The Principles of Biomedical Ethics (8th edition)
annotations are not derived from the book
Chapter 1: Moral norms
Ethics: is a general term for different ways of examining and interpreting the moral life, what is right
and wrong and why? There are several approaches to ethics: normative and nonnormative.
Normative ethics: what should be the case (theoretical), what in theory hold ethical value.
- General normative ethics: “which general moral norms should we use to guide and evaluate
conduct?”-
- Practical ethics: “refers to the use of moral concepts and norms in deliberations about moral
problems, practices, and policies in professions, institutions, and public policy”
Nonnormative ethics: What is the case (practically), what in practice holds value
- Descriptive ethics: “the factual investigation of moral beliefs and conduct”
- Metaethics: “involves analysis of language, concepts, and methods of reasoning in normative
ethics.” – it’s about moral judgement, where does it come from, what does it entail and what
does it mean?
The common morality
The common morality holds the general norms of what is right and wrong, a shared idea of.. and
therefore can be seen as the standard for moral behaviour (if we all think a certain type of behaviour
is just, than we ought to behave in such a manner). Besides rules of conduct it also holds standards
for certain traits/values. – “set of universal norms shared by all persons committed to morality”
The common morality is a shared product of human experience and history, through the standards it
prescribes it supports human rights and is the basis for moral ideals.
Particular moralities: moralities that are not widely shared but belong to a specific group, these
moralities are only justified if they don’t conflict with the common morality. e.g.; different
religions/professional moralities
Sometimes people take their particular moralities as part of the common morality, and take
an authoritative moral voice. Their beliefs can be morally acceptable, however they do not
bind all groups and communities.
Professional morality: a (learned) profession is a group of people who have a job where they perform
relevant functions to society. A learned profession is when someone had “an extensive education in
arts, humanities, law, sciences, or technologies. E.g. health care professionals whom have codes of
conduct.
Regulation and oversight of professional conduct
Public policy, contains a set of regulations and guidelines as a means to endorse ways of conduct by
public bodies. Policy is shaped through a normative structure (what ought to be), by moral principles
and rules, and by empirical data.
- Following the normative approach in shaping policy one must realise that one can not judge
on a matter of what is (un)just in policy based on what is ought to be just.
annotations are not derived from the book
Chapter 1: Moral norms
Ethics: is a general term for different ways of examining and interpreting the moral life, what is right
and wrong and why? There are several approaches to ethics: normative and nonnormative.
Normative ethics: what should be the case (theoretical), what in theory hold ethical value.
- General normative ethics: “which general moral norms should we use to guide and evaluate
conduct?”-
- Practical ethics: “refers to the use of moral concepts and norms in deliberations about moral
problems, practices, and policies in professions, institutions, and public policy”
Nonnormative ethics: What is the case (practically), what in practice holds value
- Descriptive ethics: “the factual investigation of moral beliefs and conduct”
- Metaethics: “involves analysis of language, concepts, and methods of reasoning in normative
ethics.” – it’s about moral judgement, where does it come from, what does it entail and what
does it mean?
The common morality
The common morality holds the general norms of what is right and wrong, a shared idea of.. and
therefore can be seen as the standard for moral behaviour (if we all think a certain type of behaviour
is just, than we ought to behave in such a manner). Besides rules of conduct it also holds standards
for certain traits/values. – “set of universal norms shared by all persons committed to morality”
The common morality is a shared product of human experience and history, through the standards it
prescribes it supports human rights and is the basis for moral ideals.
Particular moralities: moralities that are not widely shared but belong to a specific group, these
moralities are only justified if they don’t conflict with the common morality. e.g.; different
religions/professional moralities
Sometimes people take their particular moralities as part of the common morality, and take
an authoritative moral voice. Their beliefs can be morally acceptable, however they do not
bind all groups and communities.
Professional morality: a (learned) profession is a group of people who have a job where they perform
relevant functions to society. A learned profession is when someone had “an extensive education in
arts, humanities, law, sciences, or technologies. E.g. health care professionals whom have codes of
conduct.
Regulation and oversight of professional conduct
Public policy, contains a set of regulations and guidelines as a means to endorse ways of conduct by
public bodies. Policy is shaped through a normative structure (what ought to be), by moral principles
and rules, and by empirical data.
- Following the normative approach in shaping policy one must realise that one can not judge
on a matter of what is (un)just in policy based on what is ought to be just.
