REASONS AND

IMPARTIALITY
Is REASON a requirement for morality?...
❑ the power of the mind to
think, understand and form
judgements by a process of
logic. (Merriam Webster
2017)
❑ According to Immanuel Kant
Reason alone is the basis for morality, and
But….. once a person understood this basic
requirement for morality, he or she would
see that acting morally is the same as acting
rationally.

❑ He also view morality as….

❑ Morality alone shows that a person must decide what to do.
❑ You as a person are able to think and reflect on different actions and then choose what action to take.
❑ Moral decision means desires did not force you to act in a particular manner. (You acted by the power of your
will)
Is IMPARTIALITY a requirement for morality?...
❑ It is a broad concept, but it is also identified as a core value in professional
code of ethics.
❑Commonly understood as a principle of justice.
❑ It is based on objective criteria (factual information) rather than on the
basis of bias, damage or preferring to benefit one person over another for
improper reason (Jollimore, 2011).
❑ It stresses that everyone is ought to be given equal importance and not favor
one class (people, animals or things) in a capricious way.

❑Example: fairness in justice, treatment and judgement

How impartiality became a requirement in morality?...
Example:
During an exam you saw your friend (who is sitting next to you) secretly open her notebook to look
for an answer on one of the test questions. Your Teacher noticed that your classmate was doing something
suspicious. He called your classmate and asked if she was cheating. She closed her notebook and answered
‘’No’’. Your teacher did not trust your classmate’s answer so he asked you. What will you say?

According to Philosopher and Professor Dr. Rachels

For your decision to be moral, you should think how your answer will affect your friend, your
teacher, the rest of your classmates, and how it will affect you as a person

therefore….
An impartial choice involves basing your decision on how all the
persons in the situation will be affected, and not to the advantage of a
particular party that you favor.
Thus for the question…

Are reason and impartiality a requirement for morality?..

‘’At the very least, it is the effort to guide one’s

action based on the moral logical choice (reason)
while giving equal importance to the interest of
each person affected by your decisions
(impartiality)’’
 REASON
Moral Logical
Choice
(Deciding what to
do, what to act)

To sum
up… MORALITY
IMPARTIALITY
Equal Importance
(based on objective
criteria or fairness)
When do you make ethical decisions?...
• When we faced situation where there are no clear cut or obvious
choices
• When situation cannot be determined by simple quantitative
analysis of data

• When reason and impartiality is present

• When you need to choose between good and better or bad and
worse
 Ethical Decision-Making..
❑ It is a process of evaluating and choosing among alternatives
in a manner that is consistent with moral principles
❑ Requires interpretation of the situation, application of your
values and estimating the consequences of your action.

❑ Making ethical decision requires the ability to make

distinctions between competing options.
 Gather the facts
1
Identify the stakeholders
2
Articulate the dilemma
THE
3
List the alternatives
7-STEP 4
MORAL Compare the alternative with the principles
REASONING Weigh the consequences
5
MODEL 6
Weigh the consequences
Adapted from 2nd Gen. CHED-GET,
XU Training 7
 Gather the facts
1
❑Do not jump into conclusions
❑Ask questions (who, what, where,
THE when, how, and why)
7-STEP ❑There may be instances where facts
MORAL are hard to find nevertheless, gather as
REASONING many facts as you can.
MODEL ❑Clarify what assumptions you are
Adapted from 2nd Gen. CHED-GET,
XU Training
making
 Identify the stakeholders
2
❑Identify all the persons involved and will
be affected.
THE ❑Who are the primary, secondary
7-STEP stakeholders?
MORAL ❑Get the proper perspective
REASONING ❑Try to see the situation through the eyes of
MODEL the people affected
Adapted from 2nd Gen. CHED-GET,
XU Training
 Articulate the dilemma
3
❑What are the competing values?
❑ The purpose of articulating dilemmas
THE is to makes sure that you understand
7-STEP the situation and the moral conflict you
MORAL are facing.
REASONING ❑ Awareness and comprehension are
MODEL important in making right decision.
Adapted from 2nd Gen. CHED-GET,
XU Training
 List the alternatives
4
❑ Think creatively about the potential
THE actions.
❑This will help ensure that you have not been
7-STEP pushed back into a corner
MORAL ❑ Provide alternatives as many as you can
REASONING and always select the best alternatives.
MODEL
Adapted from 2nd Gen. CHED-GET,
XU Training
 Compare the alternative with the principles
5
❑ Specify the relevant values that you
THE want to uphold on making decisions.
7-STEP ❑Compare whether your alternative
MORAL actions are in line with your values.
REASONING ❑This will help you identify if your alternative
actions is illegal or unethical.
MODEL
Adapted from 2nd Gen. CHED-GET,
XU Training
 Weigh the consequences
6
❑ When considering the effects of your
actions, filter your choices to determine
THE 7-STEP if your options will violate the ethical
MORAL values.
REASONING ❑ Determine how all the stakeholders
MODEL will be affected by your decision.
Adapted from 2nd Gen. CHED-GET,
XU Training
 Weigh the consequences
Example: You accidentally found out that your officemate was making anomalous transaction
6
at the expense of your company. You were in a dilemma on whether you are going to divulge
what you knew because you found out about the anomaly by illegally logging into your
officemates computer. Your possible actions were:
THE - To keep quiet,
- Confront your officemate,
7-STEP - Or report him to the administration.

MORAL In this situation, what are the need to be upheld? HONESTY? Then compare your
alternatives with the value.
REASONING 1. Does Keeping quiet uphold honesty? No.
2. Does confronting your officemate uphold honesty? No.
MODEL 3. Does reporting your officemate to the administration uphold honesty? Yes.
Adapted from 2nd Gen. CHED-GET, Based on the identified alternatives you will know which among the three possible
XU Training actions is the moral decisions.
 Weigh the consequences
7
❑ Avoid ‘’paralysis by analysis’’ or the state of
over-analyzing (over thinking) a situation.
THE 7-STEP
MORAL REMEMBER!
REASONING ‘’There is no easy and painless decision. The
decision you make reflects the value you want
MODEL to uphold’’
Adapted from 2nd Gen. CHED-GET,
XU Training