Deontological Ethics Research Articles

An Eastern Look at a Western Dilemma: Cross-Cultural Differences in Action-Balanced Trolley Dilemmas

Moral judgment has been extensively studied utilizing traditional trolley-like sacrificial dilemmas. However, by building on Western philosophies and relying on WEIRD samples, this approach has potentially introduced a Western-centric bias to our understanding of the morality of sacrificial harm, by (a) assuming an inherent opposition between utilitarian and deontological morality and (b) underestimating cultural differences on the moral value of inaction. To address this bias, our study examined cross-cultural differences in moral judgment using an adapted methodology that equally weighs action/inaction framing and considers utilitarian and deontological choices separately. The findings demonstrate that Chinese participants ( n = 273) embraced a more holistic moral construct with utilitarian and deontological moral approaches being positively correlated, whereas American participants ( n = 240) viewed them as opposing to each other. Moreover, we also found that Chinese participants were more, rather than less utilitarian than American participants in trolley-like dilemmas when balancing action and inaction.

Is It Fair to Kill One to Save Five? How Just World Beliefs Shape Sacrificial Moral Decision-making.

Sacrificing a target to save a group violates deontological ethics against harm but upholds utilitarian ethics to maximize outcomes. Although theorists examine many factors that influence dilemma decisions, we examined justice concerns: We manipulated the moral character of sacrificial targets, then measured participants' dilemma responses and just world beliefs. Across four studies (N=1116), participants considering guilty versus innocent targets scored lower on harm-rejection (deontological) responding, but not outcome-maximizing (utilitarian) responding assessed via process dissociation. Just world beliefs (both personal and general) predicted lower utilitarian and somewhat lower deontological responding, but these effects disappeared when accounting for shared variance with psychopathy. Results suggest that dilemma decisions partly reflect the moral status of sacrificial targets and concerns about the fairness implications of sacrificing innocent targets to save innocent groups.

이중결과 원리의 도덕과 수업

Purpose: This paper aims to apply the principle of double effect (PDE) to morality and teaching by rethinking the principle as a moral reconceptualization that enables students' moral growth and moral practice by reconciling consequentialist and deontological ethics in the tradition of universal ethics. Methods: First, the principle of double bottom line was analyzed to recognize the need for it to be addressed in school lessons and to summarize its educational value. Next, we used a jigsaw model to implement the principle of double bottom line. Step-by-step instructions, teaching and learning guides, examples of assessment criteria, and examples of materials were presented to help teachers envision how the principle of double bottom line could be applied in their classrooms. Finally, the significance and deficiencies of the lessons were presented to show how the educational value of the theory is being realized in the lessons, reflective evaluation of the measures, and the need and direction of further research. Results: This paper presents the principle of double effect (PDE) as a reflection of the consequentialist aspect of ethics, which defines the purpose of morality as serving the human good, while at the same time respecting the consideration of deontological constraints expressed in the moral law, and reconstructs it as a concept for educational application, noting the educational value that characterizes it as an integrated universal ethics. Conclusion: A moral science course based on the principle of double consequences will contribute to the moral growth of students on a foundation of universal ethics.

A theoretical analysis of philosophical dimensions in engineering education

This article presents a theoretical analysis of the philosophical dimensions embedded in engineering education, highlighting the importance of integrating ethical, social, and environmental considerations into the development of future engineers. As engineering increasingly shapes society through technological innovation, philosophical inquiry becomes crucial in addressing contemporary challenges such as sustainability, technological ethics, and social justice. The paper explores how philosophical frameworks, such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics, provide engineers with tools to critically evaluate the broader impact of their designs and decisions. By embedding these ethical perspectives within the engineering curriculum, educators can prepare students to navigate the moral complexities inherent in technology and innovation. Moreover, the analysis underscores the role of philosophy in promoting sustainability in engineering, encouraging students to adopt a long-term view of environmental stewardship and resource management. The discussion also highlights the importance of addressing issues related to technological ethics, particularly in the development of artificial intelligence, automation, and biotechnology, where ethical challenges are becoming increasingly prominent. In addition, the paper examines the contribution of philosophy in fostering critical thinking and social responsibility, ensuring that engineers consider the societal implications of their work, especially in marginalized communities. Ultimately, this theoretical analysis argues that integrating philosophy into engineering education is essential for preparing engineers who are not only technically proficient but also ethically conscious, socially responsible, and capable of addressing the complex global challenges that define modern society.

Bridging Ethics and Education: Crafting Solutions to Address the Threads of Bullying in Indonesia

Bullying in educational settings has become a significant global issue, exacerbated by the rise of cyberbullying and juvenile delinquency, particularly in Indonesia. The study employs a qualitative approach and literature review to investigate the impact of the curriculum on shaping ethical values and character among students. By focusing on ethical education, particularly the principles of individualism and collectivism, and incorporating deontological and virtue ethics, this research proposes a holistic strategy for addressing bullying. It argues that understanding and integrating these ethical dimensions into school curricula can foster a supportive environment that mitigates bullying and promotes moral development. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of moral philosophy in healing the trauma caused by bullying. It advocates applying ethical principles such as justice, compassion, and empathy to support affected students, helping them overcome trauma and build resilience. The study advocates for applying moral philosophies to help students navigate complex social dynamics, thereby enhancing their emotional well-being and contributing to a more empathetic and just educational environment.

The 4D Model of American Political Conservatism: Disgust, Disorder Aversion, Deontology, and (Social) Dominance

Over the decades, numerous researchers have identified psychological predictors of conservative and liberal political orientation. However, most research teams have focused on a single predictor at a time, occasionally two. Moreover, most researchers have tended to stay within the theoretical and methodological confines of their subdiscipline (e.g., social psychology vs. personality psychology). Here, we review and integrate evidence across different subdisciplines to propose a constellation of four psychological constructs (disgust sensitivity, preference for order, deontological morality, and social dominance orientation) that, working together, form a more nuanced and fine-grained account of why people are attracted to different ends of the political spectrum. In doing so, we demonstrate the usefulness of moving beyond operationalizing political orientation in a single-dimensional (left-to-right) manner. We suggest that the proposed “4D Model” represents an incremental advance that makes more specific predictions about who will be attracted to which strands of political conservatism.

A causal modeler's guide to double effect reasoning

AbstractTrolley problems and like cases are often thought to show the inadequacy of purely consequentialist moral theories. In particular, they are often taken to reveal that consequentialists unduly neglect the moral significance of the causal structure of decision problems. To precisify such critiques and one sort of deontological morality they motivate, I develop a formal modeling framework within which trolley problems can be represented as suitably supplemented structural causal models and various consequentialist and double effect‐inspired moral theories can be viewed as disagreeing over the inputs of a common decision rule.

Philosophical Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals

Purpose: The general objective of the study was to examine philosophical analysis of Sustainable Development Goals. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to philosophical analysis of Sustainable Development Goals. Preliminary empirical review revealed the crucial interplay of ethical, epistemological, and metaphysical considerations in achieving global sustainability. It highlighted the SDGs' foundation on principles of equity, justice, and human rights, emphasizing the need for inclusive and context-sensitive knowledge systems. The analysis also prompted a rethinking of traditional development notions, advocating for a holistic view that includes social and environmental well-being. The conclusion stressed the importance of integrating these philosophical dimensions into policymaking to create effective, inclusive strategies for sustainable global progress. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Utilitarianism, Deontological Ethics and the Social Contract Theory may be used to anchor future studies on the philosophical analysis of SDGs. The study recommended integrating diverse ethical perspectives into development theories, emphasizing inclusive and participatory approaches in practice, and promoting integrated policy frameworks that align with the holistic nature of the SDGs. It highlighted the need for robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, enhanced global cooperation, and the incorporation of sustainability and ethical considerations into educational curricula. These recommendations aimed to ensure that development efforts were economically viable, socially just, and environmentally sustainable, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and effective pursuit of the SDGs.

Social Work Ethical Dilemma: Social Workers' Experiences in Handling Children Who Are Involved by Parents in Acts of Terrorism

Objectives: This research aims to explain the ethical dilemmas faced by social workers in handling children whose parents involve them in acts of terrorism.The study is grounded in the principles of values and ethics essential for social work professionalism. It examines ethical dilemmas through the lenses of deontological and teleological ethics, professional codes of ethics, and the balance between confidentiality, communication, and self-determination.A qualitative approach with a case study design was employed to explore natural phenomena in depth. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with four social workers directly involved in handling children whose parents involved them in acts of terrorism.The research found that social workers face significant ethical dilemmas, including balancing confidentiality and accessible communication, navigating professional and personal values, and managing self-determination versus paternalism. These dilemmas create confusion and impact the intervention process.The findings highlight the need for structured support for social workers, including guidance on ethical decision-making and opportunities for professional consultation. It suggests revisiting and reinforcing the professional code of ethics and discussing ethical challenges with colleagues and supervisors to navigate these dilemmas effectively.This study provides valuable insights into the specific ethical challenges encountered by social workers dealing with terrorism-related cases in Indonesia. It contributes to the body of knowledge by offering alternative solutions for ethical dilemmas, enhancing the understanding of the practical application of ethics in social work.

On the computational complexity of ethics: moral tractability for minds and machines

Why should moral philosophers, moral psychologists, and machine ethicists care about computational complexity? Debates on whether artificial intelligence (AI) can or should be used to solve problems in ethical domains have mainly been driven by what AI can or cannot do in terms of human capacities. In this paper, we tackle the problem from the other end by exploring what kind of moral machines are possible based on what computational systems can or cannot do. To do so, we analyze normative ethics through the lens of computational complexity. First, we introduce computational complexity for the uninitiated reader and discuss how the complexity of ethical problems can be framed within Marr’s three levels of analysis. We then study a range of ethical problems based on consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics, with the aim of elucidating the complexity associated with the problems themselves (e.g., due to combinatorics, uncertainty, strategic dynamics), the computational methods employed (e.g., probability, logic, learning), and the available resources (e.g., time, knowledge, learning). The results indicate that most problems the normative frameworks pose lead to tractability issues in every category analyzed. Our investigation also provides several insights about the computational nature of normative ethics, including the differences between rule- and outcome-based moral strategies, and the implementation-variance with regard to moral resources. We then discuss the consequences complexity results have for the prospect of moral machines in virtue of the trade-off between optimality and efficiency. Finally, we elucidate how computational complexity can be used to inform both philosophical and cognitive-psychological research on human morality by advancing the moral tractability thesis.

Reflections on Habermas’s discourse ethics

In this article Habermas’s discourse ethics is critically interpreted. The article starts with a brief intellectual biography of Habermas (section 1), showing that his life and work has always had a strong ethical and political dimension – leading to the concept of discourse ethics. Next, it is indicated how Habermas’s work in the 1970s culminated via four steps in his major philosophical work – the Theory of Communicative Action (section 2) published in 1981. In the next two sections Habermas Theory of Communicative Action is applied to ethics and morality in the form of his discourse ethics – the heart of this contribution (section 3). In this process the following four aspects of Habermas’s discourse ethics are discussed: Its qualified Kantian deontological dimension, as well as its universalist, cognitivist, and formalist dimensions. In the following section (4) the discussion of discourse ethics is shifted to Habermas’s theory of law, deliberative politics, and democracy which is a further application of ideas developed in his Theory of Communicative Action. The contribution then ends with some critical remarks on Habermas discourse ethics and sketch of law and politics (section 5) Three arguments are presented in this regard. First, Habermas argument is judged to be too closely related to abstract rationality. Secondly the distinction that Habermas makes between morality and ethics is critically investigated. Finally, the Habermasian use of justification in his argument is critically compared with the concept of application. These points of criticism, though, indicate that the debate on Habermas’s discourse ethics is ongoing.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article deals with the concept of discourse ethics (in the Kantian tradition of ethics) as developed firstly by Karel Otto Apel and later refined by Jurgen Habermas for his own purposes. The line of argumentation developed here has significant relevance for philosophy, moral theory, law, and theology. Discourse ethics can be considered as a contemporary version of Kantian deontological ethics after the linguistic turn.

Public Opinion Through Art: Exploring Chinese University Students' Perspectives on COVID-19 Mass Nucleic Acid Testing.

In the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, this study focuses on Chinese university students, employing graphic elicitation as a qualitative research method to analyze their hand-drawn paintings and related descriptions. Augmented by A/r/tography and metacognitive methods, the research aims to unveil the participants' collective memory, as well as the perspectives and responses of these students to policies related to the pandemic. By specifically examining this particular demographic, the study incorporates Fairclough's ethical theory, applying deontological ethics, consequentialist ethics, and virtue ethics to establish a comprehensive framework for evaluating adjustments to pandemic response policies. This research not only enhances our understanding of how these university students perceive and adapt to COVID-19 policies but also provides valuable insights for decision-makers. The particular methodology, combining graphic elicitation and metacognitive research, contributes to policy assessment and ethical analysis, offering a nuanced perspective on the interplay between individual perceptions, policy responses, and ethical considerations amid the complexities of a public health crisis.

Ästhetische Autonomie zwischen Ethik und Ästhetik

Ästhetische Autonomie zwischen Ethik und Ästhetik

Gaps in medical school in the approach to ethics, bioethics, and palliative care: a challenge for professional training

Medical education requires discipline, effort, and dedication for professional improvement, which complies with the requirement for vast, dynamic knowledge, including (bio)technologies in diagnostics and therapeutics. However, this process does not ensure the appropriate human training of health professionals to deal with an abrupt demographic transition of older people with several comorbidities as well as with an increase in life expectancy and in the risk of serious health-related suffering. There is a gap in bioethics education offered to undergraduate medical students, especially in bioethical principles (not only those related to biomedical and deontological ethics), which must be bridged before good communication, attitudes, behaviors, and, particularly, better decision-making can be demanded from medical actions. The advent of chronic and incurable diseases in recent decades has contributed to strengthening the hospice movement toward patient-centered care, highlighting an unmet demand for palliative care in the face of progressive, advanced, and critical conditions. Thus, personalism, a contemporary bioethical trend, in line with the principles of palliative care, calls for human training in bioethics by demonstrating the challenges of disease-focused care amidst the conflicts generated by biotechnoscience to provide comprehensive integrated patient-centered care.

The Ethical and Legal Implications of Using Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for Public Relations Campaigns in the United States

Purpose: The aim of the study was to the ethical and legal implications of using big data and artificial intelligence for public relations campaigns in the United States
 Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
 Findings: In the United States, utilizing big data and artificial intelligence for public relations campaigns presents ethical and legal challenges. These include concerns about privacy infringement through data collection, the risk of bias and misinformation in AI-generated content, and the necessity of complying with data protection laws like GDPR and U.S. regulations. Balancing the benefits of these technologies with ethical standards and legal compliance is a complex task for the PR industry in the U.S.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Utilitarianism Theory, Rights-based Ethics Theory & Deontological Ethics may be used to anchor future studies on the ethical and legal implications of using big data and artificial intelligence for public relations campaigns in the United States. PR professionals should receive mandatory training on these guidelines to ensure ethical use of data and AI tools. Advocate for industry-wide adoption of ethical standards and encourage professional organizations to enforce adherence to these standards as a condition of membership.

The Fight for Global Health Justice: The Advocacy of International Humanitarian and Development NGOs During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The increasing health inequity and injustice of the COVID-19 pandemic rendered visible the inadequacy of global health governance, and exposed the self-interested decision-making of states and pharmaceutical companies. This research explores the advocacy activities of humanitarian and development international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in responding to this inequality and investigates how they framed alternatives for global health justice. It reviews 47 organizational documents and 43 media articles of five INGOs (ActionAid, Médecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam, Save the Children, and World Vision) and points to the importance of understanding advocacy frames in analyzing how these organizations prioritize agendas and advocacy strategies. The dominance of the ‘human rights’ frame, sometimes in combination with ‘scientific evidence’ and ‘security’ frames, reflects the identities, mandates, and histories of campaigning and collaboration of these INGOs. This paper contends that the advocacy of humanitarian and development INGOs highlights both deontological and teleological ethics, promoting the voices of people in lower-income countries, clarifying duty bearers and their accountabilities, and addressing structural barriers from a human rights perspective in a global health agenda setting.

Etika Deontologi sebagai Model dalam Penerapannya pada Profesi Keperawatan

The ethics of the nursing profession is the main point that must be pursued by a nurse. The ethics of the nursing profession is important because it is something that nurses encounter all the time when they work in a health environment. From this simple fact, ethics also needs to be strictly understood because of the breadth of ethical theories that exist. Ethics is a science that seeks orientation, in the context of the nursing profession, ethics becomes a critical evaluation of every action of a nurse. Likewise, a nurse must have a professional attitude. In the context of writing this article, deontological ethics will be a model for applying ethics to the nursing profession. Deontological ethics emphasizes moral obligations, which cannot but be the primary choice, which must be carried out for the purpose of that obligation. Action based on obligation is not merely for the purpose of happiness. A morality must be truly autonomous / independent and centered on the human subject. In that framework, every nurse needs to understand that her actions cannot be since the patient needs this kind of treatment, then she carries out or executes it, but beyond that, the nurse must carry out treatment based on the understanding that the actions she takes are her moral obligations towards others (patients).

Ethical Standards in Higher Education

A study was conducted regarding ways in which higher education institutions can improve ethics. Theoretical frameworks used included: Virtue ethics, deontological and environmental ethics theories. The total sampled written texts were 94. Non-probability sampling was used. The type that was used was online convenience sampling through web scraping. Philosophical assumption that guided this study was interpretivism and the approach was Qualitative. Case study was used as a design and content analysis as a method of data analysis. Some of the findings of the study included but were not limited to the following: Higher education's ethical and professional standards are critical for retaining the trust of students, staff, and the larger society. Institutions that prioritise ethics and standards will be better positioned to carry out their goal and positively impact society. The study recommended the following to Higher education stakeholders: Create faculty-led ethics committees to evaluate and advise on ethical issues such as teaching, research, and academic freedom. Make certain that these committees are composed of a diverse spectrum of faculty members with ethics expertise; Create explicit rules and protocols for using AI, machine learning, and big data ethically in academic research and administrative processes. Address the issues of discrimination, privacy, and accountability in AI applications; and Involve alumni in ethics programs and projects to encourage them to support and contribute to ethical education and research. Create opportunities for alumni to advise students on how to develop ethical professions

Exploring business students’ views of the use of generative AI in assignment writing

The rise of generative AI, particularly over the past few years, has raised notable issues about its use. This has been possibly most pronounced in academia, where there has been strong debate on the potential value of generative AI to augment learning outcomes versus the potential for academic dishonesty and devalued education. Whilst some papers have looked at students’ perspectives on the use of generative AI, there has been less focus exploring through what ethical perspectives or frames students see using generative AI in their tertiary education. We interviewed and conducted focus groups and interviews with students enrolled in an Australian university business school, to explore the ethical frames through which they saw the use of generative AI. Focussing on three specific perspectives: Deontological, Consequentialism and Virtue Ethics, it emerged that no single perspective dominated, with students having a complex mix and latticework of ethical perspectives on its use, even within the same individual. We explore some potential implications for practice that emerged from the data, one of which is the role of the academic as moral exemplar.

Virtue Ethics and the Morality System

Virtue ethics is frequently billed as a remedy to the problems of deontological and consequentialist ethics that Bernard Williams identified in his critique of “the morality system.” But how far can virtue ethics be relied upon to avoid these problems? What does Williams’s critique of the morality system mean for virtue ethics? To answer this question, we offer a more principled characterisation of the defining features of the morality system in terms of its organising ambition—to shelter life against luck. This reveals the system to be multiply realisable: the same function can be served by substantively different but functionally equivalent ideas. After identifying four requirements that ethical thought must meet to function as a morality system, we show that they can also be met by certain constellations of virtue-ethical ideas, including notably Stoicism. We thereby demonstrate the possibility of virtue-ethical morality systems raising problems analogous to those besetting their deontological and consequentialist counterparts. This not only widens the scope of Williams’s critique and brings out the cautionary aspect of his legacy for virtue ethics; it also offers contemporary virtue ethicists a more principled understanding of the functional features that mark out morality systems and lie at the root of their problems, thereby helping them avoid or overcome these problems.