II.

ETHICAL THEORIES
KLYDE A. EVANGELISTA, RN
OBJECTIVES
1. Define ethics and its implication to
decision-making
2. Define Philosophy
3. Discuss the different theories of
ethics
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 ETHICS
AND
NURSING
3
PHILOSOPY
Is the intense and critical
examination of beliefs and
assumptions.
“Study of Wisdom”
It offers principles for
deciding what actions and
qualities are most
worthwhile.
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2 Branches of Philosophy:
PHILOSOPHY OF KNOWLEDGE
 Critical examination of
assumptions about matters of
fact and argument.

PHILOSOPHY OF PRACTICE
 Critical examination of
assumptions about norms and
values and includes ethics, social
and political philosophy.
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 MORAL PHILOSOPHY
is the philosophical discussion of what is considered
MORAL
GOOD or BAD
AND
RIGHT or WRONG
ETHICS
In terms of
MORAL ISSUES
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 ETHICS
is concerned with the study of
SOCIAL MORALITY &
PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION
on society’s
NORMS and PRACTICES.
It is the practical application of
MORAL PHILOSOPHY
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ETHICAL THEORIES
-Utilitarianism
- Deontology
2 BASIC SCHOOL OF THOUGHTS
Naturalism
- view of moral judgment that regards
ethics as dependent upon human nature and
psychology.

Rationalism
- ethical values have an independent
origin in the nature of the universe or in the
nature of God, and can be known to humans
through the process of reasoning.
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I. UTILITARIANISM
Consequentialism/
Teleological
Is a moral theory that
holds that an action is
judged as good or bad in
relation to consequence,
outcome, or end result
that is derived from it.
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Types:
ACT UTILITARIANISM
This takes into account the possible
results of each particular act. The right
action in any situation is the one that
yields more utility.

RULE UTILITARIANISM
This maintains that the principle at
issue should be used to test moral rules,
and then the rules can be utilized to
decide on which moral judgment is right
or wrong under the circumstances. 11
 ?
EXAMPLE Understanding ACT Utilitarianism
and RULE Utilitarianism

• Giving Palliative Care

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II. Deontology
 Formalism/Kantianism/ Kantian
Ethics
 Developed by Immanuel Kant
 Based upon the rationalist view
that the rightness and wrongness
of an act depends upon the
nature of the act, rather than its
consequences.
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KEEP IT SIMPLE…

Outcome drives Action drives

moral decision moral decision

UTILITARIANISM DEONTOLOGICAL

Consequentialist Theory Non Consequentialist Theory

Moral right or wrong is dependent
on the outcome.
The ends are more important than
the means
Moral right or wrong is NOT
dependent on the outcome.
The means are more important
than the ends
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 ? Understanding Deontology and
EXAMPLE Utilitarianism

• CHILD LABOR
• Telling patients about
their true condition
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Other Ethical Theory:
VIRTUE ETHICS
Also called character-based ethics
Cardinal Virtue: wisdom, courage,
temperance, justice, generosity,
fidelity, self-care, prudence.
A right act is the action a virtuous
person would do in the same
circumstances. It provides guidance
as to the sort of characteristics and
behaviors a good person will seek to
achieve.
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4 FOCAL VIRTUES CHARACTERIZING A
VIRTUOUS PERSON:
1. Compassion – imagining oneself in
the situation of another.
2. Discernment - the ability to judge
well.
3. Trustworthiness – is a confident
belief in the moral character of
another person
4. Integrity – soundness, reliability,
wholeness, and an integration of
moral character.
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THANKYOU!
KLYDE A. EVANGELISTA, RN
+63 9277066052
Evangelista.klyde@gmail.com
www.klydeevangelista.com