In this paper we consider how the three main approaches to ethics – deontology, consequentialism and virtue ethics – relate to the implementation of ethical agents. We provide a description of each ...approach and how agents might be implemented by designers following the different approaches. Although there are numerous examples of agents implemented within the consequentialist and deontological approaches, this is not so for virtue ethics. We therefore propose a novel means of implementing agents within the virtue ethics approach. It is seen that each approach has its own particular strengths and weaknesses when considered as the basis for implementing ethical agents, and that the different approaches are appropriate to different kinds of system.
Christine Swanton offers a new, comprehensive theory of virtue ethics which addresses the major concerns of modern ethical theory from a character-based perspective. The book departs in significant ...ways from classical virtue ethics and neo-Aristotelianism, employing insights from Nietzsche and other sources, resulting in a highly distinctive and original brand of virtue ethics.
A Person-Centered Approach to Moral Judgment Uhlmann, Eric Luis; Pizarro, David A.; Diermeier, Daniel
Perspectives on psychological science,
01/2015, Volume:
10, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Both normative theories of ethics in philosophy and contemporary models of moral judgment in psychology have focused almost exclusively on the permissibility of acts, in particular whether acts ...should be judged on the basis of their material outcomes (consequentialist ethics) or on the basis of rules, duties, and obligations (deontological ethics). However, a longstanding third perspective on morality, virtue ethics, may offer a richer descriptive account of a wide range of lay moral judgments. Building on this ethical tradition, we offer a person-centered account of moral judgment, which focuses on individuals as the unit of analysis for moral evaluations rather than on acts. Because social perceivers are fundamentally motivated to acquire information about the moral character of others, features of an act that seem most informative of character often hold more weight than either the consequences of the act or whether a moral rule has been broken. This approach, we argue, can account for numerous empirical findings that are either not predicted by current theories of moral psychology or are simply categorized as biases or irrational quirks in the way individuals make moral judgments.
Conservation practice is informed by science, but it also reflects ethical beliefs about how humanity ought to value and interact with Earth's biota. As human activities continue to drive extinctions ...and diminish critical life-sustaining ecosystem processes, achieving conservation goals becomes increasingly urgent. However, the determination to react decisively can drive conservationists to handle complex challenges without due deliberation, particularly when wildlife individuals are sacrificedfor the so-called greater good of wildlife collectives (populations, species, ecosystems). With growing recognition of the widespread sentience and sapience of many nonhuman animals, standard conservation practices that categorically prioritize collectives without due consideration for the well-being of individuals are ethically untenable. Here we highlight 3 overarching ethical orientations characterizing current and historical practices in conservation that suppress compassion: instrumentalism, collectivism, and nativism. We examine how establishing a commitment to compassion could reorient conservation in more ethically expansive directions that incorporate recognition of the intrinsic value of wildlife, the sentience of nonhuman animals, and the values of novel ecosystems, introduced species, and their members. A compassionate conservation approach allays practices that intentionally and unnecessarily harm wildlife individuals, while aligning with critical conservation goals. Although the urgency of achieving effective outcomes for solving major conservation problems may enhance the appeal of quick and harsh measures, the costs are too high. Continuing to justify moral indifference when causing the suffering of wildlife individuals, particularly those who possess sophisticated capacities for emotion, consciousness, and sociality, risks estranging conservation practice from prevailing, and appropriate, social values. As conservationists and compassionate beings, we must demonstrate concern for both the long-term persistence of collectives and the well-being of individuals by prioritizing strategies that do both. La práctica de la conservación recibe información por parte de la ciencia, pero también refleja las creencias éticas sobre cómo la humanidad debe de valorar e interactuar con la biota de la Tierra. Conforme las actividades humanas continúan causando las extinciones y disminuyendo los procesos ambientales de suma importancia para el soporte de la vida, alcanzar los objetivos de conservación se vuelve cada vez más urgente. Sin embargo, la determinación para reaccionar de manera decisiva puede llevar a los conservacionistas a tratar con retos complejos sin la deliberación apropiada, particularmente cuando se sacrifican ejemplares faunísticospor el llamado bien mayor de los colectivos faunísticos (poblaciones, especies, ecosistemas). Con el creciente reconocimiento de la gran sensibilidad y sapiencia de muchos animales no humanos, las prácticas estandarizadas de conservación que priorizan categóricamente los colectivos sin la consideración debida para el bienestar de los individuos son insostenibles éticamente. En este artículo resaltamos tres orientaciones dominantes que caracterizan las prácticas actuales e históricas dentro de la conservación que suprimen la compasión: el instrumentalismo, el colectivismo y el nativismo. Examinamos cómo el establecimiento de un compromiso con la compasión puede reorientar a la conservación hacia direcciones más expansivas éticamente que incorporen el reconocimiento del valor intrínseco de la fauna, la sensibilidad de los animales no humanos y los valores de los ecosistemas novedosos, las especies introducidas y sus integrantes. Una estrategia compasiva de conservación apacigua lasprácticas que dañan intencionalmente e innecesariamente a los ejemplares faunísticos, mientras se alinea con los objetivos críticos de conservación. Aunque la urgencia por alcanzar los resultados efectivos para la resolución de los problemas de conservación más importantes puede aumentar el atractivo de las medidas rápidas y rigurosas, los costos son muy elevados. Si se continúa justificando la indiferencia moral cuando se causa sufrimiento a los ejemplares faunísticos, particularmente a aquellos que poseen capacidades sofisticadas para las emociones, la conciencia, y la sociabilidad, se corre el riesgo de distanciar la práctica de la conservación de los valores sociales persistentes y apropiados. Como conservacionistas y seres compasivos, debemos mostrar preocupación tanto por la persistencia a largo plazo de los colectivos como por el bienestar de los individuos alpriorizar estrategias que permitan cumplir ambos objetivos. 保护实践建立在科学知识上，但也反映着人类如何看待地球上的生物并与之相处的伦理观念。随着人类 活动不断导致物种灭绝以及维持生命的重要生态系统过程减少，实现保护目标越来越迫在 睫。然而,果断行 动的决心可能使保护主义者在考虑不周的情况下处理复杂的挑故，特别是当面临野生生物 体要为所谓的集合 体麵ヽ物# 、生态系统> 的利益而牺牲个体利益的情况时。现在已有越来越多的人意识到 多非人动物也 普遍具有感知能力和智慧，因此对个体福祉不加考虑而优先保护集合体的传统标准的保护 践在伦理上是站不 住脚的。本文重点讨论了当下和历史上漠视个体福祉的保护实践中三种主要的伦理取向: 工 主义、集体主义 和本土主义。我们研究了同情心的投入如何将保护重新导向到更具有伦理价值的方向，它 含了对野生生物内 在价值、非人动物的感知能力以及新生生态系统、引入种及其成员的价值的认识。富有同 心的保护方法可 以减少有意或不必要地伤害野生生物个体的行为，同时也与关键保护目标一致。尽管取得 决重大保护问题的 有效成果的紧迫性加强了人们对采取快速、严厉的措施的诉求，但这样做的代价过高。继 为伤害野生动物个 体(特別是那些富有情感、意识、社会性的个体) 的道德冷漠开脱，就要承担使保护实践背离主流的、恰当的社 会价值观的风险。作为保护主义者和具有同情心的人类，我们必须同时关心集合体的长期 存和个体的福祉,采 取兼顾二者的保护策略。
Many organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors have begun to take action to address the systemic racism entrenched in their processes, systems, and structures. This has included ...commitments to elevate initiatives for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Data indicate that such good-faith efforts are often not as successful as leaders and organizations had envisioned. Our assertion is that if we really want to address systemic racism in organizations, we must first attend to the people who work there. This is because their individual and collective character, revealed through behavior, drives and determines organizational processes, systems, structures, and culture. The purpose of this article is to connect character to the creation and sustainment of organizational cultures of equity, diversity, and inclusion with a specific focus on anti-Black racism. Character is not a subjective, amorphous entity but manifests as a set of observable behaviors. We explain that character equips people with consciousness and the conduct to embrace and cultivate equity, diversity, and inclusion in their organizations and in their lives. We provide concrete examples of the dimensions of character in action using brief illustrations.
Purpose
Financial disclosure manipulation is unethical and unlawful because it leads to less transparent reporting and harmful economic decisions based on misleading information. The purpose of this ...paper is to provide a summary and synthesis of research covering financial disclosure misrepresentation via impression management (IM). Ultimately, this report proposes that virtuous managers may be well-suited to provide transparent, objective disclosure. By extension, virtuous managers may oversee profitable firms and improve capital market efficiency. Suggestions for future research are presented.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an academic literature review covering financial disclosure manipulation. The findings are viewed through the lens of Christian virtue ethics (CVE).
Findings
IM studies commonly focus on specific methods used to mislead disclosure readers. Antecedent and mitigation strategies are less commonly noted in the research. This paper presents and analyzes IM tools and antecedents. Mitigation approaches are considered through the lens of CVE. This report proposes that virtuous managers may be well-suited to provide transparent, objective disclosure. By extension, virtuous managers may oversee profitable firms and improve capital market efficiency.
Originality/value
This present study focuses on the antecedents of IM in financial disclosures and introduces a novel perspective to financial disclosure mitigation – CVE. Financial disclosure authors and readers, researchers, financial regulators and accounting standards setters may be interested in the findings presented in this study.
A variety of ethical concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) implementation in healthcare have emerged as AI becomes increasingly applicable and technologically advanced. The last decade has ...witnessed significant endeavors in striking a balance between ethical considerations and health transformation led by AI. Despite a growing interest in AI ethics, implementing AI-related technologies and initiatives responsibly in healthcare settings remains a challenge. In response to this topical challenge, we reviewed 253 articles pertaining to AI ethics in healthcare published between 2000 and 2020, summarizing the coherent themes of responsible AI initiatives. A preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) approach was employed to screen and select articles, and a hermeneutic approach was adopted to conduct systematic literature review. By synthesizing relevant knowledge from AI governance and ethics, we propose a responsible AI initiative framework that encompasses five core themes for AI solution developers, healthcare professionals, and policy makers. These themes are summarized in the acronym SHIFT: Sustainability, Human centeredness, Inclusiveness, Fairness, and Transparency. In addition, we unravel the key issues and challenges concerning responsible AI use in healthcare, and outline avenues for future research.
•This review identifies responsible AI initiatives in healthcare.•A framework for shifting AI to be responsible in healthcare is proposed.•A guide of responsible AI implementation is provided to healthcare communities
•This article examines not only how phronesis and metis operate in games, but also how players negotiate them to construct their gameplay ethos, or ethical dispositions, through play.•This article ...examines how game mechanics and rules operate as attractors for specific forms of gameplay that construct ethical dispositions, ethos, for players.•This article examines how gameplay acts as a materially embodied rhetorical force.•While invented and situated ethos have been examined in written texts, this article examines how both operate in games.•By examining how material attractors in games construct dispositions, it explores how notions of the self are never stable but constantly negotiated for players as they use both metis and phronesis to construct ethical narratives of the self within the game.
We examine how rules and mechanics act as attractors, or stabilizing end points within the multitude of trajectories in a possibility space, within games that form dispositions through the habits of material gameplay, which players can either resist or accept through a process of phronesis and metis. We videotaped a playthrough of the card game Illuminati and interviewed four players before and after the game. We discovered that the rule of allowing cheating and a player role with an unbalanced mechanic acted as material attractors (DeLanda, 2013; 2016) for gameplay dispositions. However, through a process of metis and phronesis, players resisted the dispositions of cheat and spoilsport and materially played the game so that they embodied the Aristotelian virtue of friendliness instead.
Background
The growth of positive psychology has birthed debate on the nature of what “positive” really means. Conceptualizations of positive attributes vary across psychological perspectives, and it ...appears these definitional differences stem from standards for “positive” espoused by three normative ethical frameworks: consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics. When definitions of “positive” do not align with one of these ethical schools, it appears researchers rely on preference to distinguish positive attributes. In either case, issues arise when researchers do not make their theoretical alignment explicit, leading to value‐laden, often subjective criteria being smuggled into science as a description of what is positive.
Objective
To foster a deeper critical understanding of the different approaches, we examine how these conceptual definitions of positive attributes (mis)align with their ethical traditions or fail to align with an ethical school.
Method
We review several positive attribute theories across psychological disciplines that serve as examples of the ethical and non‐ethical sources of “positivity.” Through this, we assess the conceptual criteria for what each approach considers “positive,” note the degree of alignment between definition and ethical school, and draw attention to potential issues.
Conclusion
We advance the conceptual assessment of positive attributes by considering the implications of failing to explicitly address the theoretical foundation from which a construct is defined.
