WHAT IN THE WORLD IS ETHICS? N. Yasemin YALIM, MD. PhD Professor of Bioethics Ankara University School of Medicine

PHILOSOPHY … is love of wisdom and the search after knowledge, especially of the cause of natural phenomena, the facts or the truth of the universe, and the meaning of existence. It is the reflection of the human curiosity and desire for knowledge. 11/19/20142N. Yasemin YALIM

AREAS OF STUDY IN PHILOSOPHY  Ontology; refers to the subject of existence. It consists of descriptions of the concepts and relationships that can exist for an agent or a community of agents.  Epistemology; is the theory of knowledge – its definitions, varieties, sources, and limits.  Aesthetics; is the theory of beauty.  Ethics; is the study of moral values. 11/19/20143N. Yasemin YALIM

MAIN ETHICAL QUESTIONS  What is “good” and “bad”? How come they are possible?  What is “right” and “wrong”? How come they are possible?  Is there a universal and/or absolute “good” or “bad”?  How can the human mind distinguish “right” from “wrong”? 11/19/20144N. Yasemin YALIM

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VALUE and VALUES  Value; is a criterion or a quality – both desired and awarded. It is the special place of an entity amongst other entities of the same kind.  Human Values; are human facts realized by the work or lives of the mankind. They are the potentials of human ontology manifested by individuals. 11/19/20146N. Yasemin YALIM

VALUES Economical Values Aesthetical Values Moral (Ethical) Values 11/19/20147N. Yasemin YALIM

MORAL VALUES Personal Values Cultural Values Professional Values 11/19/20148N. Yasemin YALIM

MORAL VALUES do not have concrete effects, like obtaining a practical result or hindering a necessity. Their effect depends on abstract factors, like emotional investments, beliefs and priorities. 11/19/20149N. Yasemin YALIM

MORALITY  Morals is the way that a person sets about achieving the values which (s)he seeks to express in a certain situation.  Ethics means the theory of right and wrong conduct; morality, its practice. 11/19/201410N. Yasemin YALIM

MORAL DILEMMAS  Valid evidence indicates that A is right.  Valid evidence indicates that A is wrong. DO A DON’T DON’T DO A Valid evidence indicates that A is right. Valid evidence indicates that B is right. DO A DO DO B BUT 11/19/201411N. Yasemin YALIM

SYSTEMATICAL ETHICAL REFLECTION  Ethical Consciousness: To perceive the ethical issue  Ethical Sensitivity: To decide to reflect on the issue  Define the dilemma  Collect the data necessary for evaluation  List of possible actions  Evaluate possible actions  Decide what to do (Search for advice if necessary)  Realize what you decide  Re-evaluate your decision 11/19/201412N. Yasemin YALIM

MAIN TARGET is to conduct an action which protects more of the values and sacrifices the least of the values Ioanna Kucuradi 11/19/201413N. Yasemin YALIM

MORAL DEVELOPMENT (Kohlbergian Theory)  Pre-conventional Level  Conventional Level  Post-Conventional Level (Moral Maturity) 11/19/201414N. Yasemin YALIM