2.3 Selecting Principles
The third step of Potter Box is to consider fundamental ethical principles and apply them to the case. Although the principles may led to contradictory and conflicting choices, it is necessary to apply more than one model in order to understand the situation better (Long, 2011). The ethical theories that we have chosen are Kant’s Categorical Imperative, and Aristotle’s Golden Mean.
2.3.1 Kant’s Categorical Imperative
The Categorical Imperative, developed by Immanuel Kant, is a way for people to evaluate any moral actions and make moral judgments, by applying human reason to find out what is the right, rational course of action (Pecorino, 2002). Imperative means a command or rule, and categorical means unconditional (Paton, 1971). Therefore, Kant’s Categorical Imperative is impartial and universal (Pecorino, 2002).
The basis of this theory is that it is everyone’s duty to act according to the maxim that we would wish everyone else to follow, like a universal law (Pecorino, 2002). Kant also believed that we should never treat someone else as a means to an end. A maxim is a general, subjective principle of action (Paton, 1971).
There are four steps in testing maxims to ensure they are consistent and ethical. Firstly, a maxim must be formulated for the suggested action. Secondly, we generalize …show more content…
A ‘mean’ is the middle point between the extremes of excess and deficiency. Because it is difficult to put a fixed rule on where the mean remains, virtue is something that is not learnt through reason, but through habit (Spark Notes, n.d.). In this case, the excess would be Nancy interrogating Melinda aggressively, because she needs to analyze and discuss the case properly. The deficiency would be Nancy being overly sensitive, not asking any questions other than the known facts of the case and just reporting the details, in fear of offending
The third step of Potter Box is to consider fundamental ethical principles and apply them to the case. Although the principles may led to contradictory and conflicting choices, it is necessary to apply more than one model in order to understand the situation better (Long, 2011). The ethical theories that we have chosen are Kant’s Categorical Imperative, and Aristotle’s Golden Mean.
2.3.1 Kant’s Categorical Imperative
The Categorical Imperative, developed by Immanuel Kant, is a way for people to evaluate any moral actions and make moral judgments, by applying human reason to find out what is the right, rational course of action (Pecorino, 2002). Imperative means a command or rule, and categorical means unconditional (Paton, 1971). Therefore, Kant’s Categorical Imperative is impartial and universal (Pecorino, 2002).
The basis of this theory is that it is everyone’s duty to act according to the maxim that we would wish everyone else to follow, like a universal law (Pecorino, 2002). Kant also believed that we should never treat someone else as a means to an end. A maxim is a general, subjective principle of action (Paton, 1971).
There are four steps in testing maxims to ensure they are consistent and ethical. Firstly, a maxim must be formulated for the suggested action. Secondly, we generalize …show more content…
A ‘mean’ is the middle point between the extremes of excess and deficiency. Because it is difficult to put a fixed rule on where the mean remains, virtue is something that is not learnt through reason, but through habit (Spark Notes, n.d.). In this case, the excess would be Nancy interrogating Melinda aggressively, because she needs to analyze and discuss the case properly. The deficiency would be Nancy being overly sensitive, not asking any questions other than the known facts of the case and just reporting the details, in fear of offending