MODULE 7

1. OBJECTIVE:
Students will be able to:

● Know and differentiate feeling and reason in ethics.

● Identify the ethical requirement of reason and partiality.

● Be familiar with the seven steps in ethical decision-making.

2. SUBJECT MATTER:
When feelings or emotions are left as the only way of knowing used to make
ethical decisions, these decisions are often made with little or no regard for the
consequences of our actions. However, when faced with a situation when one has prior
experience, the emotions that are used to decide to have been tested before, thus
providing a solid grounding for ethical decision–making.
The study and development of one's ethical requirements are referred to as
ethics. Feelings, legislation, and social norms all have the potential to diverge from
ethical standards. In that, reason and impartiality are the bare minimums of morality.
Moral judgments must be based on sound reasoning and objectivity. Morality
necessitates a fair assessment of a single person’s interest. Moral judgments, or the
resolution of a moral issue, must be based on sound reasoning. Our report also
provides some guiding principles, and pathways to help guide ethical decision-making.
These are a series of basic questions that should be asked when confronted with ethical
dilemmas.

3. ACTIVITY:
7.1 FEELINGS AND REASONS

What are feelings in ethics? - Feelings and intuitions – play a major role in
most of the ethical decisions people make. Most people do not realize how much their
emotions direct their moral choices. But experts think it is impossible to make any
important moral judgments without emotions. Inner-directed negative emotions like guilt,
embarrassment, and shame often motivate people to act ethically. Outer-directed
negative emotions, on the other hand, aim to discipline or punish. For example, people
often direct anger, disgust, or contempt at those who have acted unethically. This
discourages others from behaving the same way. Positive Feelings/emotions like
gratitude and admiration, which people may feel when they see acting with compassion
or kindness, can prompt people to help others.
According to a Greek Philosopher (Aristotle) - According to Aristotle,
Feelings/emotion is an original and integral part of (virtue) ethics. Emotions are an
inherent part of our moral reasoning and being, and therefore they should be an
inherent part of any moral deliberation. Also, according to Aristotle, the right action
depends upon the details of a particular situation.

Feelings evoked by suffering, such as sympathy and empathy, often lead people
to act ethically toward others. Indeed, empathy is the central moral emotion that most
commonly motivates prosocial activities such as altruism, cooperation, and generosity.
So, while we may believe that our moral decisions are influenced most by our
philosophy or religious values, in truth our Feelings play a significant role in our ethical
decision-making.

What is the importance of feelings in ethics?

Emotions/Feelings help us to communicate with others, such as when we feel

sad and need some help. They also can help us to act quickly in important situations.
For example, when you're about to cross the street and see a car coming quickly, fear
gets you to jump back onto the curb.

How does a feeling affect our ethical decisions?

● Feelings, in addition to rational thinking, influences the way we make moral

judgment and decisions.
● Anxiety and empathy (and being sober) tend to make us less willing to sacrifice
one to save many.
● Disgust and anger make us harsher judges and punishers of moral wrongdoing.

When Feelings/Emotions are left as the only way of knowing used to make
ethical decisions, these decisions are often made with little or no regard for the
consequences of our actions. However, when faced with a situation when one has prior
experience, the emotions that are used to decide to have been tested before, thus
providing a solid grounding for ethical decision–making.

What is Reason?
The capacity to consciously apply logic by drawing conclusions from new or
existing information with the aim of seeking the truth.
What is the role of reason?
It can support us to sift the evidence and form rational conclusions. Reason
allows us to consider what the world would be like if everyone were to act the same
way. For example, if everyone chose to lie whenever it suited them, then trust in human
communication would break down.
What is the importance of reasons in ethics?

Reason is a suitable way of knowing for ethical decisions when one does not
wish to question their perception of an issue. It proves useful when consequences are
considered while understanding an issue. Reason lacks the attachment that emotion
carries; it can remain detached from a situation.

What roles do reasons play in ethics?

● Reasons when remove from emotions, allow a person to make conscious

decisions based on fact, with no reference to personal involvement.

● The use of reason as a way of knowing allows for the knower to see the
consequences of their actions throughout the decision–making process.
 ● There are limitations to decisions made based on reason alone; perception of
situations is not questioned as it may be with an emotional decision.

Feelings and reason both of them can be used to help us in every situation we
are facing, especially in decision-making we can make a decision just based on what
we feel but there are some situations in which we need to set aside our
feelings/emotions to surpass those situations.

7.2 Ethical Requirement of Reason and Partiality

Reason

● The mind's ability to comprehend, understands, and make decisions through a

logical process.
● Natural and uniquely human ability to actively make sense of things while using
reasoning, based on new or existing information.
● It's also linked to reasoning, cognition, and intellect.

Impartiality

● Manifesting objectivity
● It is the attribute of being objective and unbiased while making moral decisions -
emphasizing that an impartial person makes moral decisions that benefit the
majority rather than specific individuals.

What does Ethical Requirement mean?

The study and development of one's ethical requirements are referred to as
ethics. Feelings, legislation, and social norms all have the potential to diverge from
ethical standards. As a result, it is vital to review one's standards on a regular basis to
verify that they are acceptable and well-founded. The ongoing effort of evaluating our
own moral ideas and moral behavior, and striving to guarantee that we, and the
institutions we help build, live according to reasonable and solidly-based standards, is
what ethics entails. Honesty, compassion, and loyalty are among the virtues enjoined by
ethical norms. Furthermore, ethical norms cover rights such as the right to life, the right
to be free from harm, and the right to privacy. Such ethical standards are acceptable
since they are based on consistent and well-founded arguments.

Reason and Impartiality as Minimum Requirements for Morality

Reason and impartiality are the bare minimums of morality. Moral judgments
must be based on sound reasoning and objectivity. Morality necessitates a fair
assessment a single person’s interest. Moral judgments, or the resolution of a moral
issue, must be based on sound reasoning.
Reason and impartiality refer to a mental activity that adheres to the essential
premise of consistency, or the absence of conflict between ideas. It is a method of
getting necessary conclusions from premises while avoiding all types of fallacies in
reasoning. It avoids ad hominem by not attacking directly one's argument towards the
opponent's idea rather than his or her personality.
 Though being wretched does not improve an argument, reason avoids ad
misericord am, or appeal to pity. Reason does not appeal to authority ad verecunduam;
one's strength and influence cannot make a wrong right.
"Morality necessitates a fair assessment of each individual's interests." You must
listen to everyone who is attempting to speak in order to arrive at a sound moral
conclusion. Prejudices and biases must be suspended in between brackets. Everyone's
message, whether it's silent or spoken, should be allowed to be heard. Everyone has
something to say at all times. No one has exclusive access to the truth. A moral issue
must be examined from numerous angles and viewpoints.

7.3 Seven Steps in Ethical Decision-Making

This provides some guiding principles, and pathways to help guide ethical
decision-making. These are a series of basic questions that should be asked when
confronted with ethical dilemmas. These are often complex situations with no clear-cut
resolution, and without a right or wrong answer. But these decision-making processes
will go a long way toward helping all of us make informed decisions that can justify
consequent actions.

Ethical reasoning is a way of thinking about issues of right and wrong. Processes
of reasoning can be taught, and school is an appropriate place to teach them. The
reason is that, although parents and religious schools may teach ethics, they do not
always teach ethical reasoning.

1. State the Problem

What is the main issue at stake in this case?

2. Gather and assess relevant facts in the case

At this step, it is important to address the non-ethical issues raised within the
case. For example, one may need to know the legal constraints of the decision,
technical aspects that loom large, or other issues. Since it is impossible to include all
facts in a case study, frequently you will have to make assumptions based on the
information you do have.

3. Identifying the stakeholders

At this step, all stakeholders in the decision should be identified. As with Step 1,
think broadly and generate a list of all possible individuals, groups, or entities (e.g. the
environment) that will be affected by the decisions to be made.

4. Develop a list of at least five options

Be imaginative, try to avoid “dilemma” - not “yes” or ”no” but who to go to, what to say.

5. Test options, using such tests as the following:

● Harm test - does this option do less harm than any alternative?
● Publicity test - would I want my choice of this option published in the newspaper?
 ● Defensibility test - could I defend my choice of this option before a Congressional
committee, a committee of my peers, or my parents?
● Reversibility test - would I still think the choice of this option is good if I were one
of those adversely affected by it?
● Virtue test - what would I become if I choose this option often?

● Professional test - what might my profession's ethics committee say about this
option?
● Colleague test - what do my colleagues say when I describe my problem and
suggest this option as my solution?
● Organization test - what does the organization's ethics officer or legal counsel
say about this?

6. Make a tentative choice based on steps 1-5

Did you solve the problem with which you began?

7. Make a final choice (after reviewing steps 1- 6), act, and then ask:

● What could make it less likely you would have to make such a decision again?
● What precautions can you take as an individual (announce policy on the
question, change job, etc.)?
● What can you do to have more support next time (e.g., seek future allies on this
issue)?
● What can you do to change the organization (e.g., suggest policy change at next
dept. meeting)?
● What can you do to change larger society (e.g. work for new statute or EPA
regulation)?

4. TEST:
True or false?
1. Do feelings affect our decision-making?
2. Negative emotions like guilt or embarrassment can cause bad decisions.
3. Reason can support us to sift the evidence and form rational conclusions.
4. Reason allows us to consider what the world would be like if nobody were to act
the same way.
5. Reason and impartiality are the bare minimums of morality.
6. Impartiality is the attribute of being unobjective and biased while making moral
decisions.
7. Reason and impartiality refer to a mental activity that adheres to the essential
premise of consistency, or the absence of conflict between ideas.
8. Emotions or feelings don’t help us to communicate with others.
9. There are twelve steps in ethical decision-making.
 10. According to Aristotle, feelings or emotions are an original and integral part of
ethics

Key to Correction:
1. True
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. False
7. True
8. False
9. False
10. True
5. REACTION:
Feelings and reason both of them can be used to help us in every situation we
are facing, especially in decision-making we can make a decision just based on what
we feel but there are some situations in which we need to set aside our
feelings/emotions to surpass those situations.

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Bibliography
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#:~:text=Reason%20is%20a%20suitable%20way,remain%20detached%20from
%20a%20situation
FuryrrZnynonana. (n.d.). Studypool. Retrieved from studypool.com:
https://www.studypool.com/documents/4051992/reason-and-impartiality-as-
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M.J, O. (2014). TeachtheEarth. Retrieved from https://serc.carleton.edu/:
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%20is%20the%20fundamental%20prospect,together%20to%20determine
%20our%20morality
Velasquez, M. (2010, January 1). Markkula Center for Applies Ethics. Retrieved from
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