Comments on: Ethical Decision Making: Reasons or Results? http://blog.white-raven.net/2006/11/29/ethical-decision-making-reasons-or-results/ Collection without direction Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:01:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: white-raven http://blog.white-raven.net/2006/11/29/ethical-decision-making-reasons-or-results/#comment-89 white-raven Sat, 09 Dec 2006 12:05:37 +0000 http://blog.white-raven.net/2006/11/29/ethical-decision-making-reasons-or-results/#comment-89 I agree that the final result cannot be known when the decision is made. You can think of it sort of like a cause and effect. The cause for why you chose what you did, and the desired effect of the decision. Going back to the daughter/mother example, some would say that, if reasons are more important, then the daughter should be taught not to steal because it is morally incorrect, not because it could get her arrested. That's the reason. In either case, the desired result is that the child does not steal. The question is, which is more important? I agree that the final result cannot be known when the decision is made.

You can think of it sort of like a cause and effect. The cause for why you chose what you did, and the desired effect of the decision. Going back to the daughter/mother example, some would say that, if reasons are more important, then the daughter should be taught not to steal because it is morally incorrect, not because it could get her arrested. That’s the reason. In either case, the desired result is that the child does not steal. The question is, which is more important?

]]> By: Evan http://blog.white-raven.net/2006/11/29/ethical-decision-making-reasons-or-results/#comment-87 Evan Sat, 09 Dec 2006 11:45:28 +0000 http://blog.white-raven.net/2006/11/29/ethical-decision-making-reasons-or-results/#comment-87 Hey Mark. It seems intuitively obvious to me that the results are what matters. The problem is that nobody can completely know the results of anything, certainly not before it happens and not even really after. So in order to actually make decisions as a practical human being, you need some kind of moral code or set of practices. (Is this what you have in mind by "the reasons for choosing a given alternative"?) I think the key is to constantly question and deconstruct your moral code, the way a scientist constantly questions and examines a theory. Only then can you have any confidence that your code is useful and helpful. Hey Mark.
It seems intuitively obvious to me that the results are what matters. The problem is that nobody can completely know the results of anything, certainly not before it happens and not even really after. So in order to actually make decisions as a practical human being, you need some kind of moral code or set of practices. (Is this what you have in mind by “the reasons for choosing a given alternative”?)
I think the key is to constantly question and deconstruct your moral code, the way a scientist constantly questions and examines a theory. Only then can you have any confidence that your code is useful and helpful.

]]>