On a Purported Error About the Doctrine of Double Effect: A Reply to Sophie Botros

Philosophy ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Whitley R. P. Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
Double Effect ◽  
Doctrine Of Double Effect ◽  
Recent Edition ◽  
Moral Distinction ◽  
Essential Contribution ◽  
Two Sides

In a recent edition of the journal Philosophy, Sophie Botros asserts that modern ethical theorists have badly misunderstood the role of the Doctrine of Double Effect, turning it into a device by which to prohibit actions which are deemed impermissible; whereas the true function of the Doctrine is rather one of justifying actions. In my reply, I argue that Dr Botros has misunderstood the Doctrine: that its ‘prohibitive’ and its ‘justificatory’ roles are merely two sides of the same coin, since its function is to decide for a given action whether it is permissible or impermissible. Furthermore, Dr Botros has misconstrued the essential contribution of the DDE is not the balancing of good results against bad ones, but the quite different position that the crucial moral distinction is between intended and merely foreseen results.

scholarly journals On Automating the Doctrine of Double Effect

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naveen Sundar Govindarajulu ◽  
Selmer Bringsjord
Keyword(s):  
Human Subjects ◽  
Autonomous Systems ◽  
Double Effect ◽  
Doctrine Of Double Effect ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Representation Systems ◽  
Second Mode ◽  
Software Modules ◽  
Initial Work

The doctrine of double effect (DDE) is a long-studied ethical principle that governs when actions that have both positive and negative effects are to be allowed. The goal in this paper is to automate DDE. We briefly present DDE, and use a first-order modal logic, the deontic cognitive event calculus, as our framework to formalize the doctrine. We present formalizations of increasingly stronger versions of the principle, including what is known as the doctrine of triple effect. We then use our framework to simulate successfully scenarios that have been used to test the presence of the principle in human subjects. Our framework can be used in two different modes. One can use it to build DDE-compliant autonomous systems from scratch, or one can use it to verify that a given AI system is DDE-complaint, by applying a DDE layer on an existing system or model. For the latter mode, the underlying AI system can be built using any architecture (planners, deep neural networks, bayesian networks, knowledge-representation systems, or a hybrid); as long as the system exposes a few parameters in its model, such verification is possible. The role of the DDE layer here is akin to a (dynamic or static) software verifier that examines existing software modules. Finally, we end by sketching initial work on how one can apply our DDE layer to the STRIPS-style planning model, and to a modified POMDP model. This is preliminary work to illustrate the feasibility of the second mode, and we hope that our initial sketches can be useful for other researchers in incorporating DDE in their own frameworks.

Causation and Ethics

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Sartorio
Keyword(s):  
Moral Responsibility ◽  
Moral Theory ◽  
Double Effect ◽  
Doctrine Of Double Effect ◽  
The Family ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Killing And Letting Die ◽  
Letting Die

This article examines potential applications of the concept of cause to some central ethical concepts, views, and problems. In particular, it discusses the role of causation in the family of views known as consequentialism, the distinction between killing and letting die, the doctrine of double effect, and the concept of moral responsibility. The article aims to examine the extent to which an appeal to the concept of cause contributes to elucidating moral notions or to increasing the plausibility of moral views. Something that makes this task interestingly complex is the fact that the notion of causation itself is controversial and difficult to pin down. As a result, in some cases the success of its use in moral theory hinges on how certain debates about causation are resolved.

Introduction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
C. A. J. Coady
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Double Effect ◽  
September 11 ◽  
Doctrine Of Double Effect ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Past ◽  
Death Toll ◽  
Terrorist Acts

This Introduction sets the background and scenario for the chapters that follow. It begins by sketching the public impact that terrorist acts have had in the past few decades and how that impact has been affected by the terrible coronavirus of 2020 with its staggering worldwide death toll. It then charts the development of philosophical responses to the dangers of terrorism that begin surprisingly slowly in the 1970s, increase in volume in the 1980s and 1990s, and accelerate dramatically in the wake of the September 11, 2001 hijacked plane attacks on New York and Washington. It also gives an indication of the broader sense of “meaning” in the book’s title that underpins much of the discussion in the later chapters that relies upon but goes beyond the very necessary conceptual clarifications developed in the early chapters. Finally, there are summaries of the themes and arguments in the book’s eight chapters, concluding with a note on the doctrine of double effect and the role of intention in the moral discussion of terrorist acts.

The AMA Guides in Pennsylvania “Post-Protz”: Act 111 and Case Law Update

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 12-19
Author(s):  
Justin D. Beck ◽  
Judge David B. Torrey
Keyword(s):  
Case Law ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Disability Benefits ◽  
Permanent Disability ◽  
Sixth Edition ◽  
Legal Questions ◽  
The Supreme Court ◽  
Recent Edition ◽  
Impairment Ratings

Abstract Medical evaluators must understand the context for the impairment assessments they perform. This article exemplifies issues that arise based on the role of impairment ratings and what edition of the AMA Guides to the Impairment of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides) is used. This discussion also raises interesting legal questions related to retroactivity, applicability of prior precedent, and delegation. On June 20, 2017, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania handed down its decision, Protz v. WCAB (Derry Area Sch. Dist.), which disallows use of the “most recent edition” of the AMA Guides when determining partial disability entitlement under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act. An attempted solution was passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and was signed into law Act 111 on October 24, 2018. Although it affirms that the AMA Guides, Sixth Edition, must be used for impairment ratings, the law reduces the threshold for total disability benefits from 50% to 35% impairment. This legislative adjustment benefited injured workers but sparked additional litigation about whether, when, and how the adjustment should be applied (excerpts from the laws and decisions discussed by the authors are included at the end of the article). In using impairment as a threshold for permanent disability benefits, evaluators must distinguish between impairment and disability and determine an appropriate threshold; they also must be aware of the compensation and adjudication process and of the jurisdictions in which they practice.

Polish Ethnic Minority in Belarus and Lithuania: Politics, Institutions, and Identities

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Monika Frėjutė-Rakauskienė ◽  
Olga Sasunkevich ◽  
Kristina Šliavaitė
Keyword(s):  
Identity Formation ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Minority Communities ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
Cross Case Analysis ◽  
Two Sides ◽  
State Schools

Abstract This article analyzes how institutions influence the process of identity formation within the Polish minority communities in Belarus and Lithuania. We focus on ways that the identities of people who consider themselves Poles in Belarus and Lithuania are targeted by institutions like the state, schools, and nongovernmental organizations. We aim to shed light on how these processes are shaped by institutional settings and broader political contexts. The authors take a bottom-up approach to institutions and look at how members of the Polish communities in the two neighboring countries conceptualize the role of various institutions—NGOs, schools, Karta Polaka (the Polish Card)—to shape their sense of ethnic belonging. The article is built on a cross-case analysis. Data for the Lithuanian and Belarusian cases, consisting of interviews and secondary sources, were collected independently and then reread in light of a common research question. Through our analysis, we show differences and similarities in how analogous institutions function on the two sides of the border and elaborate on the reasons why these differences occur and what role state policy and supranational regulations play in the process.

Treatment for Cough: Two Sides to the Story

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 113-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bari Hoffman Ruddy ◽  
Mary J. Sandage
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Cough ◽  
The Other ◽  
Behavioral Strategies ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Airway Clearance ◽  
Two Sides

The role of cough is of interest to speech-language pathologists (SLPs) for two seemingly contradictory reasons: chronic, excessive cough and insufficient cough. Evidence supports the role of the SLP in behavioral strategies for both the reduction and/or elimination of chronic cough, as well as the use of pulmonary exercise to realize improved airway clearance in individuals with a weak, insufficient cough. At both ends of this continuum, anchored at one end by too much coughing and the other end anchored by inadequate cough for airway clearance/pulmonary health, the SLP has an important role.

scholarly journals INFORMAL EDUCATION AS A PROJECTED IMPROVEMENT OF THE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS OF EMPLOYEES OF ORGANIZATIONS

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 281
Author(s):  
Warul Walidin
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Vocational Training ◽  
Informal Education ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Cultural Development ◽  
Individual Personality ◽  
Personal Skills ◽  
Personality Features ◽  
Two Sides

Technologies of vocational training play an important role in the concept of informal education and they can be implemented as in higher education, and organizational learning. In the modern understanding of education the two sides are emphasized - the communion of each person to the society and the development of individual personality features. If formal education is moving towards these goals systematically and purposefully at certain training sessions, the place and time of informal education is in no way limited. Informal education can be characterized not only by independent, human progress in cultural development, but also directed and projected improvement of professional and personal skills of employees of organizations. The purpose of this papers to examine informal education not only as an independent, but also as a guide and the projected improvement of the professional and personal skills of employees of organizations. The leading approaches to the study of this problem are social-pedagogical and managerial approaches to substantiate the essence of the process and the role of leaders of organizations trained in the management of such education.

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