Topic 2: Reason and Impartiality as Minimum Requirements for Morality
Nominal Duration: 1.5 hours
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this topic, the student must be able to:
1. explain reason and impartiality as minimum requirements for morality; and
2. evaluate a moral dilemma using the 7 step moral reasoning model.
Introduction
The Greek philosopher Aristotle regarded that human beings have a rational soul
that makes us different with that of animals and plants. Rationality (n.d.) is the capability
for logical thought with the ability to reason towards sound conclusions based on facts
and evidence, draw inferences from situations and circumstances, and make sound
well-reasoned judgments based on factual information. Plants and animals are
incapable of complex reasoning and introspection, much more so in distinguishing good
from bad and right from wrong. A person is called “rational or reasonable” (Korsgaard,
n.d.) when his beliefs and actions conform to the dictates of those principles, or when
he is subjectively guided by them. Reason is also identified with the capacity that
enables us to identify “reasons,” the particular considerations that count in favor of
belief or action. Since human beings are rational, they have “freewill to strive for
perfection” (n.d.). By achieving this fulfillment and well-rounded development, they
would somehow attain happiness. It follows that in order to be ethical, an individual
should decide on actions that properly express his rationality.
Moral judgments must be backed by the best arguments or reasons out there,
not only good reasons or better judgments. Our decisions must be guided as much as
possible by reason. The morally right thing to do is always the thing best supported by
the arguments. Morality requires impartiality with regard to those moral agents affected
by a violation of a moral rule. Morality requires the impartial consideration of each
individual's interests. For example, being partial toward friends is not morally allowed.
Impartiality (fair-mindedness) is a principle of justice holding that decisions should be
based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias, self-interest, prejudice, or
preferring the benefit to one person over another for improper reasons. Other elements
of impartiality are accuracy, fairness, balance, context, and no conflicts or
prejudgments. The respect for truth at all costs is necessary (Khatami, 2009; Rachels,
2018).
The minimum conception of morality is: Morality is the effort to guide one’s
conduct by reason – that is, to do what there are the best reasons for doing – while
giving equal weight to the interest of each individual affected by one’s decision
(Rachels, 2018).
Models in Ethical Decision Making
There are several models of ethical decision making and action. Powers and
Vogel (1980) have identified six aspects that affect and are included into moral
reasoning and decision making: (1) moral imagination; (2) moral identification; (3) moral
evaluation; (4) tolerating moral disagreement and ambiguity; (5) integration of moral
competence with other competencies; (6) a sense of moral obligation and moral
motivation. Rest (1994) proposes that moral decision-making involves four
psychological processes: moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation/intention,
and moral character/action.
Before anything else, one must recognize that there is an ethical issue. Could a
decision or situation be damaging to someone or to some group? Is this issue more
about that what is legal or what is most efficient? If so, how? The decision making
process could be usefully demonstrated in a Seven Step-wise Model of Scott Rae
(2009) presented below.
