1 / 163

Biomedical Ethics

Biomedical Ethics. Introduction to Philosophy. “ Philos ” = Love “Sophia” = Wisdom “Philosophy” = Love of Wisdom. A Formal Definition of Philosophy:. The rational, critical investigation of the fundamental questions of life that resist solutions by empirical science. Ethics. The Study of

sandraf
Download Presentation

Biomedical Ethics

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Biomedical Ethics

  2. Introduction to Philosophy “Philos” = Love “Sophia” = Wisdom “Philosophy” = Love of Wisdom

  3. A Formal Definition of Philosophy: • The rational, critical investigation of the fundamental questions of life that resist solutions by empirical science

  4. Ethics • The Study of Right or Correct Behavior

  5. Divine Command Theories

  6. Ethics Chart

  7. Ethics ObjectivismRelativism AbsolutismContextualConventionalismSubjectivism Absolutism

  8. Objectivism • There are universally valid moral principles

  9. Relativism • There are no universally valid moral principles

  10. Absolutism • There is one universally valid moral principle • Immanuel Kant

  11. Contextual Absolutism • There are several universally valid moral principles and context decides which one to follow • The Ten Commandments • Aristotle

  12. Conventionalism • Society decides moral principles • Ruth Benedict

  13. Subjectivism • The individual decides moral principles • Jean Paul Sartre • Friedrich Nietzsche

  14. Meta-Ethics • The study of • Concepts • Methods of Justification • and Knowledge • of Ethics

  15. Normative Ethics • The study of rational guidelines for behavior • How people “ought” to act

  16. Descriptive Ethics • The study of how people do act • Describes how people do act

  17. Naturalistic Fallacy • Confusing what “is” • With what “ought” to be • Confusing how people do act • With how they “ought” to act • “Ought” does not equal “is”

  18. Normative Ethics • Biomedical ethics is a branch of normative ethics • Business ethics • Sports ethics • Etc.

  19. Biomedical Ethics • Ethical issues associated with the practice of medicine • Advance reasoned analysis to clarify and resolve ethical issues • Practice of medicine in most inclusive way

  20. Criteria for Ethical Theories • 1. Clear, well-defined concepts • 2. Consistent statement • No Contradictions

  21. 3. Should tell us how to act in all situations • Abortion • Euthanasia • Death Penalty • Sex and Love

  22. 4. The Simpler the better • Occam’s Razor • Less likely to make mistake • Easier to follow

  23. 5. Should be based upon the most complete evidence available • Many decisions lead to wrong action because of incorrect information

  24. Consequentialist Theories • Moral theories that judge right / correct behavior based upon the consequences of the actions

  25. Utilitarianism • John Stuart Mill • The right action in any situation is that action which creates the greatest amount of happiness

  26. Cost-Benefit Analysis • A form of Utilitarianism Actions are evaluated based upon their corresponding cost and the anticipated benefits of the action

  27. John Stuart Mill’s Moral Theory

  28. John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) English Member of Parliament Wrote on many subjects

  29. Utilitarianism The Greatest Happiness Principle Jeremy Bentham

  30. Act to create the Greatest amount of happiness For the greatest number of people As per a disinterested spectator

  31. Greatest Number of People • Everybody that your action will effect

  32. Disinterested Spectator • Your happiness cannot be more important than anyone else’s

  33. Happiness defined Pleasure Absence of Pain

  34. Hedonism • The goal is to experience as much pleasure as possible • Usually physical pleasure

  35. Epicureanism • The goal is to experience as much pleasure as possible without experiencing any pain • Only the best wine, food • No hangovers

  36. Different Kinds of Pleasure Quality Quantity Mental and Physical

  37. Quality of Pleasure • How many McDonald’s hamburgers equals a Filet Mignon? • None because the quality is different! • Some pleasures are simply better than others

  38. Quantity of Pleasure • Whatever you enjoy, isn’t more of it better?

  39. Point of Diminishing Returns • But we reach a point in our pleasure where more is not better but actually painful • How many pieces of candy do you like? • 5,10,15,? • How about a 1,000?

  40. Paradox of Hedonism • The more pleasure you derive from something, the more you need of it next time to receive the same amount of pleasure • Drugs and Alcohol

  41. Mental v. Physical Which is Superior? Mental

  42. Why? Based upon empirical evidence Ask those who have experienced both They agree that mental is superior

  43. Why is Mental Superior? 1. Greater Permanence 2. Safer 3. Less Expensive

  44. Act Utilitarianism An action is right if it produces more total happiness than any other alternative action available at the time

  45. Visit Aunt Go to Beach Me -10 +10 My Mom +8 -8 My Dad +6 -6 My Aunt +10 -10 My Friends 0 0 Total +14 -14

  46. Rule Utilitarianism After many acts, we develop a principle that if general followed would create the greatest amount of happiness for all people involved

  47. Criticisms 1. Requires too much 2. Focuses too exclusively on the future 3. Can lead to injustice

  48. Deontological Ethics • Greek: “Deon” = “Duty” • Moral theories that judge right / correct behavior based upon the intrinsic value of human beings

  49. Kant’s Moral Theory

More Related