Comm 409: Chapter 6 (Four Classic Theories Of Ethics)

The Golden Rule

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This is the rule of reversibility: Put yourself in the place of the person being affected by your decision The rule is articulated in all the world's great religions. It stresses love, not self-interest, as the moral base of conduct.

Rule-Based Thinking

An absolute duty to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences. The categorical imperative: If everyone followed your standard, the world would be a better place. Champion: Immanuel Kant. Also known as deontology, from the Greek deon (duty).

Breaking The Rules

Don't decide on a whim to deviate from policy. Analyze carefully to identify the reasons for a different course. Consult with your supervisor and make your case.

Decision-Making Tools

Four classic theories of ethics can help you make moral decisions in journalism.

Blending Two Theories

Journalists can benefit from: The stability of news guidelines (rule-based thinking) ... While also sensing when the circumstances might dictate a different solution (ends-based thinking).

Aristotle's Golden Mean

Provides a moderate solution when the alternatives are likely to be unsatisfactory. It is ethically defensible, not just a middle-of-the-road compromise. Aristotle thought a virtuous person should avoid extremes. The principle is followed in how tobacco sales and advertising are regulated.

The Four Theories

Rule-based thinking. Ends-based thinking. The Golden Rule. Aristotle's Golden Mean.

Strengths And Weaknesses (Golden Mean)

The strength of Aristotle's Golden Mean is that it may lead you to an ethical resolution of an impasse. The weakness is that not every situation offers a Golden Mean.

Strengths And Weaknesses (Ends-Based)

The strength of ends-based thinking is its flexibility; weigh competing values and decide which is most important. A weakness is that a decision may be self-serving instead of morally correct. Another weakness is that the consequences of a decision cannot always be predicted.

Strengths And Weaknesses (Rule-Based)

The strength of rule-based thinking is its simplicity: just follow the rule. The weakness is that it is too rigid; a person can't decide between competing ethical values.

Strengths And Weaknesses (Golden Rule)

The weakness is that if two or more stakeholders have competing interests, the Golden Rule cannot resolve the conflict. The strength of the Golden Rule is that it makes a clear, compelling statement about what is right or wrong.

Questions

Was Robin Hood a deontologist or a teleologist? In the Pentagon Papers case, did The New York Times follow deontology or teleology?

Ends-Based Thinking

Weigh the competing courses of action. Choose the course of action that brings the most good to the most people. Champions: Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Also called teleology, from the Greek telos (ends). Another name is consequentialism, for its focus on consequences.