ETHICS

WHAT IS MORAL THEORIES
A moral theory is made up of a set of more or less interconnected propositions that are
constructed to define what is morally desirable or correct behavior and what qualifies it as such.
So, it more or less implicitly conveys a set of presumptions about what morality is; in turn, that
view specifies the kinds of norms or rules to be discovered and how they might be justified. We
have some intriguing suggestions from the different variants of virtue ethics, deontological
ethics, contractualism, and consequentialism. When seen in this light, moral theories are
typically assumed to be mutually exclusive; their diversity and multiplicity prompt the question
of whether one moral theory should be acknowledged as the only correct or true one.
There are a number of moral theories:
Utilitarianism
 Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on
outcomes. It is a form of consequentialism. Utilitarianism holds that the most ethical
choice is the one that will produce the greatest good for the greatest number.
Kantianism
 Kantian ethics are deontological, revolving entirely around duty rather than emotions or
end goals. All actions are performed in accordance with some underlying maxim or
principle, which are vastly different from each other; it is according to this that the moral
worth of any action is judged.
Virtue theory
 Virtue ethics is arguably the oldest ethical theory in the world, with origins in Ancient
Greece. It defines good actions as ones that display embody virtuous character traits, like
courage, loyalty, or wisdom. A virtue itself is a disposition to act, think and feel in
certain ways.
The four principles approach
 Autonomy
Autonomy means the patient must be fully informed, understanding all the risks,
benefits and likelihood of success of a prescribed treatment plan, in order to make a
decision about their own care free from coercion. To be ethical we need to explain, in
words patients understand, the complete diagnosis and treatment plan. autonomy.
 Justice
Simply stated, justice is giving others what is due them. It means you should not treat
people unequally.
 Beneficence
Beneficence is best described as doing good to others. The practical application of this
principle is that before you can do good to others in your professional role, you need to
make sure that you have the most current knowledge and skills in order to actually do
good to others
 Non-Maleficence
Non-maleficence means that we should not harm our patients or others in society. We
follow this principle when we prescribe tests or treatments where the potential benefits
outweigh the risks of harm. On a surface level, this principle tells us to make sure we are
using appropriate disinfection techniques in our offices. It even has implications in
managing protected health information.
Casuistry
 is a process of reasoning that seeks to resolve moral problems by extracting or extending
theoretical rules from a particular case, and reapplying those rules to new instances. This
method occurs in applied ethics and jurisprudence.
IMPORTANCE OF MORAL THEORIES
Moral theories allow us to see the implications of the judgments that these (and other
fundamental concerns) are each important in moral reasoning. Perhaps, as a result, moral theories
have in recent years become more concerned to accommodate the insights of what were once
regarded as rival theories. A moral theory is an explanation of what makes an action right or what
makes a person or thing good. Its focus is not the rightness or goodness of specific actions or
persons, but the very nature of rightness or goodness itself.
WHAT IS MENTAL FRAME

A frame of reference, or point of view, refers to the way we look at a given situation. How a
person views that situation can affect her understanding of the facts and influence how she
determines right from wrong. Some frames minimize or even omit the ethical aspects of a
decision. The framing effect is a type of cognitive bias or error in thinking. “Framing” refers to
whether an option is presented as a loss (negative) or a gain (positive). People are generally
biased toward picking an option they view as a gain over one they view as a loss, even if both
options lead to the same result.
IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL FRAME
The Mental Frames helps a human think or see a positive way to solve a situation.
Mental frames are important in decision making not only by simplifying the chaotic situation that
the agent faces and also defining the problem itself. Mental Frame is a frame which we viewed
the world.

ETHICS

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WHAT IS MORAL THEORIES

WHAT IS MENTAL FRAME

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