Ethical Decision Making

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how there are four different systems that one can use as the basis for making ethical decisions, including the utilitarian, moral rights, universalism, and cost-benefit systems of ethics. It looks at how these systems each have their own internal logic and how it is not always best to adhere to the same system for making decisions. It also shows how, in using ethical systems, one can make certain that one's decisions are based on something beyond pure self-interest and follow a standard that best promotes the interests of both the individual and the community at large.

From the Paper:

"The next system of ethical decision making is known as the moral rights system, which assumes that there are basic inalienable moral rights that underlie all ethical decisions and that these moral principles must not be violated. Generally speaking, our very legal system assumes the presence of such moral rights as do we in most of our decision making. Nonetheless, it is important to consider how far such moral rights must extend and to make certain that one does not confuse moral rights with desires. Certainly, one must locate one's own basic principles and decide what those are and then decide not to violate them. Any ethical system that you create will ultimately be subject to such moral judgments."

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