PHIL 235 Final Exam Prep 2022/2023 updated | 9 pages rated A+
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Course
PHIL235
Institution
Concordia University (
)
Ethical Foundations
Normative Ethics
Consequentialist Theories
Action considered right/wrong based on the outcome.
Egoism: Best outcome for me
Utilitarianism – John Stuart Mill: Best overall/general outcome/happiness of anyone. Don’t value your
own happiness over others’. BAD because yo...
PHIL 235 review
Ethical Foundations
Normative Ethics
Consequentialist Theories
Action considered right/wrong based on the outcome.
Egoism: Best outcome for me
Utilitarianism – John Stuart Mill: Best overall/general outcome/happiness of anyone. Don’t value your
own happiness over others’. BAD because you value your family more than strangers.
Deontology
Outcome doesn’t matter. Simply say what’s right/wrong. Ex: Killing someone is good because donate
organs to many, right? Wrong. But, how do we know what’s right? (Check Immanuel Kant).
Virtue Ethics (ancient)
“What kind of person do I want to be?” -Aristotle
Ethics of Care
Feminist. More about “care” and “relationships”. Men thinks more about “justice”. Some say Ethics of
Care is better than the traditional ethics because it doesn't focus on rules, but on the situation between
people.
Meta-ethical position
Implicit Ethical Subjectivism
Right/wrong based on feelings, emotions. Fails to allow for genuine moral debates AKA they’re not
debating, only expressing their feelings.
Implicit Ethical Relativism
Your ethical beliefs are either wrong or right depending on your surrounding/culture. If you say,
"abortion is wrong", but your cultural group is for abortion, then you're wrong. You can't label what's
progress or decline; can only see it as "a change in the culture"
Implicit Ethical Objectivism
Hard objectivism: Saying something is the right answer
Soft objectivism: Open to moral debates and progression. Final answers might not be found.
Immanuel Kant – Monistic Deontology
Kant sides with Categorial Imperatives.
Hypothetical Imperatives: Imperative does not affect you if you don't associate to the "if" part. Ex: If you
want to be good, don't lie. I don't want to be good. Then lie all you want. BAD.
Categorical Imperatives: If the action you're trying to make can become a universal law of nature, it is
good. Ex: I will lie if it gives me an advantage. If everybody lies, no one will believe anybody (BAD). Never
use other humans. Treat them with respect and respect their autonomy, rationality, freedom.
Perfect duties: A universal law that applies in all cases.
Imperfect duties: Less strict. People has a duty to help others, but not always. So "beneficence" is an
imperfect duty.
Kant's theory isn't perfect. What if you must lie to save someone's life?
WD Ross - Pluralistic Deontology
, Virtue Ethics
It attempts to come to an understanding of how I ought to live my life and what kind of character traits
are best. Virtuous person mostly trusted over utilitarian and Kantian because they are more natural. The
others must calculate through some formulas.
Ethics and Biomedical Ethics
Codes of Conduct
When patient and HCP discuss a matter, the patient might be inexperienced or uneducated on the
matter to make an ethical decision. Therefore, there's Codes of Conduct. Not perfect (like all other
codes), but gives starting point (open to critics).
The Hippocratic Oath
"Above all, do no harm." Emphasis on HCP-Patient relation. "Above all, I must not play at God". Might
mean no abortion and active euthanasia. Might mean to be careful in life/death situations.
Principles of Biomedical Ethics
Respect for autonomy
Respecting someone's values and let them act independently. "Prima Facie" duty. They can choose their
destiny if they don't disturb others.
Beneficence
"Doing good" through mercy, kindness, or charity without undue risk to oneself. Not imposing upon
them my understanding of good. Instead, it should be based on their definition of good.
Non-maleficence
Inflict no harm among others, but not at the risk of harming myself. However, "harm" can be on different
levels depending on one person's point of view.
Equality/Justice
"Fairness". Everyone should be treated in the same way. However, there are some difference. Some have
different conditions. BUT, in different conditions, should be treated differently.
Paternalism
"Father", authority. A father acts for the good of its children (beneficence), but it's based on their
father's interests. The father has the final say. For example, Doctors. "Doctors knows best". Holding
information from the patient is a form of paternalism if that information could harm the patient.
Conflicts with patient autonomy (which is today's value). Soft: Depressed = suspend autonomy. Hard:
Law says to wear seatbelt.
HCP – Patient relationship models
Paternalistic model
Physician holds final decision-making power for what's best for their patient. No longer seen as ideal
model, but still in practice regularly.
Agency model
Physician acts as the technical consultant where the patient takes all the decision-making power.
Physician goes with patient's decision even if they disagree. Seen as "too much authority to patient".
Contractual model
Though their interests may not be identical, there are obligations and benefits for both parties.
Friendship model
Patient is the decision maker, but the physician acts as a friend by arguing with the patient. Might be too
emotional, better to be professional?
Fiduciary model
Relationship of trust. Physician tries to find best decision based on the interests of the patient.
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