ASSE 3211: Learning Outcome Assessment II
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Students’ Names & ID #s:
Fall Semester 2012-2013
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Dr. Ali Al Ghazo
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Alzahra Al Saihati – 200801117
Section: 209
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Zainab Al Humood – 200700109
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Major: Interior Design
Zahra A. Al Mohsin – 200800592
CH. 12: DEVELOPING AS
AN ETHICAL REASONER
Group Chapter Presentation
Ch. 12: Developing As An Ethical Reasoner
Through this chapter presentation, we
will discuss the following topics:
Why People are confused about ethics
୭ The fundamentals of ethical reasoning
୭ Ethical concepts and principles
୭ The universal Nature of ethical principles
୭ Distinguishing ethics from other domains of thinking
୭ Ethics and religion
୭ Religious beliefs are socially or culturally relative
୭ Ethics and social conventions
୭ Practices that are socially or culturally relative
୭ Ethics and the Law
୭Understanding our native selfishness
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One of the most significant obstacles to fair-mindedness is
the human tendency to reason in a self-serving.
In understanding ethical reasoning, the following
foundations are essential:
1. Ethical principles are not a matter of subjective preference.
2. All reasonable people should respect clear-cut ethical concepts
and principles.
3. To reason well through ethical issues, we must know how to apply
ethical concepts and principles reasonably to those issues.
4. Ethical concepts and principles should be distinguished from the
norms and taboos of society and peer group, religious teachings,
political ideologies, and the law.
5. The most significant barriers to sound ethical reasoning are the
egocentrism and socio-centrism of human beings.
Zahra A. Al Mohsin
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Three essential components in sound ethical
reasoning:
1) The principles upon which ethics are grounded
2) The counterfeits to avoid
3) The pathology of the human mind.
Zahra A. Al Mohsin
Why People Are Confused About Ethics
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Human behavior has consequences for the welfare of others.
Few people think at a deep level about the consequences to others
of their selfish pursuit of money, power, prestige, and possessions.
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The result is that, most people independent of their society, ethnicity,
and religion, give at least lip service to a common core of general
ethical principles, few act consistently upon these principles.
Few will argue that it is ethically justified to cheat, exploit, abuse,
harm, or steal from others, nor hold that we have no ethical
responsibility to respect the rights of others, including their freedom
and well being.
But few dedicate their lives to helping those most in need of help, to
seeking the common good and not merely their own self-interest and
egocentric pleasures.
Zahra A. Al Mohsin
Why People Are Confused About Ethics
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The United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights articulates
universal ethical principles.
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Many fail to act in accordance with ethical principles.
At an abstract level, there is little disagreement.
Virtually no one would argue that it is ethically justifiable to
cheat, exploit, abuse, and harm.
At the level of action, mere verbal agreement on general
principles does not produce a world that honors human rights.
There are too many ways in which humans can feel justified in
taking advantage.
There are too many forces in human life that generate norms of
right.
Zahra A. Al Mohsin
The Fundamentals of Ethical Reasoning
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People thinking through an ethical issue must be able to
identify the ethical principles relevant to the specific
ethical situation.
Ethical principles sometimes
can be applied differently in
cases that are ethically complex.
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Zahra A. Al Mohsin
The Fundamentals of Ethical Reasoning
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The author gave this question: “Should the United
States maintain relations with countries that violate
human rights?“
Then, he answered: “The most important ethical
concepts relevant to this question are justice and
integrity, but matters of practicality and effectiveness
clearly must be considered as well.
Then, he added: “Justice and integrity would seem to
require cutting off relations with any country that
violates fundamental human rights. But is isolating
and confronting these countries the most effective
way to achieve these high ethical ends?”
Zahra A. Al Mohsin
The Fundamentals of Ethical Reasoning
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Because ethical reasoning is often complex, we must
learn strategies to deal with those complexities. We
must consider the following:
 Mastering the most basic ethical concepts and the
principles inherent in ethical issues.
 Learning to distinguish between ethics and other
domains of thinking with which ethics is commonly
confused.
 Learning to identify when native human
egocentrism and socio-centrism are impeding
one's ethical judgments
Zahra A. Al Mohsin
Ethical Concepts and Principles
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Some of the most basic ethical concepts include:
honesty, integrity, justice, equality, and respect.
Simple cases: Lying about, misrepresenting a subject
about someone, or distorting the facts to gain a
material advantage over others is clearly a
violation of the basic principle inherent in the
concept of honesty.
In addition to the clear-cut cases are also
complicated cases such as: Euthanasia.
Zahra A. Al Mohsin
Ethical Concepts and Principles
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Complicated cases such as: Euthanasia
Zahra A. Al Mohsin
The Universal Nature of Ethical Principle
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Principles laid out in the 30 articles of the
declaration:
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All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Every one has the right to life, liberty and security of
person.
Every one has the right to standard of living adequate for
the health and well being of himself and of his family.
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No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
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Every one has the right to education.
Alzahra Al Saihati
Why do we have to study Universal
Ethical principle ?
Alzahra Al Saihati
Recognizing Violations of Human
Rights Based Universal Ethical Principle
As presented in a New York Times article,
“ Iraq is a pediatrician’s Hell : no way to stop Dying.”
Alzahra Al Saihati
Distinguishing Ethics From Other
Domains of Thinking
What are domains of thinking?
 Social conventions
 Religion
 Law
Alzahra Al Saihati
Ethics and Religion
- Are there any conditions under which euthanasia is
ethically justifiable?
Alzahra Al Saihati
Ethics and social conventions
What is the relationship between ethics
and social conventions ?
Alzahra Al Saihati
Practices That Are Socially or
Culturally Relative
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Cultural relativity
Culture traditions
Individuals practices
Zainab Al Humood
Practices That Are Socially or
Culturally Relative
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Regulations
 Rules
 Requirements
 Taboos
 Rituals
Human rights
 Slavery, torture, racism, est.…
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Zainab Al Humood
Ethics and Law
Social conventions
 Politicians
 Values and taboos
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Zainab Al Humood
Understanding Our Native Selfishness
Native tendency
 Humans natural
 Ethical perspective
 Self-delusion
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 For
example “Hitler & Jews”
Zainab Al Humood
Understanding Our Native Selfishness
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To become skilled at ethical reasoning we must
understand
 Doing
what is right even in the face of powerful
selfish desire
 Develop command over our native egocentric
tendencies
 Fulfill our ethical obligations at the expense of our
selfish desires
 Deeply internalize the fundamental roots of ethics
Zainab Al Humood
Understanding Our Native Selfishness
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Intellectual humility
Well integrated
Critically based approach to ethics
Counterfeit of ethics
Zainab Al Humood
Zahra, Alzahra & Zainab
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Thank for your listening ..
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