The Basis of Ethical Principles

2010 ◽  
pp. 45-58
Author(s):  
Robert A. Schultz
Keyword(s):  
Reflective Equilibrium ◽  
Ethical Concern ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
Ethical Development ◽  
Ethical Theories ◽  
Ethical Problems ◽  
Ethical Judgments ◽  
Great Insight ◽  
Insight Into

My aim in Section 1 was to locate and describe areas of ethical concern in IT-enabled globalization. Yet in doing so, I was not ethically neutral in my judgements. The reader, especially the reader who disagreed with some of those judgements, may wonder how they are justified. In this section, Section 2, I will address precisely that question. I will begin by showing that ethical judgments can be justified. Then I will state a theory of ethical development which I think allows great insight into conflicts of ethical principles. Next I will describe a method for justifying ethical principles called reflective equilibrium. Finally, the rest of Section 2 will examine ethical theories relevant to ethical problems of globalization.

Overview of Psychiatric Ethics V: Utilitarianism and the Ethics of Duty

2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 402-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Robertson ◽  
Kirsty Morris ◽  
Garry Walter
Keyword(s):  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Reflective Equilibrium ◽  
Categorical Imperative ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Ethical Theories ◽  
Ethical Problems ◽  
Instrumental Value ◽  
The Core ◽  
Kant's Ethics

Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the ethical theories of utilitarianism and the ethics of duty (Kant's ethics) and to evaluate their value as theoretical bases of psychiatric ethics. Conclusions: Utilitarianism is a well-established moral philosophy and has significant instrumental value in dealing with common ethical problems faced by psychiatrists. Despite its capacity to generate solutions to ethical problems, utilitarianism requires a process of what Rawls described as ‘reflective equilibrium’ to avoid morally repugnant choices, based on utility. The criticisms of utilitarianism, such as the problems of quantifying utility and the responsibility for consequences, are very relevant for psychiatry. Singer's model of utilitarian thinking is particularly problematic for our profession. Kant's ethics provides the pretext for duty bound codes of ethics for psychiatrists, but suffers from problems of flawed claims to the universalizability prescribed by Kant's ‘categorical imperative’. Kant's valorization of reason as the core of the autonomy of persons is a valuable insight in understanding psychiatrists’ ethical obligations to their patients.

scholarly journals “Ethical Minefields” and the Voice of Common Sense: A Discussion with Julian Savulescu

Conatus ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
Evangelos D. Protopapadakis
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Common Sense ◽  
Reflective Equilibrium ◽  
Normative Ethics ◽  
Ethical Theories ◽  
Ethical Problems ◽  
Practical Ethics ◽  
The Voice

Theoretical ethics includes both metaethics (the meaning of moral terms) and normative ethics (ethical theories and principles). Practical ethics involves making decisions about every day real ethical problems, like decisions about euthanasia, what we should eat, climate change, treatment of animals, and how we should live. It utilizes ethical theories, like utilitarianism and Kantianism, and principles, but more broadly a process of reflective equilibrium and consistency to decide how to act and be.

Automated argument adjudication to solve ethical problems in multi-agent environments

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 310-335
Author(s):  
Selmer Bringsjord ◽  
Naveen Sundar Govindarajulu ◽  
Michael Giancola
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Problem ◽  
Propositional Content ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
Artificial Agents ◽  
Artificial Agent ◽  
Ethical Problems ◽  
Multi Agent

Abstract Suppose an artificial agent a adj {a}_{\text{adj}} , as time unfolds, (i) receives from multiple artificial agents (which may, in turn, themselves have received from yet other such agents…) propositional content, and (ii) must solve an ethical problem on the basis of what it has received. How should a adj {a}_{\text{adj}} adjudicate what it has received in order to produce such a solution? We consider an environment infused with logicist artificial agents a 1 , a 2 , … , a n {a}_{1},{a}_{2},\ldots ,{a}_{n} that sense and report their findings to “adjudicator” agents who must solve ethical problems. (Many if not most of these agents may be robots.) In such an environment, inconsistency is a virtual guarantee: a adj {a}_{\text{adj}} may, for instance, receive a report from a 1 {a}_{1} that proposition ϕ \phi holds, then from a 2 {a}_{2} that ¬ ϕ \neg \phi holds, and then from a 3 {a}_{3} that neither ϕ \phi nor ¬ ϕ \neg \phi should be believed, but rather ψ \psi instead, at some level of likelihood. We further assume that agents receiving such incompatible reports will nonetheless sometimes simply need, before long, to make decisions on the basis of these reports, in order to try to solve ethical problems. We provide a solution to such a quandary: AI capable of adjudicating competing reports from subsidiary agents through time, and delivering to humans a rational, ethically correct (relative to underlying ethical principles) recommendation based upon such adjudication. To illuminate our solution, we anchor it to a particular scenario.

scholarly journals Ethical issues relating to qualitative research

2005 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Jelsma ◽  
S. Clow
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Paper Briefly ◽  
Ethical Problems ◽  
Scientific Rigour ◽  
Hands On

Qualitative research or naturalistic research has moved from the sidelines into the mainstream of health research and an increasing number of qualitative research proposals are being presented for ethical review Qualitative research presents ethical problems that which are unique to the intensive hands-on paradigm which characterises naturalistic research. This paper briefly outlines the most common methodologies used in this research. The four ethical principles of benevolence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice will be used as a framework to explore specific ethical issues related to this form of inquiry. The need for scientific rigour will also be explored as research that is scientifically unsound can never be ethical.

ETHICAL ISSUES AND THE CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC

2021 ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
Oleg Letov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
English Language ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Biomedical Ethics ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
Precautionary Approach ◽  
Ethical Problems ◽  
Health Advice ◽  
Analytical Review

The article is an analytical review of English-language articles on contemporary ethical issues related to the coronavirus epidemic. Such principles of biomedical ethics as respect for the freedom of the patient, non-harm are analyzed. A precautionary approach is formulated, the main norms of which are practicality, impartiality, proportionality and justification. It is emphasized that public health advice and action should be part of a broader effort to gain and maintain confidence in the action taken. Reasonable trust requires a serious attitude to the ethical problems associated with the implementation of the intended ethical principles.

Filling in the holes: The reproductive biology of the understudied Mahali mole-rat (Cryptomys hottentotus mahali)

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (9) ◽  
pp. 801-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.W. Hart ◽  
K. Medger ◽  
B. van Jaarsveld ◽  
N.C. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Breeding Strategy ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Reproductive Suppression ◽  
Mole Rat ◽  
Evolution Of Sociality ◽  
Great Insight ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Insight Into

African mole-rats have provided great insight into mammalian evolution of sociality and reproductive strategy. However, some species have not received attention, and these may provide further insights into these evolutionary questions. The cooperatively breeding Mahali mole-rat (Cryptomys hottentotus mahali (Roberts, 1913)) is one such species. Body mass, reproductive-tract morphometrics, gonad histology, and plasma reproductive hormone concentrations were studied for breeding and non-breeding males and females over 1 year. This study aimed to discern if this species exhibits a seasonal or aseasonal breeding pattern and whether there is a relaxation of reproductive suppression at any point in the year in non-breeding animals. The pattern of reproductive relaxation during the wetter months is similar to other African mole-rat species. Interestingly, births and pregnant breeding females were recorded throughout the year, thus indicating an aseasonal breeding strategy, despite inhabiting a region that experiences seasonal rainfall. However, there were periods of the year favouring increased reproduction to enable an increased likelihood of offspring survival. This suggests that the Mahali mole-rat may be an opportunistic breeder possibly brought about by the benefits of living in a cooperatively breeding group and potentially moving into more arid environments that were previously unexploited by the genus Cryptomys Gray, 1864.

Science and Theology for Everyone: How Climate Science is Shaping Christianity in the UK

2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-157
Author(s):  
Caleb Gordon ◽  
Hannah Malcolm
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Climate Science ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Christian Life ◽  
Ethical Problems ◽  
Technical Leadership ◽  
Science And Theology ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Insight Into

This article analyses the growing participation of UK Christians in climate initiatives over the last five years. In many cases, climate science is cited as a necessary consideration for the fulfilment of already-existing Christian commitments. This represents a significant shift in the ways UK Christians understand the role of dialogue between theology and the sciences; previous science and theology dialogue has usually been treated as an area of expert concern, primarily offering insight into apologetics or specific ethical problems. By contrast, the dialogue between climate science and theology has seen the emergence of non-technical leadership amid the expectation that climate science plays a critical role in re-examining the meaning of Christian life, both for individuals and as communities.

scholarly journals On the effects produced upon the air cells of the lungs when the pulmonary circulation is too much increased

1833 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 321-321
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Circulation ◽  
The State ◽  
Great Insight ◽  
Morbid Anatomy ◽  
Air Cells ◽  
Insight Into

In examining the air cells of the lungs of a hare that had been coursed, the author found the superficial large cells filled with colourless coagulable lymph, forming white specks, and the smaller, more interior ones filled with coagula of red blood. No such appearance was seen in the lungs of hares, snared or shot. A run of fifteen minutes with greyhounds so exhausts the hare, that it is frequently known to die from over exertion before the dogs are able to reach it. To examine the state of the lungs, in which the white specks were seen, they were injected with mercury through the bronchiæ, and then immersed in rectified spirits to prevent them from collapsing, and in this state examined microscopically and drawn by Mr. Bauer. The drawings accompany the paper. The white specks appear to be portions of coagulable lymph, separated from the circulating blood in consequence of its disturbed state, and the author considers them as giving great insight into the nature of that destructive disease called tubercles in the lungs; and in support of this idea quotes Dr. Baillie’s description, and refers to his plates of them in his Morbid Anatomy.

scholarly journals Arne Noe-Nygaard 30/7/1908 – 3/6/1991

1991 ◽  
Vol 152 ◽  
pp. 9-10
Author(s):  
K Ellitsgaard-Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Geological Museum ◽  
Great Insight ◽  
The University ◽  
Insight Into

Arne Noe-Nygaard died on June 3rd 1991, almost 81 years old; he had then been active as a geologist for 64 years. From 1942 until his retirement in 1978 Noe Nygaard was attached to the University of Copenhagen, as Director of the Mineralogical Museum (now Geological Museum), 1969–77 as Professor of Mineralogy, 1942–69, and as Professor of Dynamic Geology, 1969–78. Noe-Nygaard's great insight into the multifarious world of geology, combined with his friendly, sincere and extrovert nature, made him many influential contacts.

The Pen and the Spade: Gerrard Winstanley and the Digger Movement

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Colwell
Keyword(s):  
Civil Wars ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Great Insight ◽  
English Society ◽  
Communal Living ◽  
Religious Sects ◽  
Gerrard Winstanley ◽  
Insight Into

In the wake of the English Civil Wars of the 1640s, increased religious tolerance gave rise to unprecedented religious radicalism. While most emerging religious sects adopted unorthodoxinterpretations of the Bible, some sects were more radical than others. The Diggers, led by Gerrard Winstanley, were unique in that their biblically inspired focus on private property’s inherent corruption drove them to establish an agricultural commune in Surrey in 1649. By setting an example for the rest of the world and encouraging others to adopt their methods, they hoped to ultimately restore the Earth to a state of ‘Common Treasury.’ Drawing on scriptural precedent and personal interpretation of the Bible, Winstanley offered an eloquent, politically charged justification for the Diggers’ program of communal living in The True Levellers Standard (1649), which became the Digger manifesto. It pointedly critiquedseventeenth-century English society, had both a positive and negative impact on the Diggers’ reception at the time, and survived the movement’s violent suppression and subsequent collapse. Today, it continues to offer great insight into the origins, development and fate of the Digger movement, while at the same time inspiring modern scholars to delve deeper into the movement’s significance, and raising questions about property and equality that remain highly relevant in this day and age. 

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document