ANNOTATION
of Master’s Thesis
“Moral dilemmas and case study in applied ethics”
made by Tulupnikova Yulia
at the department of ethics
St. Petersburg State University
specialization: 033700 Applied Ethics
According to one of the approaches to the definition of applied ethics, it is
understood as the “ethics of open issues”, where many questions have a dilemmatic
nature. As a moral agent, a man is forced to make a decision, minimizing the
possible negative impacts and acting in accordance with moral principles. A man
faces moral dilemmas in a situation of moral ambiguity within the conflict of
obligations. A moral agent can not define what values, obligations and
requirements are the most important in particular situation.
Case-study as a method appeared in economics, law, medicine and
sociology. Application of case studies has interdisciplinary nature and allows to
develop a direction in a wide range of issues related to various areas (medicine,
law, sociology, economics, etc.). Recently case study method (or particular
situation analysis) has found its application in ethics, addressing to moral
dilemmas. Case study provides a detailed analysis of the situation and helps in
developing schemes for decision making, taking in account the specifics
characteristics of morality.
The goal of the paper is to identify the specific characteristics of moral
dilemmas and application of case-study for their solving.
The goal is achieved by following objectives:
1. to identify the essential features of moral dilemmas on the base of definition
analysis;
2. to analyze the arguments of the proponents and opponents of the concept of
moral dilemmas in the modern tradition;
3. to reveal the classification of the moral difficulties and to disclose the place
of moral dilemmas in this classification;
4. to consider the specific features of the existing methods for solving moral
dilemmas;
5. to reveal the specifics of the case study method in ethics;
6. to consider case study as one of the possible methods of solving moral
dilemmas.
The provisions for the defense:
1. The existence of moral dilemmas is the essential characteristic of morality,
which is particularly evident in applied ethics, understood as the “ethics of
the open issues”.
2. Moral dilemmas have specific characteristics that distinguish them from
moral difficulties and “moral temptations”.
3. The most important characteristic of moral dilemmas is the presence of two
or more alternative actions, which are both morally justified.
4. The various interpretations are needed for solving moral dilemmas. Each
particular situation comprises: identifying values, principles and obligations
of moral agent and the parties involved.
5. Case studies can be used as the basis of applied models of solving moral
dilemmas.
6. Feature of the method of case studies is that it does not provide a solution of
moral difficulties but it provides a scheme by which moral agent can make
his own decision.
Scientific innovation of the thesis is a try of integrated consideration of
moral dilemmas, because of insufficient elaboration of the issue in the Russian
literature. This study could be an important step in the creation of national
scientific basis for the study of moral dilemmas and application of the case-based
methods in its solution.
This paper analyzes the ideas of modern Russian and foreign authors on
moral dilemmas and case studies. When considering the moral dilemmas, of
greatest interest are the works of E.J. Lemmon Moral Dilemmas, R.B. Marcus
Moral Dilemmas and Consistency.
In elaboration of the idea of applied ethics as the “ethics of open issues” the
following papers were used: V.I. Bakshtanovskii Y. Sogomonov, Introduction to
applied ethics; Paradigms of applied ethics; L.V. Konovalova Applied Ethics.
When considering the consequential and deontological approach to moral
dilemmas the following literature was used: J. S. Mill Utilitarianism, R.G.
Apresyan Utilitarianism, I. Kant Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals,
Hospers, J., Rule-Utilitarianism in Ethical Theory.
Consideration of the case-study method to resolve moral dilemmas is based
on the following papers: I. Larionov, The use of case-study in ethics:
methodological grounds; Situation analysis, or anatomy of the case method; White,
B., Eric H. Gampel, Resolving moral dilemmas: A case-based method; Yin, Robert
K. Case study research.
An essential part of the examination is devoted to both normative and
applied models of solving moral dilemmas. Normative models that can be
distinguished are following: a model “of second order principle” (R. Marcus) and
two models of E.J. Lemmon, “the principle of the highest order” and
systematization of moral obligations. Applied models, which are considered in the
paper: “Moral dilemmas support system” by Kieran Mathieson, “Potter Box” by
Ralph Potter, a case-based method of resolving moral dilemmas by B. White and
E. Gamble etc.
The paper consists of introduction, 2 chapters, 9 paragraphs, conclusion,
literature of the 46 items (22 items in English) and 9 applications.