Ethical Decision Making Notes

Ethical Decision Making

Overview of Ethical Decision Making

  • Ethical Decision Making is a process of evaluating options and choosing actions that are morally defensible.

Key Components of Making Ethical Decisions

  • Guidelines in Ethical Decisions:

    • Attention/Observation: Pay close attention to the situation.

    • Dialogue/Discussion: Engage in conversations with others involved to gather diverse perspectives.

    • Organize Options: Clearly lay out all possible courses of action.

  • Steps to Consider:

    • Review the Rights: Understand everyone’s rights involved in the situation.

    • Evaluate the Effects: Consider the potential outcomes of each option.

    • Challenge Assumptions: Critically assess the beliefs that may influence your decisions.

    • Proposals: Identify and outline possible actions or policies that could be adopted.

    • Test the Decisions: Scrutinize your options through hypothetical scenarios and ethical reasoning.

Principles of Ethical Decision Making

  • Doing the Right Thing: Guided by personal and collective values, virtues, and principles.

  • Core Principles Include:

    • Beneficence:

    • Focus on promoting welfare and actively supporting well-being.

    • Autonomy:

    • Respect individuals’ rights to make their own choices; acknowledges human dignity and rational capacity.

    • Justice:

    • Ensure fairness and equitable treatment; focuses on defining rights and rules.