Ethical Cycle Report 68151b

ETHICAL CYCLE PROFETA, MELVIN MOJICA, HANCE JAROME

THE ETHICAL CYCLE Ethical cycle is a tool in structuring and improving moral decisions by making a systematic and thorough analysis of the moral problem, which helps to come to a moral judgment and to justify the final decision in moral .

PHASE 1: MORAL PROBLEM STATEMENT Moral problem – A problem in which two or more positive moral values or norms cannot be fully realized at the same time.  Moral Dilemmas – originally “dilemma” means “double proposition”

implying

that there are only two options for action. - crucial feature is that the agent has only two (or a limited number of) options for action and that whatever he/she chooses he/she will commit a moral wrong.

PHASE 2: PROBLEM ANALYSIS Important Elements in Problem Analysis  The stakeholders and their interests

- Stakeholders are both the people who can influence the options for action being chosen and the eventual consequences of this action.  The relevant moral values  The relevant facts

- Though facts aren’t always entirely clear. So it is advisable to formulate moral standpoint in a hypothetical form: “If x is the case, then option for action A is morally acceptable, but if it turns out that y is the case, then option B is morally acceptable.”

PHASE 3: OPTIONS FOR ACTIONS After the analytic step, a synthetic step follows in which possible solutions for action are generated in the light of the formulated problem analysis. Black-and-white-strategy – a strategy for action in which only two options for actions are considered: doing the action or not. Strategy of cooperation – the action strategy that is directed at finding alternatives that can help to solve a moral problem by consulting other stakeholders. Whistle-blowing – speaking to the media or the public on an undesirable situation against the desire of the employer.

ICEBREAKER

TALL STORIES The leader starts a story with a sentence that

ends in SUDDENLY. The next person then has to add to the story with his own sentence that ends in SUDDENLY. Continue the story until everyone has contributed. The story becomes crazier as each young person adds their sentence. Tape it and play it back. For example; 'Yesterday I went to the zoo and was ing the elephant enclosure when SUDDENLY.....

PHASE 4: ETHICAL EVALUATION Moral acceptability of the various options for action is evaluated. This can be done on the basis of both formal and informal moral frameworks. Formal Moral Frameworks - Codes of Conduct, Care Ethics, Utilitarianism, Kant’s theory, and Virtue Ethics. Informal Ethical Frameworks  Intuitivist framework – the ethical framework in which options for action

are evaluated on basis of one’s view about what is intuitively most acceptable and that formulates arguments for this statement.  Common sense method – the method that weighs the available options

for actions in the light of the relevant values.

PHASE 5: REFLECTION The goal of this reflection is to come to a well-argued choice among the various options for actions, using the outcomes of the earlier steps. Wide reflective equilibrium – the basic idea is that different ethical judgments on a case are weighed against each other and brought into equilibrium. – approach that aims at making coherent three types of moral beliefs: 1. considered moral judgments; 2. moral principles; and 3. background theories. Central to the reflection – arguments for or against ethical frameworks can be positioned at two levels. One level is the general criticism of the ethical frameworks. The second level of criticism is the concrete situation in which a certain option for action has to be chosen.

REFERENCE: ETHICS, TECHNOLOGY, AND ENGINEERING by: Malden, Mass. : Wiley-Blackwell, 2011