THE 7 –STEPS MORAL

REASONING MODEL
BY DR. SCOTT B. RAE
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT OF THE 7 –
STEPS MORAL REASONING MODEL
APPLY THE 7 STEPS OF MORAL REASONING IN
HIS/HER DECISION MAKING
INTRODUCTION
• Scott Rae's model for moral reasoning presents a Seven Step Approach
to moral analyses and evaluation. It is oriented towards virtues and
principles with consideration of consequences as a supporting role
(Rae 2018). This model is free from cultural, ethnic, and religious
background and biases, though it is consistent/uses biblical principles.
• The 7 –Steps moral reasoning model Introduces the use of REASON
and IMPARTIALITY in deciding on moral matter.
REASON & IMPARTIALITY
REASON
• The basis for an action or
decision
• In making moral judgments,
IMPARTIALITY
• Equal treatment of all
• All individual’s point of view are equally
important

it must be backed up with • A principle of justice. Decision must be

reasons based on objective criteria
THE 7 –STEPS MORAL REASONING
MODEL
• Gather the facts.
• Determine the social issues.
• Determine what virtues/principles have a bearing on the case.
• List the alternatives.
• Compare the alternatives with the virtues/principles.
• Consider the consequences.
• Make a decision.
GATHER THE FACTS
The simplest way of clarifying an ethical dilemma is to make
sure the facts are clear.
Ask: Do you have the facts that are necessary to make a good
decision? What do we know? What do we need to know? In
this light it might become clear that the dilemma is not
ethical but about communication or strategy.
DETERMINE THE ETHICAL ISSUES

Ethical interests are stated in terms of legitimate competing

interests or goods. The competing interests are what creates the
dilemma. Moral values and virtues must support the competing
interests in order for an ethical dilemma to exist. If you cannot
identify the underlying values/virtues then you do not have an
ethical dilemma. Often people hold these positions strongly
and with passion because of the value /virtue beneath them.
DETERMINE WHAT
VIRTUES/PRINCIPLES HAVE A
BEARING ON THE CASE
In an ethical dilemma certain values and principles
are central to the competing positions. Identify
these. Determine if some should be given more
weight than others. Ask what the source for the
principle is constitution, culture, natural law,
religious tradition.
LIST THE ALTERNATIVES
Creatively determine possible courses of action for
your dilemma. Some will almost immediately be
discarded but generally the more you list the
greater potential for coming up with a really good
one. It will also help you come up with a broader
selection of ideas.
COMPARE THE ALTERNATIVES WITH THE
VIRTUES/PRINCIPLES

This step eliminates alternatives as they are weighed by the moral

principles which have a bearing on the case. Potentially the issue
will be resolved here as all alternatives except one are eliminated.
Here you must satisfy all the relevant virtues and values so at least
some of the alternatives will be eliminated (even if you still have to
go on to step 6). Often here you have to weight principles and
virtues make sure you have a good reason for each weighting.
CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES

If principles have not yielded a clear decision

consider the consequences of your alternatives.
Take the alternatives and work out the positive and
negative consequences of each. Estimate how
beneficial each positive and negative consequence
is some might have greater weight than others.
MAKE DECISION
Ethical decisions rarely have pain-free solutions -
it might be you have to choose the solution with
the least number of problems / painful
consequences. Even when making a "good"
decision you might still lose sleep over it!
CONCLUSION
Moral reasoning applies critical analysis
to specific events to determine what is
right or wrong, and what people ought to
do in a particular situation.
THANK YOU!
Ralph Joven A. Dimaano