Plaisance, Chapter 2 “Ethics in Media”

A Systematic Approach to Making Ethical Decisions –The Multidimensional Ethical Reasoning and Inquiry Task Sheet (MERITS) Conflicting values Normative frameworks Discussion

Conflicting Values Description of facts Identification of principles and values –Privacy –Conflicts of interest –Justice –Truth telling –Transparency –Harm –Etc. Statement of a specific ethical issue

A: analysis: the application of philosophical ethical theories The Greek tradition of moral absolutes –Aristotle’s virtue ethics Duty based ethics (deontology) –Kant’s categorical imperative –Ross’ prima facie duties –Feminist ethics Benhabib Consequence based ethics (teleology)

Consequential ethics, continued Utilitarianism –Bentham and Mill Social contract –Hobbes –Locke –Rosseau –Rawls

Decision Decide what to do Defend based upon a philosophical ethical theory –All approaches may arrive at the same decision, but for different reasons –Different approaches may arrive at different decisions