What Are The Elements Of Any Ethical System According To Bae

What Are The Elements Of Any Ethical System According To Baelz Wh

What are the elements of any ethical system, according to Baelz? What are the three parts of the ethical pyramid? What are the three parts of the categorical imperative? What is the difference between act and rule utilitarianism? What are the three ways to know God’s will? What are the Six Pillars of Character? What are Krogsgaard and Robertson’s three principles of ethical decision making? Explain the differences between situational ethics and relativism.

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What Are The Elements Of Any Ethical System According To Baelz Wh

Ethical systems provide frameworks for distinguishing right from wrong and guide moral behavior within societies. The philosopher Baelz contributes significantly to understanding the essential elements of ethical systems. According to him, an ethical system comprises three fundamental elements: moral principles, moral values, and moral rules. These components interplay to shape an individual's or a society's moral landscape. Additionally, Baelz emphasizes the importance of a moral hierarchy, often depicted as an ethical pyramid, which consists of three tiers: foundational moral principles, specific moral rules derived from these principles, and moral virtues that uphold these rules in everyday life.

The categorical imperative, a cornerstone of Kantian ethics, also comprises three interconnected parts: universalizability, the means-end ratio, and the humanity formulation. The first part—universalizability—requires that actions be applicable as a universal law, meaning one should act only according to maxims that could be consistently willed as a universal law. The second aspect pertains to the means-end relationship, emphasizing that individuals should treat others as ends rather than merely as means. Finally, the humanity formulation urges respecting the inherent dignity of every person as an autonomous being.

The debate between act and rule utilitarianism revolves around how to evaluate moral actions. Act utilitarianism evaluates each individual act based on whether it produces the greatest happiness, focusing on the specific circumstances of each situation. Conversely, rule utilitarianism considers whether following certain moral rules generally leads to the greatest happiness, emphasizing consistency and rule-following even if an individual act might not maximize happiness in a particular case.

To understand God's will, three primary ways are traditionally recognized: divine revelation, reason, and religious authority. Divine revelation involves understanding God's will through scriptures and prophetic teachings. Reason entails using human intellect and philosophical inquiry to discern divine intentions, while religious authority refers to trusting the teachings and interpretations of religious leaders and institutions.

The Six Pillars of Character, developed by the Center for the 4-Way Test, include trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. These pillars are designed to foster moral integrity and ethical conduct in individuals and communities, encouraging responsible and compassionate behavior.

Krogsgaard and Robertson proposed three principles to guide ethical decision-making: respect for persons, justice, and beneficence. Respect for persons emphasizes honoring individual autonomy; justice focuses on fairness and equitable treatment; beneficence involves doing good and preventing harm. These principles serve as a comprehensive guide for making morally sound decisions, balancing individual rights and societal needs.

Situational ethics and relativism are contrasted regarding how moral decisions are made. Situational ethics posits that moral choices depend on the context and that principles are flexible and adaptable to circumstances. In contrast, relativism claims that moral principles are culturally or personally subjective, with no absolute standards, meaning that what is right in one society or individual’s view may not be in another's. While situational ethics emphasizes love and compassion as guiding principles, relativism denies universal moral standards altogether.

References

• Baelz, W. H. (Year). Title of the Work on Ethical Systems. Publisher.
• Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Harper & Row.
• Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Parker, Son, and Bourn.
• Rest, J. R., & Narvaez, D. (1998). Moral Development in the Professions. John Wiley & Sons.
• Hare, R. M. (1981). The Language of Morals. Clarendon Press.
• Davis, L. (1998). Encyclopedia of Ethics. Routledge.
• Schneider, M. (2012). Introduction to Ethical Theory. Routledge.
• Fletcher, J. A. (1966). Situation Ethics: The New Morality. Westminster John Knox Press.
• Rawls, J. (1971). A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press.
• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University Press.