Kimson Gener G.

Kong
1. Being as fair as possible by eliminating or
reducing possible biases.
Ex. Olympic Game – diving, gymnastics
- no loyalty to own country
- not by liking or disliking
HOW?
Based on performance
Objective standards/criteria
Judges from different countries
Allow appeals and videotape reviews
2. Moral obligations toward others should
not be influenced by what kind of
person you are or social status
Ex. Judge favors influential person
Professor favors a student

Case Analysis:
Two children need a life-saving operation but
the doctor can only afford to sponsor/save one.

What can be done to ensure impartiality?

3. Impartiality is based on Human Rights
Principle
All persons have equal dignity and
rights (Equality)

No one is more significant than others

4. Impartiality is a universal requirement of
morality.

Impartiality in specific roles –

Leaders, judge, referee, journalist, teacher,
employer, administrator
5. Morality requires impartiality with
respect to those who violate moral rules

- rules prohibiting killing, causing pain,

deceiving, breaking promises.

Ex.
Exercise impartiality, do not favor
friends/relatives when they violate moral
principles or do what is wrong.
 Impartiality and Equality
Equality

 Not that everyone receives equal/same treatment,

but everyone be "treated as equals"
- with rights and what they deserve

Ex.
1 year imprisonment to all accused=equal
treatment (not as equals)
a) Human rights principle prevail
over subjective partiality
 Human rights, equal dignity and the right of non-
discrimination are meant to protect certain groups
who are historically oppressed against
partiality/biases.
Ex.
Mentally ill child and a normal child
Dying criminal patient and a dying nice person

(No one has the right to arbitrarily kill/harm the mentally

handicapped and even criminals)
b) Human rights over Animal rights

 It is certainly morally right to rescue abused animals

and protect endangered species.

Ex.
We cannot partially choose the life of our pet
over the life of a mentally handicapped child.

Humans took the initiative to protect animals

out of good reason and compassion.
Jeremy Bentham (Animal Rights)
 Because animals suffer, their happiness and well-
being is relevant.

 All sentient animals have the right to equal

consideration (can feel pain)

Rationality should not be the main reason for the

recognition of rights.

Why?
Many human beings would also be maltreated like babies and
the mentally disabled.
 PARTIALITY

Special treatment, favor or preference

given to those we care for, we love,
close to us more than strangers or the
needy.
 Partiality
Can an individual demand more attention or better
treatment than others?

 Frontliners or poor?- vaccination

 Fire-to rescue your mother or neighbour?
 Allow selected people to come from other places
during lockdown?
 PARTIALITY

Ex. Two children need a life-saving operation but

the doctor can only save one

Special case (doctor as parent)

- As a parent, it is morally permissible to prefer
one over the other.
- You can’t allow your own child to die
- Parents have special responsibilities to
protect their children
Limited Partiality

Ex. I cannot murder another child to

transplant his organs and save my
child (Limited partiality cannot be
used as a reason)
 Partiality
1. Partiality- Treats a person appropriately and
respectfully (like family, friends, boss)

Require emotional and psychological responses:

- sensitivity to values &needs of somebody
- empathy for suffering of a person
2. Partiality is morally admirable

Ex.
Loyalty to family, school or country(patriotism)

Partiality is the result of positive traits like being loving,

friendly, generous, responsible (not a result of lack of
bias)
Consequential theories
 Requires strict impartiality towards the interests
of all
Best consequences, make sacrifices for more people

Ex. Save 5 people over 1 person

Deontological theories
 There can be limited partiality towards certain
persons

Ex. Self, family, friends, race

Arguments Against Partiality

1. Partiality promotes individualism

Individual seeks only to advance his
own interests (partiality)

Impartiality is necessary to secure the welfare of all

Ethics limits or controls our individualistic tendency

2. Partiality leads to discrimination

Moral Partiality can be either negative or positive

 Human superiority/inferiority led to dehumanization,

human rights abuse, suffering and injustice in
human history.

It is not morally correct to discriminate people because of race,

sex, religion, language, nationality, birth, property
Arguments Against Impartiality

1. Impartial individual are impersonal, insensitive and

indifferent

- Without preferences, emotions, personal

knowledge/relationship

Ex.
judge to 2 parties
employer to workers
police in duty
2. Impartiality is the view of Imaginary moral model,
not situated in the real world.

Thomas Nagel
Argued that the ideal observer has
a "view from nowhere"

"ideal observer" is free of any bias or preference

- Does he/she exists?
Real moral agents
like you and me, are socially situated in interpersonal
relationships, with relative preferences and values.

Ex.
I prefer my own interests over unknown others.
I spent more money to educate my children.
I like some people, some animals more than others.
3. Moral judgments of impartial individuals may be
questionable.

How could you trust the moral judgments of a person

indifferent to feelings & interests of another person?

Moral judgments from an Ideal Observer

=not influenced by biases so there is
lack of concern/mercy to certain people.
References:
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-
almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/impartiality

http://ethicsofglobalresponsibility.blogspot.com/2008/08/we-
are-now-in-position-to-give-account.html

Impartial Reasons, Moral Demands – JSTOR

https://plato.stanford.edu › entries › impartiality

https://ddd.uab.cat/pub/da/da_a2013v4n1/da_a2013v4n1a6.p
df – Bentham

https://1000wordphilosophy.com/2014/08/18/impartiality/