HU245 EthicsHU245 EthicsUnit Three SeminarUnit Three SeminarEthics of Universal Ethics of Universal

HealthcareHealthcare

John BalickiJohn Balicki

More on the More on the ConsequentalistsConsequentalists

• Reflection after Unit 1 AssignmentsReflection after Unit 1 Assignments

• Ethics of Care – gives without Ethics of Care – gives without counting the costcounting the cost

• Utilitarians – give and count the costUtilitarians – give and count the cost– They give because they have calculated They give because they have calculated

and their giving will result in the and their giving will result in the greatest good for most people but it is greatest good for most people but it is not unreserved givingnot unreserved giving

Consequentalists vs. Non-Consequentalists vs. Non-consequentalistsconsequentalists

• Reflection after Unit 2 DiscussionReflection after Unit 2 Discussion– Class is well divided between bothClass is well divided between both

• Consequentalists could find no moral absolutesConsequentalists could find no moral absolutes

•Does that make going through every traffic Does that make going through every traffic signal up for grabs?signal up for grabs?

• Non-consequentalists had many moral principlesNon-consequentalists had many moral principles– Is it applicable to everyone in most situations?Is it applicable to everyone in most situations?

• Problems with Consequentialist Problems with Consequentialist Theories:Theories:– Hard to Predict the FutureHard to Predict the Future– Difficulty in Respecting the “Few” in Difficulty in Respecting the “Few” in

UtilitarianismUtilitarianism

• Problems with Nonconsequentialist Problems with Nonconsequentialist Theories:Theories:– Hard to Ignore OutcomesHard to Ignore Outcomes– Can be Rigid and DifficultCan be Rigid and Difficult

Why More Theories?Why More Theories?

• Virtue ethics, among the oldest of all Virtue ethics, among the oldest of all ethical theories, has experienced ethical theories, has experienced considerable resurgence in popularity considerable resurgence in popularity over the last several decades. Rather over the last several decades. Rather than focus on consequences, rules, than focus on consequences, rules, and/or intuitions, virtue ethics focuses on and/or intuitions, virtue ethics focuses on the development of human character, the development of human character, the shaping or molding of a good or the shaping or molding of a good or "virtuous" person. "virtuous" person.

Virtue TheoryVirtue Theory

• Aristotle is Aristotle is regarded as the regarded as the main virtue main virtue ethicist. Virtue ethicist. Virtue ethics focuses on ethics focuses on "character" and "character" and developing this developing this character in character in accordance with accordance with the virtues.the virtues.

Aristotle on VirtueAristotle on Virtue

• Ethics aims at some end. For Aristotle, Ethics aims at some end. For Aristotle, that end is happiness. To achieve that end is happiness. To achieve happiness, for Aristotle, one must live happiness, for Aristotle, one must live in accordance with reason, which in accordance with reason, which prescribes a virtuous life. prescribes a virtuous life.

• Natural ethical tendencies in human beings. Natural ethical tendencies in human beings. Following these tendencies with consistency Following these tendencies with consistency and proportion will lead to goodness of and proportion will lead to goodness of character and aid in living the ethical life.character and aid in living the ethical life.

Main Points of Virtue EthicsMain Points of Virtue Ethics

• Goodness of character must be Goodness of character must be developed by practice and habit. developed by practice and habit. Practicing telling the truth, for Practicing telling the truth, for example, will make us truthful.example, will make us truthful.

• Virtue is a Virtue is a meanmean between the between the extremes of vice - excess and extremes of vice - excess and deficiency. deficiency.

Obtaining VirtueObtaining Virtue

The mean is determined as "relative to us:" The mean is determined as "relative to us:" too little courage is cowardice, too much is too little courage is cowardice, too much is foolhardy. Note that "relative to us" does not foolhardy. Note that "relative to us" does not mean "relative" in the sense of "relativism." mean "relative" in the sense of "relativism." There is, on Aristotle's view, an objective fact There is, on Aristotle's view, an objective fact about the universe that dictates where the about the universe that dictates where the mean is for any particular individual. For mean is for any particular individual. For example, a very large adult man would need example, a very large adult man would need more calories each day than a very small more calories each day than a very small adult man would. The range may not be adult man would. The range may not be significant, but it is distinct and "relative to significant, but it is distinct and "relative to the individual."the individual."

Determining the MeanDetermining the Mean

Characteristic Too Much Mean Too Little

Confidence Rashness Courage Cowardice

Truth about one’s own self

Boastfulness Truthfulness Self-deprecation

Work Ethic Workaholic Productive Lazy

How Much is Too Much?How Much is Too Much?

• Attempts to create good human beings rather Attempts to create good human beings rather than good acts or rules. than good acts or rules.

• Virtue ethics unifies reason and emotion. (Kant Virtue ethics unifies reason and emotion. (Kant separates reason/emotion). separates reason/emotion).

• Emphasizes moderation and situatedness Emphasizes moderation and situatedness rather than absolutes or grossly relativistic rather than absolutes or grossly relativistic principles. principles.

• Easy to teach childrenEasy to teach children

• Already speak of people in this way (hard Already speak of people in this way (hard working, honest, caring, ect.)working, honest, caring, ect.)

Advantages of Virtue EthicsAdvantages of Virtue Ethics

• Hard to apply to specific ethical Hard to apply to specific ethical issues like human cloning, genetic issues like human cloning, genetic engineering, ect. engineering, ect.

• Hard to determine the mean, closely Hard to determine the mean, closely tied to culture.tied to culture.

• How do you determine what is a How do you determine what is a virtue? Tends to bring us back to virtue? Tends to bring us back to either consequences or principles.either consequences or principles.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Access to HealthcareAccess to Healthcare

• Is access to health care resources a Is access to health care resources a basic right that should be provided basic right that should be provided and protected by government?  and protected by government? 

Socialized or Universal?Socialized or Universal?

• What is the difference between What is the difference between government assured access and government assured access and government delivery of healthcare government delivery of healthcare services?services?

Rights and DutiesRights and Duties

• Under Kantian ethics, a right of one Under Kantian ethics, a right of one party results in corresponding duty of party results in corresponding duty of another.another.

• What are the implications of a right What are the implications of a right to access to healthcare?to access to healthcare?

How to Pay?How to Pay?

• How should universal access to How should universal access to health care be funded? health care be funded?

• What are the alternatives for What are the alternatives for funding?funding?

• What ethical guidelines should be What ethical guidelines should be used to determine funding? used to determine funding? Utilitarianism, altruism, ethical Utilitarianism, altruism, ethical egoism?egoism?

Access to High TechAccess to High Tech

• In the current free enterprise system, In the current free enterprise system, is it appropriate to limit access to the is it appropriate to limit access to the most expensive and sophisticated most expensive and sophisticated medical technologies to those who medical technologies to those who can afford to pay for them? can afford to pay for them?

• Should healthcare be rationed based Should healthcare be rationed based on individual finances and insurance on individual finances and insurance coverage?coverage?

Common Arguments For Common Arguments For Universal HealthcareUniversal Healthcare• Increasing number of uninsuredIncreasing number of uninsured• Increasing lack of care due to rising pricesIncreasing lack of care due to rising prices• Competitive disadvantage with other nations Competitive disadvantage with other nations

who have UHCwho have UHC• High number of “free riders” who access High number of “free riders” who access

healthcare under current systemhealthcare under current system• Access would encourage more preventative Access would encourage more preventative

carecare• More freedom to change jobs or start More freedom to change jobs or start

businessesbusinesses• It is ethically wrong for people to die and suffer It is ethically wrong for people to die and suffer

for lack of money or insurancefor lack of money or insurance

Common Arguments Against Common Arguments Against Universal HealthcareUniversal Healthcare

• Government would have too much Government would have too much controlcontrol

• Longer waits for those who have Longer waits for those who have insurance nowinsurance now

• Result in higher taxesResult in higher taxes• Lower profits would mean less Lower profits would mean less

innovation in healthcareinnovation in healthcare• Unfair to make one person pay for Unfair to make one person pay for

another’s care.another’s care.

Perspectives to ConsiderPerspectives to Consider

• What would result in the best for the What would result in the best for the most in society?most in society?

More PonderingsMore Ponderings

• What rights do individuals have?What rights do individuals have?

Even More PonderingsEven More Ponderings

• Would your position change if your Would your position change if your circumstances were different?circumstances were different?

Unit 3 AssignmentsUnit 3 Assignments

• Seminar Options 1 or 2 (5 pts)Seminar Options 1 or 2 (5 pts)

• Discussion Board – one thread (50 Discussion Board – one thread (50 pts)pts)

• Debate Forum - Ultrasounds before Debate Forum - Ultrasounds before Abortion? (20 pts)Abortion? (20 pts)

• Position Paper on Bioethics (50 pts)Position Paper on Bioethics (50 pts)

• Quiz (5 pts)Quiz (5 pts)

New BusinessNew Business

• Web Research Discussion ThreadWeb Research Discussion Thread– Only one thread Only one thread – Comparison of opposing arguments Comparison of opposing arguments – Comparison of opposing websitesComparison of opposing websites– Note: Many have strong opinions. Be Respectful Note: Many have strong opinions. Be Respectful

• 0 points if cross the Respect line0 points if cross the Respect line

• Analyze the quality of the argument even if you don’t Analyze the quality of the argument even if you don’t agree with itagree with it

• You aren’t going to convert anyone or change You aren’t going to convert anyone or change anyone’s mind so don’t try to!anyone’s mind so don’t try to!

More New BusinessMore New Business

• Position ParagraphPosition Paragraph– Pick one topic from units 2 or 3 (bioethics)Pick one topic from units 2 or 3 (bioethics)– Connect the topic to your own life Connect the topic to your own life

experienceexperience– Use course terms, concepts, and/or theories Use course terms, concepts, and/or theories

to support your positionto support your position– Read guidelines for projectRead guidelines for project– Five well-crafted sentences (can use more Five well-crafted sentences (can use more

but don’t overdo it)but don’t overdo it)

Debate ForumDebate Forum

• Watch “Ultrasound Debate Video”Watch “Ultrasound Debate Video”

• Do Poll Do Poll

• Answer Debate Question whether Answer Debate Question whether ultrasounds should be performed ultrasounds should be performed prior to abortionsprior to abortions

Questions?Questions?