ETHICAL CYCLE

PROFETA, MELVIN
MOJICA, HANCE JAROME
 THE ETHICAL CYCLE
Ethical cycle is a tool in structuring and improving moral decisions by making a systematic and
thorough analysis of the moral problem, which helps to come to a moral judgment and to justify
the final decision in moral terms.
 PHASE 1: MORAL PROBLEM
STATEMENT
Moral problem – A problem in which two or more positive moral values or norms cannot be
fully realized at the same time.
 Moral Dilemmas – originally “dilemma” means “double proposition” implying
that there are only two options for action.
- crucial feature is that the agent has only two (or a limited number of)
options for action and that whatever he/she chooses he/she will commit a
moral wrong.
PHASE 2: PROBLEM ANALYSIS
Important Elements in Problem Analysis
 The stakeholders and their interests

- Stakeholders are both the people who can influence the options for action being chosen and
the eventual consequences of this action.
 The relevant moral values
 The relevant facts

- Though facts aren’t always entirely clear. So it is advisable to formulate moral standpoint in a
hypothetical form:
“If x is the case, then option for action A is morally acceptable, but if it turns out that y is the case,
then option B is morally acceptable.”
 PHASE 3: OPTIONS FOR
ACTIONS
After the analytic step, a synthetic step follows in which possible solutions for action are
generated in the light of the formulated problem analysis.

Black-and-white-strategy – a strategy for action in which only two options for actions are
considered: doing the action or not.

Strategy of cooperation – the action strategy that is directed at finding alternatives that can
help to solve a moral problem by consulting other stakeholders.

Whistle-blowing – speaking to the media or the public on an undesirable situation against the
desire of the employer.
ICEBREAKER
TALL STORIES
The leader starts a story with a sentence that ends in
SUDDENLY. The next person then has to add to the
story with his own sentence that ends in SUDDENLY.
Continue the story until everyone has contributed.
The story becomes crazier as each young person adds
their sentence. Tape it and play it back. For example;
'Yesterday I went to the zoo and was passing the
elephant enclosure when SUDDENLY.....
 PHASE 4: ETHICAL
EVALUATION
Moral acceptability of the various options for action is evaluated. This can be done on the basis
of both formal and informal moral frameworks.
Formal Moral Frameworks
- Codes of Conduct, Care Ethics, Utilitarianism, Kant’s theory, and Virtue Ethics.
Informal Ethical Frameworks
 Intuitivist framework – the ethical framework in which options for action are evaluated on
basis of one’s view about what is intuitively most acceptable and that formulates arguments
for this statement.
 Common sense method – the method that weighs the available options for actions in the light
of the relevant values.
 PHASE 5: REFLECTION
The goal of this reflection is to come to a well-argued choice among the various options for
actions, using the outcomes of the earlier steps.
Wide reflective equilibrium – the basic idea is that different ethical judgments on a case are
weighed against each other and brought into equilibrium.
– approach that aims at making coherent three types of moral beliefs: 1. considered moral
judgments; 2. moral principles; and 3. background theories.
Central to the reflection – arguments for or against ethical frameworks can be positioned at
two levels. One level is the general criticism of the ethical frameworks. The second level of
criticism is the concrete situation in which a certain option for action has to be chosen.
REFERENCE:
ETHICS, TECHNOLOGY, AND ENGINEERING
by: Malden, Mass. : Wiley-Blackwell, 2011