustainability, conservation, and the ethical use of natural resources
  • Animal rights, welfare, and the moral status of non-human species
  • Climate change, pollution, and intergenerational justice
• Technology Ethics: Addresses ethical issues arising from the development and use of new technologies
  • Privacy, surveillance, and data protection in the digital age
  • Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the ethical design of autonomous systems
  • Cybersecurity, hacking, and the responsible disclosure of vulnerabilities
• Professional Ethics: Examines the ethical obligations and standards of conduct within specific professions
  • Legal ethics, client confidentiality, and the duties of lawyers to the justice system
  • Journalistic ethics, objectivity, and the responsibilities of the media in shaping public opinion
  • Scientific integrity, research ethics, and the ethical conduct of experiments involving human or animal subjects

Analyzing Ethical Arguments

• Identify the main conclusion or claim being made in the argument
  • Distinguish between descriptive claims (what is) and normative claims (what ought to be)
  • Clarify any ambiguous terms or concepts used in the argument
• Examine the premises or reasons given in support of the conclusion
  • Assess the relevance and sufficiency of the premises in establishing the conclusion
  • Look for hidden assumptions or unstated premises that may be influencing the argument
• Evaluate the logical structure and validity of the argument
  • Check for common logical fallacies (appeal to emotion, ad hominem, straw man)
  • Consider counterexamples or alternative scenarios that may challenge the argument's validity
• Assess the evidence and empirical support for the premises
  • Distinguish between anecdotal evidence, expert opinion, and scientific data
  • Consider the reliability, credibility, and potential biases of the sources cited
• Analyze the moral principles or ethical theories underlying the argument
  • Identify the specific ethical framework(s) being applied (utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics)
  • Examine how consistently and coherently the principles are applied across similar cases
• Consider alternative perspectives and objections to the argument
  • Anticipate potential criticisms or counterarguments that could be raised
  • Engage in charitable interpretation and steel-manning of opposing views
• Evaluate the practical implications and real-world consequences of accepting the argument
  • Consider the feasibility, costs, and unintended effects of implementing the proposed course of action
  • Assess the argument's compatibility with legal, social, and cultural norms

Case Studies

• The Trolley Problem: A thought experiment in ethics involving a runaway trolley and the choice to divert it, sacrificing one person to save five
  • Highlights the tension between utilitarian and deontological approaches to moral decision-making
  • Raises questions about the doctrine of double effect and the moral significance of action versus inaction
• The Heinz Dilemma: A hypothetical scenario in which a man must decide whether to steal a drug to save his dying wife
  • Illustrates the conflict between the duty to obey the law and the moral imperative to help others in need
  • Prompts reflection on the role of situational factors and personal relationships in shaping moral judgments
• The Ford Pinto Case: A real-world example of a company's decision to prioritize cost savings over consumer safety
  • Demonstrates the ethical responsibilities of businesses to their customers and the public
  • Highlights the importance of whistleblowing and corporate accountability in preventing harm
• The Tuskegee Syphilis Study: A notorious medical experiment that withheld treatment from African American men with syphilis
  • Illustrates the violation of informed consent and the exploitation of vulnerable populations in research
  • Underscores the need for strict ethical guidelines and oversight in human subjects research
• The Challenger Disaster: A case study of the organizational and decision-making failures that led to the space shuttle explosion
  • Highlights the ethical dimensions of risk assessment and the prioritization of safety in complex systems
  • Raises questions about the responsibilities of engineers, managers, and policymakers in preventing catastrophic failures
• The Cambridge Analytica Scandal: A recent example of the misuse of personal data for political targeting and manipulation
  • Illustrates the ethical challenges posed by big data, machine learning, and targeted advertising
  • Prompts reflection on the need for stronger data protection regulations and the responsibilities of tech companies in safeguarding user privacy

Practical Decision-Making Tools

• Ethical Frameworks: Applying established moral theories and principles to guide decision-making
  • Utilitarian Calculus: Systematically weighing the costs and benefits of different courses of action to maximize overall well-being
  • Kantian Universalizability: Asking whether the principle underlying a proposed action could be consistently applied as a universal law
  • Virtue Ethics Approach: Considering what course of action would be most consistent with the cultivation of good character and moral virtues
• Stakeholder Analysis: Identifying and considering the interests and perspectives of all parties affected by a decision
  • Mapping out the various stakeholders and their respective stakes in the outcome
  • Assessing the potential impacts and risks for each stakeholder group
  • Seeking to balance and reconcile competing stakeholder interests where possible
• Ethical Decision-Making Models: Structured processes for analyzing and resolving moral dilemmas
  • PLUS Model: Defining the Problem, Listing alternatives, Utilizing ethical frameworks, Selecting the best course of action
  • DEAL Model: Describing the situation, Examining the options, Analyzing the consequences, Laying out a plan of action
• Moral Imagination: Engaging in creative and counterfactual thinking to generate novel solutions to ethical challenges
  • Considering "what if" scenarios and alternative framings of the problem
  • Drawing analogies and learning from similar cases in other domains
  • Envisioning ideal outcomes and working backwards to identify enabling conditions and intermediate steps
• Collaborative Deliberation: Engaging in inclusive and participatory decision-making processes
  • Seeking out diverse perspectives and expertise from relevant stakeholders
  • Facilitating open and respectful dialogue to surface underlying values and assumptions
  • Building consensus and buy-in through transparent and democratic procedures
• Ethical Audits and Impact Assessments: Proactively identifying and mitigating potential ethical risks and harms
  • Conducting systematic reviews of policies, practices, and decision-making processes
  • Assessing the ethical implications and unintended consequences of proposed actions
  • Developing mitigation strategies and contingency plans to address identified risks

Debates and Controversies

• The Moral Status of Animals: Disagreements over the extent of our ethical obligations to non-human species
  • Animal welfare vs. animal rights perspectives
  • The use of animals in scientific research, agriculture, and entertainment
• The Ethics of Abortion: Competing views on the moral permissibility of terminating a pregnancy
  • The personhood and moral status of the fetus
  • Bodily autonomy and reproductive rights
• Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Controversies surrounding the right to die and end-of-life decision-making
  • The distinction between active and passive euthanasia
  • Concerns about coercion, slippery slopes, and the role of physicians
• The Death Penalty: Debates over the moral justification and practical application of capital punishment
  • Retributive justice vs. rehabilitation and deterrence
  • Risks of wrongful convictions and discriminatory sentencing
• Affirmative Action: Disagreements over the use of race-based preferences in education and employment
  • Redressing historical injustices vs. concerns about reverse discrimination
  • The role of diversity and representation in promoting social justice
• The Ethics of War and Military Intervention: Controversies surrounding the use of force in international conflicts
  • Just war theory and the criteria for justified military action
  • The moral status of combatants and the protection of civilians
• The Ethics of Genetic Engineering: Debates over the moral permissibility of modifying the human genome
  • Enhancing human capacities vs. concerns about eugenics and unintended consequences
  • The regulation of gene editing technologies and the equitable distribution of benefits

Applying Ethics in Your Life

• Cultivating Moral Awareness: Developing the habit of recognizing and attending to the ethical dimensions of everyday situations
  • Practicing mindfulness and self-reflection to surface implicit biases and assumptions
  • Seeking out diverse perspectives and engaging in moral dialogue with others
• Clarifying Your Values: Engaging in introspection and values clarification exercises to identify your core moral commitments
  • Reflecting on formative experiences and role models that have shaped your ethical worldview
  • Articulating and prioritizing the values that guide your decision-making and actions
• Building Moral Courage: Strengthening your capacity to act on your ethical convictions in the face of adversity or social pressure
  • Practicing assertiveness and speaking up against injustice or unethical behavior
  • Cultivating resilience and perseverance in the pursuit of moral goals
• Ethical Role Modeling: Leading by example and embodying ethical principles in your personal and professional life
  • Demonstrating integrity, honesty, and accountability in your dealings with others
  • Mentoring and inspiring others to adopt ethical best practices and standards
• Engaging in Moral Activism: Contributing to positive social change and the advancement of ethical causes
  • Participating in community service, volunteering, and philanthropic activities
  • Advocating for policy reforms and institutional changes that promote social justice and the common good
• Lifelong Moral Learning: Committing to ongoing ethical education and personal growth
  • Staying informed about emerging ethical issues and developments in your field
  • Seeking out opportunities for moral dialogue, feedback, and collaborative problem-solving
• Ethical Consumerism: Making purchasing decisions that align with your values and support ethical business practices
  • Researching the social and environmental impact of products and companies
  • Supporting fair trade, cruelty-free, and environmentally sustainable alternatives