• Moral Reasoning is a systematic approach to
making ethical decisions
• It is a structured process, an intellectual
means of defending our ethical judgments
against the criticisms of others
• Knowledge of ethical principles is important
but it’s the application and defense of rules of
conduct that are core to moral reasoning
• Can you provide rational grounds upon
which moral decisions have been made?
• Different circumstances/ethical dilemmas-
require the application of ethical frameworks
which moral agents can use to make ethical
judgments
• Moral judgments should be based on sound
ethical theories and defensible through
reasoned analysis
• Process of MORAL DECISION MAKING
• Moral agent must posses knowledge and skills
in three areas:
– Context
– Philosophical Foundations of Moral Theory
– Critical Thinking.
• Understanding of the three areas will support
moral decision making
The Context
• Ethical decisions are not made in a vacuum
• Moral agents must understand context within which the dilemma has
occurred.
• Context consists of all factors that could influence an individuals resolution
• Understand the issue itself, facts of the situation, values, principles and
moral duties of the situation
• Contextual factors are often culturally determined (i.e. company values
and behavioral codes)
• Company values and behavioral codes can influence the rendering of moral
judgments
• Considerations that are unique to a particular situation constitute the
context of the ethical dilemma
• Moral agent must have knowledge of environment (social and cultural
context)
The Philosophical Foundations
of Moral Theory
• Ethical principles have contributed to an
individual's moral sense
• Ethical theories provide guidelines for moral
reasoning
• They provide standards and principles for
evaluating moral judgments
• Virtue's ethics emphasize character development
• Attain virtuous character through habits-practice moral
reasoning
• Through repetitive moral behaviors, the notion of good is
inculcated into the individuals value system. Moral virtues
become a way of thinking and acting
• Care-based ethics: treat people affected by our decisions
with respect.
• Moral decisions should be based on respect for the dignity
of persons as an end in itself than as means to an end.
• Deontology: the intent of the act is as important as the act
itself.
• Moral agents have a duty to live up to moral principle
• Utilitarianism: consequences of an ethical
judgment
• Recognize that difficult moral choices sometimes
cause injury to others
• Does not take into account the special obligations
to individuals or small group of people
• It forces us to weight the impact of our behavior
on others.
• Relativism: what is good for one is not necessarily
right or good for another, even under similar
circumstance.
• Determine what is right or wrong from one’s own view
point
Critical Thinking in Moral
Reasoning
• Critical thinking is the engine that drives moral reasoning
• It can be traced back to the work of Socrates, Plato and
Aristotle
• It enables a more rational approach to decision making
• Requires one to devote time to analyzing and evaluating the
ethical dilemma and providing decision for ethical judgments
made
• Critical thinking is a skill that can be learnt
• It involves, to some extent, learning to know when to
question something and what sort of questions to ask
• Critical thinking begins with something to critically think
about (knowledge of the subject to be evaluated; principles
and practices; understanding of moral theories)
• Critical thinking requires an ability to identify problems and to
gather, analyze and synthesize all relevant information relating
to the problem
• It also requires an ability to evaluate available alternatives and
decisions to be made
• The following list identifies the components of critical thinking
that are important for moral reasoning
– Acquisition of knowledge and an understanding of the
context of the ethical situation
– Critical analysis of that knowledge and consideration of
ethical alternatives
– Decision based on available alternatives
A model of Moral Reasoning
References
• Day, A.L. (2006). Ethics in Media
Communications: Cases and Controversies. (5th
Ed).USA: Wadsworth
• Benz, I. 2001. Moral Reasoning (SAD) Formula.
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