MacDonald, "A Guide to Moral Decision Making"
Notable for stressing moral sensitivity as a prerequisite, and for using "comfort tests" at the end
SOURCE FOR THE PROCEDURE
MacDonald, Chris. "A Guide to Moral Decision Making." 1995. http://www.ethics.ubc.ca/chrismac/publications/guide.html (7 Mar. 1998)
THE PROCEDURE ITSELF
- Recognize the moral dimension.
- Who are the interested parties? What are their relationships?
- What values are involved?
- Weigh the benefits and the burdens.
- Look for analogous cases.
- Discuss with relevant others.
- Does this decision accord with legal and organizational rules?
- Am I comfortable with this decision?
- If I carry out this decision, would I be comfortable telling my family about it? My clergyman? My mentors?
- Would I want children to take my behavior as an example?
- Is this decision one which a wise, informed, virtuous person would make?
- Can I live with this decision?
WALT'S CHECKLIST
The same checklist was applied to all procedures.
- This method is most useful when the DECISION-MAKER ...
- cultivates personal virtues [step 8c]
- has easy access to advisors, consultants or role-players [step 6]
- has high initial sensitivity to relevant ethical "features" [step 1]
- has plenty of time for investigation and analysis [step 4]
- is skilled in case-based, precedent-based or example-based reasoning [step 5]
- This method is most useful in a SITUATION ...
- that will change little over time
- where the decision-maker is also a stakeholder [step 8]
- This method is most useful when STAKEHOLDERS ...
- share ethical codes or policies [step 7]
- share laws and legal precedents [step 7]
- share values [step 3]
