Ethical Engineering: Definitions, Theories and Techniques - Ethical Engineering for International Development and Environmental Sustainability - page 42

The grid can provide a structure for ethical reasoning, but its successful use
depends very much on users being honest with themselves and being willing to put
in the necessary effort.

3.3 Perspectives, Principles and Paradigms

This approach (Anon undated ) is based on the three components of perspectives,
principles and paradigms. Perspectives involve the consideration of the views of
all the people involved in the proposed action and the consequences of not taking
the actions.
The four principles considered are (1) respect for autonomy, (2) benefi cence
(doing one's best for the person), (3) non-malefi cence (not harming the person) and
(4) justice.
Paradigms provide reference situations in which the ethical issues are clear and
use these reference situations as a comparison for evaluating the ethics of a particu-
lar solution. This is analogous to the case approach.

3.4 The Application of Different Ethical Theories

In this approach (Hersh 2003 ), the following ethical theories are used to structure
the problem and highlight the relevant issues:

1. Process and consequences

• Deontological ethics: considers duties and obligations.
• Positive utilitarianism: assesses benefi ts against risks and costs.
• Negative utilitarianism: is mainly concerned with offsetting or mitigating
present or future harms.

2. Character, rights and principles

• Virtue ethics: supports actions which build good character.
• Rights ethics: considers actions to be wrong if they violate fundamental moral
rights.
• Normative ethics: the defence of principles, such as benefi cence, justice and
autonomy.

3. Consent, relationships and consequences

• The ethics of social experimentation: this stresses informed consent.
• The ethics of care: a context-based approach to preserving relationships.
• Eco-centred ethics: connections and interactions, including long-term and
indirect consequences.

In general the different ethical theories will raise different ethical concerns and