Quiz 3 - Social Philosophy

Wolff - Ch. 5: Health & Safety and Ch. 6: Risky New Technologies

Doctrine of Double Effect

a good moral action with a bad moral side effect is permissible if…

1. the action is morally permissible

2. the bad effect was necessary

3. the bad effect was not intended

4. the good outweighs the bad

The Principle of Reasonable Safety (McClean)

social institutions are expected to provide reasonable protection, but no individual can have perfect safety

Principle of Self-Retention (McClean)

members of a society should pay some costs to use social goods & services (e.g., insurance)

Principle of Reasonable Settlement (McClean)

no person should expect more than a reasonable settlement when harmed

Principle of Cash Value in Cases of Losses of Life (McClean)

no human life is subject to market transaction/has utility; when a life is lost, cash value is to generally ease pain and suffering and to deter negligence (not to compensate)

Principle of Civic Concern (McClean)

no member of society should impose costs on society such that it could not meet its obligations to its citizens

Precautionary Principle

taking action to avoid morally unacceptable harm

Systems thinking

looking at wholes and relationships rather than splitting it by its parts