CASE STUDY ANALYSIS ENGLISH 110-2011 Ethical Thinking CASE STUDY ANALYSIS ENGLISH 110-2011

What are Ethics? Standards of behavior that tell us how human beings ought to act in various situations

Ethics is NOT the same as feelings religion following the law following culturally accepted norms science

Two Problems On what do we base our ethical standards? How do those standards get applied to specific situations we face?

3 Sources of Ethical Standards The Utilitarian Approach The Rights Approach The Fairness or Justice Approach

The Utilitarian Approach The ethical action is the one that produces the greatest balance of good over harm Deals with consequences Tries to increase the good and decrease the harm

The Rights Approach The ethical action is the one that best protects and respects the moral rights of those affected Based on belief that humans have a dignity based on their human nature Humans have moral rights

The Fairness or Justice Approach All equals should be treated equally Ethical actions treat all human equally If not equally, then fairly Fairness based on some standard that can be defended

Problems We may not agree on the content of some of the approaches We may not agree on what is the common good We may not agree on what is a good and what is a harm The different approaches may not all answer the ethical question in the same way

Making Decisions Ethical decision making takes practice A method helps the process Ethical decisions require method, discussion, and dialogue with others

A Framework for Ethical Decision Making Recognize an Ethical Issue Could this decision or situation be damaging to someone or to some group? Does this decision involve a choice between a good and bad alternative? Is this issue about more than what is legal or what is most efficient?

A Framework for Ethical Decision Making Get the Facts What are the relevant facts of the case? What facts are not known? Can I learn more? What individuals and groups have an important stake in the outcome? What are the options for acting? Have all persons and groups been consulted? Have creative options been considered?

A Framework for Ethical Decision Making Evaluate Alternative Actions—Ask questions Which option will produce the most good and do the least harm? Which option best respects the rights of all who have a stake? Which option treats people equally or proportionately? Which option best serves the community as a whole, not just some members? Which option leads me to act as the sort of person I want to be?

A Framework for Ethical Decision Making Make a Decision and Test It Considering all these approaches, which option best addresses the situation? If I told someone I respect-or told a television audience- which option I have chosen, what would they say?

A Framework for Ethical Decision Making Act and Reflect on the Outcome How can my decision be implemented with the greatest care and attention to the concerns of all stakeholders? How did my decision turn out and what have I learned from this specific situation?

Reference This framework for thinking ethically is the product of dialogue and debate at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. Primary contributors include Manuela Velasquez, Dennis Moberg, Michael J. Meyer, Thomas Shanks, Margaret R. McLean, David DeCosse, Claire Andre, and Kirk O. Hanson. This information originally appeared in an article in Issues in Ethics, V 1, N 2 (Winter 1988). Revised May 2009 This information does not appear in its entirety.