Applied Ethics
Applied Ethics - Question and answersThe branch of ethics which consists of the
analysis of specific, controversial moral issues such as abortion, animal rights, or
euthanasia
Two features necessary for an issue to be considered an applied ethical issue -
Question and answersFirst, the issue needs to be controversial in the sense that there
are significant groups of people both for and against the issue at hand. The second
requirement for an issue to be an applied ethical issue is that it must be a distinctly
moral issue
Normative Principles in Applied Ethics - Question and answersPersonal benefit:
acknowledge the extent to which an action produces beneficial consequences for the
individual in question
Social benefit: acknowledge the extent to which an action produces beneficial
consequences for society
Principle of benevolence: help those in need
Principle of paternalism: assist others in pursuing their best interests when they cannot
do so themselves
Principle of harm: do not harm others
Principle of honesty: do not deceive others
Principle of lawfulness: do not violate the law
Principle of autonomy: acknowledge a person's freedom over his/her actions or physical
body
Principle of justice: acknowledge a person's right to due process, fair compensation for
harm done, and fair distribution of benefits
Rights: acknowledge a person's rights to life, information, privacy, free expression, and
safety
Biomedical ethics - Question and answersFocuses on a range of issues which arise in
clinical settings
Business ethics - Question and answersExamines moral controversies relating to the
social responsibilities of capitalist business practices, the moral status of corporate
entities, deceptive advertising, insider trading, basic employee rights, job discrimination,
affirmative action, drug testing, and whistleblowing.
Environmental ethics - Question and answersOften overlaps with business and medical
issues. These include the rights of animals, the morality of animal experimentation,
preserving endangered species, pollution control, management of environmental
Applied Ethics - Question and answersThe branch of ethics which consists of the
analysis of specific, controversial moral issues such as abortion, animal rights, or
euthanasia
Two features necessary for an issue to be considered an applied ethical issue -
Question and answersFirst, the issue needs to be controversial in the sense that there
are significant groups of people both for and against the issue at hand. The second
requirement for an issue to be an applied ethical issue is that it must be a distinctly
moral issue
Normative Principles in Applied Ethics - Question and answersPersonal benefit:
acknowledge the extent to which an action produces beneficial consequences for the
individual in question
Social benefit: acknowledge the extent to which an action produces beneficial
consequences for society
Principle of benevolence: help those in need
Principle of paternalism: assist others in pursuing their best interests when they cannot
do so themselves
Principle of harm: do not harm others
Principle of honesty: do not deceive others
Principle of lawfulness: do not violate the law
Principle of autonomy: acknowledge a person's freedom over his/her actions or physical
body
Principle of justice: acknowledge a person's right to due process, fair compensation for
harm done, and fair distribution of benefits
Rights: acknowledge a person's rights to life, information, privacy, free expression, and
safety
Biomedical ethics - Question and answersFocuses on a range of issues which arise in
clinical settings
Business ethics - Question and answersExamines moral controversies relating to the
social responsibilities of capitalist business practices, the moral status of corporate
entities, deceptive advertising, insider trading, basic employee rights, job discrimination,
affirmative action, drug testing, and whistleblowing.
Environmental ethics - Question and answersOften overlaps with business and medical
issues. These include the rights of animals, the morality of animal experimentation,
preserving endangered species, pollution control, management of environmental
