Ethical Lenses

Obligation Based: Deontological Ethics - Categorical Imperative (Immanuel Kant)

Focus:Universal Rules - some actions are wrong because they break universal moral rules

Key Questions: Is this action inherently right or wrong, regardless of the outcome?

Strengths: provides clear guidance and protects against rationalizing harmful action

Weaknesses: too rigid in complex situations and ignores outcomes

Obligation Based: Rights-Based Ethics

Focus: Individual entitlements - some actions are wrong because they violated fundamental human rights

Key Questions: Whose rights are affected, and are those rights being respected?

Strengths: emphasized dignity and autonomy and protects individuals and minorities

Weaknesses: rights can conflict and disagreement over “rights”

Obligation Based: Role Ethics

Focus: professional obligations, some actions are wrong because they violate duties tied to a specific role

Key Questions: what does my professor role require of me in this situation?

Strengths: clarifies professional expectations and works well in applied settings

Weaknesses: different roles may conflict and used to justify “just doing my job”

Outcome-Based: Consequentialism - Utilitarianism (John Stuart Mills)

Focus: overall consequences or outcomes, some actions are wrong because they produce more harm than good

Key Questions: which option produces the greatest net good and the least harm?

Strengths: considers real-world impact and encourages evidence-based decisions

Weaknesses: ignores the minority and difficult to calculate outcomes

Outcome-Based:Justice Ethics - Veil of Ignorance (John Rawls)

Focus: Fair distribution of outcomes, some actions are wrong because they create unfair advantages or burdens

Key Questions: would this be fair if I could end up in any position?

Strengths: highlights power imbalance and protects against selfish egoism

Weaknesses: conflicts w/ efficiency or total benefit and difficult to apply in practice

Person - Based: Virtue Ethics - Golden Mean (Aristotle)

Focus: character and integrity

Key Questions:

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Weaknesses:

Person - Based: Ethics of Care

Focus:

Key Questions:

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