O N A ND I M P A R T I A LI T Y

R E AS
I NI M U M RE Q U I RE M E N T S
AS M
FO R M O R A L IT Y
CHAPTER 3 - LESSON 4
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
•TO DEFINE REASON AND IMPARTIALITY AS MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
FOR MORALITY
•TO APPLY THE 7-STEP MORAL REASONING MODEL AND THE VALUE
CLARIFICATION
 ACTIVITY
• “YOU DIDN’T EVEN FINISH HIGH SCHOOL. HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY KNOW ABOUT
THIS?
• “I AM FILING FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE OFFENSES COMPLAINED ABOUT. SINCE I AM
A WELL-KNOWN ATHLETE, I CAN MAKE YOUR UNIVERSITY GREAT AGAIN.”
• “PEOPLE LIKE YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT’S LIKE TO GROW UP IN THE SLUMS. YOU
HAVE NO RIGHT TO ARGUE ABOUT THE GANG VIOLENCE ON OUR STREETS.”
• “WELL, IT’S NOT LIKE YOU GRADUATED FROM A GOOD SCHOOL, SO I CAN SEE WHY YOU
WOULDN’T KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY GRADE A WRITING ASSIGNMENT.”
REASON
•BASIS OR MOTIVE FOR AN ACTION, DECISION OF
CONVICTION
•HELPS US TO EVALUATE WHETHER OUR FEELINGS AND
INTUITIONS ABOUT MORAL CASES ARE CORRECT AND
DEFENSIBLE.
 IMPARTIALITY
• INVOLVES THE IDEA THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL’S INTEREST AND POINT OF VIEW
ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT.
• FAIR-MINDEDNESS OR EVEN-HANDEDNESS
• A PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE HOLDING THAT DECISIONS ARE BASED ON OBJECTIVE
CRITERIA, RATHER THAN THE BASIS OF BIASES, PREFERRING THE BENEFIT TO
ONE PERSON OVER ANOTHER TO ONE PERSON FOR IMPROPER REASON AND
PREJUDICE.
SCOTT RAE’S 7 STEPS OF MORAL REASONING
1. GATHER THE FACTS AND INFORMATION.
2. DETERMINE THE ETHICAL ISSUES, SIMILAR TO THE “STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.”
3. DETERMINE WHAT VIRTUES THAT HAVE TO LEARN IN THE CASE.
4. LIST THE ALTERNATIVES OR DEVELOP A LIST OF OPTIONS
5. COMPARE THE ALTERNATIVES WITH THE VIRTUES /PRINCIPLES.
6. CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OR TEST THE OPTIONS
7. MAKE A DECISION