Download An objection to Oaths and Codes of Ethics

An Objection to Oaths and Codes
of Ethics

Oaths and Codes with specific rules
treat ethics as resembling the law
– Why is this bad?
– Because some would argue that the law is
a bad model for ethics
Law vs. Ethics

The law sets out minimal standards for
behaviour, i.e., rules for staying out of
legal trouble

Ethics, one might argue, is about more
than just following rules for staying out
of moral trouble.
An Alternative Approach



Contemporary treatments of ethics do
tend to focus on ethical rules
Dissatisfaction with this approach has
led some to suggest we need to return
to an earlier approach.
Virtue Ethics - focuses on character, not
rules
Virtue Ethics


Central figure is Aristotle
Central question is ‘what should we be?’
not ‘what should we do?’
– if good character is in place, then good
action will follow

Focus is on developing virtues, not
figuring out the rules of morality
The Virtues of a Physician?

Reconsider CMA Code of Ethics from
the point of virtue
– compassion
– honesty
– dedication
– discretion
– humility

What else?
Virtue Ethics or Rule-based
Ethics?

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Which, if either, of these approaches
best captures what ethics is “really
about” is an interesting theoretical
question
We won’t try to answer it here. Instead,
think about the theories as offering two
valuable ways of thinking about ethics
A Variety of Perspectives


The contrast between virtue and rulebased approaches provides an indicator
of the value of considering ethics from a
variety of perspectives
Up next: A sketch of ethical theory Concentrate on E/H/HL Foundations
Sections 5 & 7