BOX 8: ETHIC OF RESPONSE TEMPLATE (ERT) developed by J Verrinder, based on N Preston’s Ethical Decision Making Model
Sample Scenario: Proposal to Breed Blind Hens for Intensive Agriculture
Action: Keep beak trimming
Action: Breed blind hens
Action : Move to less intensive production e.g. Low
density free range AND educate consumers to pay
more
STAKEHOLDERS
1 Hens
Respect Life
√=Benefits,
X=Harms
x Large
numbers
have short
lives
Respect Well-being √=Benefits, X=Harms
x Painful trimming
x Hens still frustrated
2 Farmers
/Producers
√ maintains production levels
x increasing pressure from consumers/
general public/ welfare groups
3 Consumers
√ Continued cheap eggs
x Some don't like it and moving to keep own
chickens
√Maintain production levels
x Consumer/public concerns
4 Egg industry
5 Researchers
x Less work
6 General public
x Generally concerned about animal welfare
7 Animal
Welfare groups
x More work to do to prevent beak trimming
x Upset due to animal welfare concerns
8 Retailers
√ Plentiful eggs to sell
x some consumers unhappy
9 Vet
x concerned about pain to chickens and
ongoing feeding issues if done badly
x loss of professional integrity to prevent
harm to animals
UTILITARIAN
ETHICS*
JUSTICE AS
FAIRNESS**
VIRTUE ETHICS/
INTEGRITY***
Respect Life
√=Benefits,
X=Harms
x Large
numbers
have short
lives
Respect Well-being
√=Benefits, X=Harms
x Lose one of their major
senses/capacity for quality of life
√Less feather pecking
√ Easier to manage hens
x possibly greater repercussions from
general public & concerns re industry
future
√ Increased supply of cheap eggs
x More consumer backlash due to
hen's permanent loss of sight capacity
√ Increased production levels
x Possible decreased demand due to
public concerns
x expense of research /time for trials
√ More work in this area
x Loss of integrity
x Increasing concern about
manipulation of animals’ capacities
x Extremely concerned about
manipulation of animals' capacities
X increased work to prevent this
√ Plentiful eggs to sell
x Probably more consumers unhappy
due to more serious impact on hens
x concerned about permanent loss to
hens' capacities; unknown further
impacts on the species
x loss of personal and professional
integrity -to heal not harm animals
Respect Life
√=Benefits,
X=Harms
√ Fewer
having short
lives
Respect Well-being
√=Benefits, X=Harms
√Increased quality of life
x Lower production
√ Increasing demand for free range
x More expensive eggs
√ Greater satisfaction with product and own
integrity
x Less quantity of eggs produced
√Higher value product
√ Increased community satisfaction with egg
industry
x Less work with genetic manipulation
√ More time for less destructive research e.g.
better systems for hens' interests
√ Less concern about animal welfare issues
√ Less concern about hens' well-being
x Fewer cheap eggs to sell
√ Increased satisfaction regarding product
quality
√ Less worry about hens well-being
√Increased integrity
5
4
2
5
5
3
4
5
3
Rating 1-5 *1=Greatest good **1= Fairest for the least advantaged ***1= Most virtuous, consistent with respect for life and well-being, and fairness
Note: Students choose the most fitting action based on the three ratings and justify their choice using ethics language and reasoning from the template