Ricaro, Miguel Erilo GED0114 – Sec50

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT #2

Each and everyone have their own morals that guides their action accordingly. Applied ethics is a
field of moral philosophy that deals with the application of moral principles to practical issues in various
domains It seeks to provide guidance to individuals and organizations on how to act ethically and make
morally sound decisions in various domains, including healthcare, business, politics, and the environment
(Beauchamp & Childress, 2019). In this reflexive paper, I will explore the nature of applied ethics and its
importance, the challenges it faces, and its role in promoting moral behavior.

Applied ethics is an interdisciplinary field that combines philosophy, law, and social sciences. It
involves the analysis of complex moral issues and the development of ethical principles and guidelines to
address them. Applied ethics focuses on practical problems, and it seeks to provide practical solutions to
real-world issues (Beauchamp & Childress, 2019). Applied ethics is relevant to many domains of human
activity, including healthcare, business, politics, and the environment. It provides guidance to individuals
and organizations on how to act ethically and make morally sound decisions in these domains. In
healthcare, for instance, applied ethics provides guidance on issues such as patient autonomy, informed
consent, and end-of-life care. In business, it addresses issues such as corporate social responsibility,
ethical marketing, and fair labor practices. In politics, it provides guidance on issues such as human
rights, social justice, and distributive justice. In the environment, it addresses issues such as climate
change, pollution, and resource depletion. Applied ethics is also relevant to personal decision-making. It
helps individuals make moral decisions that are consistent with their values and beliefs. For example, it
can help individuals decide whether to donate to charity, whether to adopt a vegetarian diet, or whether to
vote in elections.

One of the significant challenges facing applied ethics is the subjectivity of moral values. People
have different moral beliefs and values, which can lead to disagreements and conflicts in moral decision-
making. For example, some people believe that abortion is morally permissible, while others believe that
it is morally wrong. Such differences in moral values can make it difficult to develop ethical principles
and guidelines that are universally acceptable. Another challenge facing applied ethics is the complexity
of moral issues. Many real-world moral issues involve competing moral values, making it difficult to
determine the right course of action. For example, the issue of euthanasia involves the competing values
of autonomy and sanctity of life. While some people argue that individuals have the right to choose when
to end their lives, others believe that all human life is sacred and should be preserved at all costs.
 Despite the challenges facing applied ethics, it has the potential to promote moral behavior in
various domains. Applied ethics provides a framework for evaluating the moral implications of actions
and making informed decisions. It also helps identify and address moral problems in various domains,
leading to improved moral behavior. In healthcare, applied ethics can help healthcare professionals make
ethically sound decisions that are consistent with their professional obligations. For example, it can help
them navigate complex issues such as medical futility, end-of-life care, and organ donation. According to
Emanuel et al. (2014), “applied ethics is essential in healthcare, where ethical dilemmas often arise, and
where decisions can have profound consequences for patients and their families” (p. 1).
Lastly, when I think about applied ethics, the first thing that always comes to me is how morals and ideals
are applied to a person's behavior. Even though I was able to simplify the concept, it can be challenging to
explain and incorporate into really tackling social problems due to ambiguity and lack of knowledge. In
many cases, it may take years for the full impact of a choice to be understood or appreciated. This can
make anticipating the results of different actions and figuring out which decision is the most morally right
difficult. It might be challenging to predict the effects of several courses of action and determine which
decision is the most ethical since actions have a delayed effect. In some circumstances, it may be difficult
to predict a decision's long-term effects, or those effects may depend on a number of unknowable and
uncontrollable factors. Due to this uncertainty, it may be challenging to weigh the ethical ramifications of
many possibilities and make a decision that is both morally and practically sound. Generally speaking,
applied ethics can be a challenging concept to implement since acts have a delayed effect. addressing the
real issues facing society. Yet it is possible to develop solutions that deal with the issues in society by
taking a long-term and comprehensive approach and engaging in meaningful and informed ethical
conversation.

In conclusion, applied ethics encompasses a wide range of moral concepts and tenets that give
and reflect each person's actions and choices. However, it is up to each individual to create their own
moral compass and match their deeds with their ideals. Although though applied ethics might be
challenging to define and implement, it is still possible to find answers to any issues in our society if we,
as individuals, work to become more morally upright by taking into account and applying ethical theories
to practical difficulties. It also offers a framework for assessing the moral consequences of acts and aids
people and organizations in arriving at ethically sound judgments. Despite difficulties with subjectivity
and complexity, practical ethics is essential for encouraging moral action. By using applied ethics, people
and organizations may spot moral issues and fix them, which improves moral conduct.
References:

Alexander, Larry and & Moore, M. (2021). Deontological Ethics (E. Zalta, Ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia
of Philosophy. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/cthics-deontological/

Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of biomedical ethics. Oxford University Press.
https://global.oup.com/ushe/product/principles-of-biomedical-ethics-9780190640873?
cc=us&lang=en&

Conwav. ., & Gawronski, B. (2013). Deontological and utilitarian inclinations in moral decision makinga
process dissociation approach. Journal of personality and social psychology. 104(2), 216.
https://osf.io/ufk3z/download

MacIntyre, A. (2013). After virtue: A study in moral theory. University of Notre Dame Press.
Singer, P. (2011). Practical ethics. Cambridge University Press.
https://curate.nd.edu/show/1n79h418601

Sinnott-Armstrong, & Walter. (2022). Consequentialism (E. Zalta & U. Nodelman, Eds.). Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/consequentialism/