In Level 3 Health, we are studying about Ethical Issues within the society. One aspect of making a decision around an ethical issue is to consider the ethical approached. Today, we selected an ethical approach which is the ‘Utilitarian Approach’, and create a superhero made from playdough to present that approach.
Ethical Approaches
| Ethical Approaches |
Definition |
| Rights Approach |
“An action or policy is morally right only if those persons affected by the decision are not used merely as instruments for advancing some goal, but are fully informed and treated only as they have freely and knowingly consented to be treated.”
- Each person has a fundamental right to be respected and treated as a free and equal rational person capable of making his or her own decisions. Respect for human dignity.
- Other rights must be protected if a person is to have the freedom to direct his or her own life. (e.g., privacy free consent, freedom of conscience, etc.)
- WHAT HONOURS PEOPLES RIGHTS (is more ethical)
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| Virtue Approach |
“What is ethical is what develops moral virtues in ourselves and our communities. “
- Focuses on attitudes, dispositions, or character traits that enable us to be and to act in ways that develop our human potential. Eg. honesty, courage, faithfulness, trustworthiness, integrity, strength, hope, charity, self control etc.
- The approach causes us to ask whether a given action is reflective of the kind of person we are or want to be.
- WHAT MAKES US GOOD PEOPLE (is more ethical)
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| Common Good Approach |
“What is ethical is what develops moral virtues in ourselves and our communities. “
- Focuses on attitudes, dispositions, or character traits that enable us to be and to act in ways that develop our human potential. Eg. honesty, courage, faithfulness, trustworthiness, integrity, strength, hope, charity, self control etc.
- The approach causes us to ask whether a given action is reflective of the kind of person we are or want to be.
- WHAT MAKES US GOOD PEOPLE (is more ethical)
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| Utilitarian Approach |
“Of any two actions, the most ethical one will produce the greatest balance of benefits over harms.”
- Focuses on the consequences that actions or policies have on the well-being (“utility”) of all persons directly or indirectly affected by the action or policy.
- Utility, or usefulness, is the ability of something to satisfy needs or wants.
- WHAT IS LESS HARMFUL (is more ethical)
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| Fairness Approach |
“Treat people the same unless there are morally relevant differences between them.”
- Fair and equitable distribution of good and harm, and/or the social benefits and and social costs, across people in society.
- Fairness requires consistency in the way people are treated.
- The principle states: TO BE FAIR TO ALL (is ethical) – Social Justice = to be ethical the outcome needs to be fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory.
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SuperHero Name: Utilitarian Buddy
This SuperHero demonstrated the Utilitarian Approach because he is showing the balance between the benefit and the harm. This hero exhibits a strong sense of ethical responsibility by considering the good and harm in their actions. The law scale shows that weight of consequences of their decisions and actions, striving to achieve what benefits a greater number of people.
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