Hello there,
In L3 Health, we are learning about Ethical Issues. One aspect of making a decision around an ethical issue is considering ethical approaches. Today in Health, my group and I selected the ethical approach, Fairness and Justice, and had to create a superhero that represent its attitudes and values.
The Five Ethical Approaches we are currently studying are:
The Rights Approach: Each human being has dignity and is worthy of respect. Rights are legitimate claims persons have on others and our society. This Approach States: “An action or policy is ethical if it protects or advances moral rights”
The Fairness or Justice Approach: Focuses on how fairly or unfairly our actions deal out benefits and burdens among the members of a group. Fairness for all that is consistent. Focuses on distributing good and harm in a fair manner. This Approach States: “In distributing benefits and burdens, treat people the same unless there are morally relevant differences between them.”
The Utilitarian Approach: Focuses on the consequences that actions or policies have on the well-being of all persons directly or indirectly affected by the action or policy. This Approach States: “Of any two actions, the more ethical one will produce the greatest balance of benefits over harms.”
The Virtue Approach: Focuses on attitudes or character traits that enable us to be and to act in ways that develop our human potential. It causes us to ask whether our actions are reflective of the kind of person we want to be. Examples: Compassion, honesty, courage, trust, integrity. This Approach States: “What is ethical is what develops moral virtues in ourselves and community.”
The Common Good Approach: Presents a vision of society as a community whose members are joined in the shared pursuit of values and goals they hold in common. This Approach States: “What is ethical is what advances the common good.”
Picture of our ethical superhero:
Our superhero “Little Justice” demonstrates the Fairness and Justice approach by judging fairly and unbiased.
