Moral Theory And Moral Judgments In Medical Ethics (philosophy And Medicine)

principles. A second solution to this problem is to develop a scale for weighing the significance of the conflicting principles in a given case and for concluding which action should be adopted because it is supported by the weightier considerations in that case. Such a solution seems more realistic than the lexical ordering approach, but the development of such a scale is a problematic task. Still other, more complex solutions are possible. Which is the best solution to this problem of conflicting principles of bioethics? We need a moral theory to answer that question. This is the first reason for concluding that the principles of bioethics are not the true foundations of justified judgment in bioethics. What is the problem of the unclear scope and implications of the principles of bioethics and how can an appeal to moral theory help deal with that problem? The scope of a bioethical principle is the range of cases in which it applies. The implications of a bioethical principle are the conclusions to be derived from that principle in those cases in which it applies. It is clear from a review of the discussions in bioethics that there are major unclarities about the scope and implications of each of the principles. Consider, for example, the principle of autonomy. Front Matter....Pages i-vi Introduction — Moral Theory and Moral Judgments in Biomedical Ethics....Pages 1-12 Front Matter....Pages 13-13 Utilitarian Goals and Kantian Constraints (or: Always True to You, Darling in my Fashion)....Pages 15-31 Utilitarians Among the Optimists....Pages 33-39 Utilitarianism and the Informed Consent Requirement (or: Should Utilitarians be Allowed on Medical Research Ethical Review Boards?)....Pages 41-51 Reply to Ruddick and Reiman....Pages 53-54 Front Matter....Pages 55-55 Moral Rights and Causal Casuistry....Pages 57-74 Death by Omission....Pages 75-85 Coffee and Casuistry: It Doesn’t Matter Who Caused What....Pages 87-98 Front Matter....Pages 99-99 Marxism and Moral Judgment....Pages 101-118 Marx, Moral Judgment, and Medical Ethics: Commentary on Buchanan....Pages 119-131 Front Matter....Pages 133-133 Reconciling the Practice of Reason: Casuistry in a Christian Context....Pages 135-155 Christianity in a Social Context: Practical Reasoning and Forgiveness....Pages 157-168 Front Matter....Pages 169-169 The Relation of Moral Theory to Moral Judgments: A Kantian Review....Pages 171-192 Justification in Ethics....Pages 193-211 Theory and Practice in Ethics....Pages 213-223 Back Matter....Pages 225-232