MORAL REASONING

• A methodology to help people deal with moral dilemmas

• The Key to doing well on paper 3

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.

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 consequences-

maybe• What if a choice must be made

NORMATIVE PRINCIPLES

What are they

• Short statements about how humans “should” act.

• Choose those that apply to your stakeholders’ positions and why they are applicable

FOUNDATIONAL NORMATIVE PRINCIPLE:RESPECT FOR PERSONS

• Honor others’ rights• Do not treat them as a means to our ends• Theological – Humans are created in God’s image

• Philosophical – We wish the best for others, since they are the

same as us

OTHER FOUNDATIONAL NORMATIVE PRINCIPLES

• Principle of consistency

• Principle of impartiality

• Principle of rationality

• Principle of least harm• Principle of right desire

Principle of Consistency

Moral reasons and actions are binding on all people at all times in all places, given the same relevant circumstances.

Principle of Impartiality

Each person should be treated equally unless there is a good reason not to do this.

Principle of Rationality

All legitimate moral acts must be supported by generally accepted reasons.

Principle of Least Harm

When one has to choose between evils, he/she should choose the one which will cause the least harm. When one has to choose between goods, one should choose the one which will cause the most good.

Principle of Right Desire

• we ought to desire what is really good for us and nothing else

Kantian Theory

• The Categorical Imperative- you should act as if your act were going to become a universal law of nature

• The Principle of ends- never treat human beings as mere means to an end

Utilitarianism

• The closest “moral” law in politics.

• Act Utilitarianism- an act is morally right if it produces the greatest good (utility) for the greatest number. This can be a government service, wealth, freedom, etc.

• Rule Utilitarianism- similar to above, but it applies to all cases over a long term.

Utilitarianism II

• Principle of Consequences- the only thing that matters is the amount of good that results

• Fixed Budget Approach

• Fixed effectiveness approach

Other Normative Principles

• Social Contract Theory

• Principles of Distributive Justice

• Medical EthicsPage 117-119

MAKING A MORAL DECISION

USING THE CRITERIA IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY

1. Study the details of the case

2. Identify the relevant criteria• Obligations• Values• Consequences

3. Identify the foundational values at play4. Determine courses of action

5. Choose the most morally responsible action

USING THE CRITERIA IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY

1. Study the details of the case– sometimes there are not enough details to

satisfy the three criteria. – Use creative thinking to speculate about possible

answers, depending on different imagined details.

USING THE CRITERIA IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY

Identify the relevant criteria• Here you should identify the obligations,

values and consequences. • Whom will they affect, in what way. • Consider which of the three is most important

in the given case. • Many times with public policy, you will find

the consequences to be the most important.

USING THE CRITERIA IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY

• Determine possible course of action- consider all the choices of action that are available.

• It is only in rare circumstances that an individual has just one course of action. – E.g. adopt, reject the policy

USING THE CRITERIA IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY

• Choose the action that is most morally responsible after reviewing the information above

In Paper 3

• Conclude your moral reasoning section with a justification of which side has presented the more moral argument

• Use their arguments

• Avoid presenting a straw man

PAPER 3 REMINDERS

THREE SECTIONS

• Critical Thinking

• Moral Reasoning

• Tentative solution

Mechanics

• 6-8 pages long (estimate only)• Critical thinking = 3 pages• Moral reasoning = 3 pages• Conclusion/solution = 1 pages

• Works Cited as needed

• Writing = as perfect as you can make it

• MLA format = as perfect as possible