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Ethical moral nursing theory
Kant's moral principles
Ethical moral nursing theory
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For Aristotle the inclusive goal of life would be to attain happiness, ascending from rational thoughts. A key goal would be taking in the perspective of the golden mean and choosing virtuous actions. A virtuous action is considered to moral when has motivation behind it to do the right thing. For people with good character virtues is acquired over time by the repetition of proceeding in virtuous ways. Aristotle felt as though becoming a virtuous person was a matter of habit and could be learned over time. The more a person acts virtuously, the stronger the character trait will become. Looking being a good moral nurse entails the nurse training with making rational choices founded on those they believed to be ethically ideal that a role model …show more content…
Our reasoning delivers us with purpose to choose to follow or not follow something. That being said we are responsible for whatever choice we make. The CI says that we must always treat humans as rational beings. Our capacity to reason and act morally is what gives us dignity. Our dignity allows us to have inherent moral worth. Every person who is capable of reason is a valuable being. A person is valuable regardless what anyone may value or not value them as. Human beings have a moral responsibility to respect all humans who are humans. The Humanity formulation forbids the objectification of humanity. To act morally you have to respect the worth as persons who are actually above price. To treat a person with a dignity is to recognize them as a person capable of making rational choices. If you were to lie, harm, or treat someone like their only value is being something you need or want, then you are treating them simply as an instrument. Intent has nothing do with Kant’s theory. So putting a patient to a silent death with the intent of saving them pain and not a miserable life, would not be seen as moral to Kant. Initially you are harming them by killing them. You are hurting the family because is it may not be their wishes. The nurse or doctor would be basically lying to the family and may be going against their wishes. You are taking away any chances of life they may have had. This would not be considered moral. Not only are you treating them as an instrument that you can throw away, but also harming/lying to their family and the dismissing the patient. So let’s look at the three steps of the CI procedure. Formulate the maxim; so I am to assist the aiding of the patient with in killing, when doing so I will allow the patient to not suffer or be sick anymore, in order to promote the goal of increasing human welfare. Then simplify the maxim into a law of nature: Everyone always asks for PAD(physician aid in death)
The development of my morals and virtues carries on throughout life. Within the Code of Ethics for Nurses, which I vowed to uphold when I became a nurse, is the expectation to be a moral person. According to the ANA, “Virtues such as wisdom, honesty, and courage are habits or attributes of the morally good person. Excellence such as compassion, patience, and skill are habits of character of the morally good nurse” (2010, p. 161). These values and virtues did not come when I took that vow; they were learned, strengthened and enriched throughout my
He stated, “So virtue is a provisional disposition… virtue is a mean; but in respect of what is right and what is right and best, it is an extreme (Aristotle, 42).” Here Aristotle explains that moral virtue is determined by reason and that it avoids the states of too much, excess, or too little, deficiency. He believes that our soul is the principle of living because it is inside of us. Therefore, for Aristotle the soul was morally which is where we are given the right reason. He believes that, “there are two parts of the soul, one rational and one irrational (Aristotle, 145).” The rational part, which is how he believe we should do our actions upon, consists of possessing reason, part that can think and command, and intellectual virtues, which are virtues that come from time and experience. Courage is a moral virtue. When having courage, you either have too much fear, which makes you a coward, or you have too little fear, where you’d be considered rash or fool hardy. Generosity is also a moral virtue. When you are generous, you are either giving too much, which makes you profligate, or you are giving too little which would consider you as a stingy person. Moral virtues lead you to happiness because of their intermediate state that is by
In spite of the fact that Aristotle was a companion and scholar of Plato, he didn't concur with Plato's speculations on ethical quality. In the same way as other Greeks, Aristotle did not have confidence in the presence of inalienably terrible practices.
Aristotle begins his ethical account by saying that “every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and every choice, is thought to aim for some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim” (line 1094a1). Though some things might produce higher good than others, Aristotle looks for the highest good, which he says we must “desire for its own sake” and our actions are not decided on some other goal beyond this good itself (line 1094a20-25).[1] This highest good is then realized to be happiness (line 1095a16-20).
In Book I of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle states that the ultimate human goal or end is happiness. Aristotle then describes steps required for humans to obtain the ultimate happiness. He also states that activity is an important requirement of happiness. A virtuous person takes pleasure in doing virtuous things. He then goes on to say that living a life of virtue is something pleasurable in itself. The role of virtue to Aristotle is an important one, with out it, it seems humans cannot obtain happiness. Virtue is the connection one has to happiness and how they should obtain it. My goal in this paper is to connect Aristotle’s book of Nicomachean Ethics to my own reasoning of self-ethics. I strongly agree with Aristotle’s goal of happiness and conclude to his idea of virtues, which are virtuous states of character that affect our decision making in life.
In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he discusses the principles of virtue, choices and a desire for an end. In the 5th chapter of book 3, Aristotle gives a possible argument of someone who objects to his beliefs “But someone might argue as follows: ‘All Men seek what appears good to them, but they have no control over how things appear to them; the end appears different to different men” (1114b). Based on the objector’s generalization, he or she believes that all men strive to find the ultimate good, but they don't have the freedom or the wisdom to see things for what they truly are.
Friendships may be formed; however, having professional interactions is something that is not always followed. In terms of patient confidentiality, we may not realize that a HIPPA violation has occurred due to a friendly conversation with coworkers. If a patient were to overhear their nurse discussing their information in an unprofessional manner, then it may cause issues with a patient’s dignity and their rights. If a patient’s right is violated, then it can lead to a patient’s mistrust in their caregiver, leading to mistrust in the facilities, and can end with a patient’s health being compromised. The patient is the reason for this career; if the needs of the patient are being unmet or violated then the purpose of our occupation will be unsuccessful and indifferent.
Another huge ethical topic is the patient’s right to choose autonomy in the refusal of life-saving medicine or treatment. This issue affects a nurse’s standards of care and code of ethics. “The nurse owes the patient a duty of care and must act in accordance with this duty at all times, by respecting and supporting the patient’s right to accept or decline treatment” (Volinsky). In order for a patient to be able make these types of decisions they must first be deemed competent. While the choice of patient’s to refuse life-saving treatment may go against nursing ethical codes and beliefs to attempt and coerce them to get treatment is trespass and would conclude in legal action. “….then refusal of these interventions may be regarded as inappropriate, but in the case of a patient with capacity, the patient must have the ultimate authority to decide” (Volinsky). While my values of the worth of life and importance of action may be different than others, as a nurse I have to learn to set that aside and follow all codes of ethics whether I have a dilemma with them or not. Sometimes with ethics there is no right or wrong, but as a nurse we have to figure out where to draw the line in some cases.
Interest is sparked in this area that Aristotle writes of because there is a natural need for Ethics in human life. John K. Roth states, “Aristotle assumes that all things, human beings included, have a good, a purpose or end, which it is their nature to fulfill”. This helps one understand Aristotle’s way of thinking, and provides insight to the basis of his theories. A common theory explored by Aristotle is the Ethics of Virtues, and how to practice them. A theory included in Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics is the unity of all the virtues, and in order to be virtuous, one must exhibit all the virtues. One of these virtues being practical wisdom, or Phronesis.
Aristotle’s thoughts on ethics conclude that all humans must have a purpose in life in order to be happy. I believe that some of the basics of his ideas still hold true today. This essay points out some of those ideas.
Integrity, respect for persons, justice, non-maleficence, and responsibility are all identified within the code, however compassion is not directly stated but is implied. To show compassion for others during suffering is an almost automatic response in nursing. When nurses decide to act either beneficently or non-maleficently they are doing a service to those being cared for. When dealing with human lives moral value becomes especially important, and is not situationally dependent. Ethical neutrality does not have a place in professional ethics, and an obligation to respect the moral values is necessary. The code deals with specific issues related to the nursing profession, and ensures standards are upheld. Creation of code of ethics within a profession limits misconduct, create safeguards, promote trust for the profession within society, and preserves the integrity of the profession (Soskolne, 1984) It is important for me to emphasize the difference between the nurse’s code of ethics and the Hippocratic Oath. The nurses ethical code is tailored toward the care provided to the patient, and not the involved science and diagnostic aspect of the
Aristotle feels we have a rational capacity and the exercising of this capacity is the perfecting of our natures as human beings. For this reason, pleasure alone cannot establish human happiness, for pleasure is what animals seek and human beings have higher capacities than animals. The goal is to express our desires in ways that are appropriate to our natures as rational animals. Aristotle states that the most important factor in the effort to achieve happiness is to have a good moral character, what he calls complete virtue. In order to achieve the life of complete virtue, we need to make the right choices, and this involves keeping our eye on the future, on the ultimate result we want for our lives as a whole. We will not achieve happiness simply by enjoying the pleasures of the moment. We must live righteous and include behaviors in our life that help us do what is right and avoid what is wrong. It is not enough to think about doing the right thing, or even intend to do the right thing, we have to actually do it. Happiness can occupy the place of the chief good for which humanity should aim. To be an ultimate end, an act must be independent of any outside help in satisfying one’s needs and final, that which is always desirable in itself and never for the sake of something else and it must be
times. Then the sand was sunk. Aristotle was a great believer in virtues and the meaning of virtue to him meant being able to fulfil one's functions. Virtue ethics is not so much interested in the question, "What should I do?" but rather the question 'what sort of person should I become?'
A virtue is a trait believed to be morally good, and a vice is a trait believed to be morally wrong. Eventually, a person will make a decision and take action based on their virtues and vices. Therefore, it is virtues that help engineers reach their purpose and evaluate ethical behavior. This paper will attempt to generate a list of virtues that an engineer must possess in order to be regarded as virtuous. Before doing this, Aristotle’s virtue ethics, virtues of thought, and virtues of character will be explained.
One of Aristotle’s best-known works was Nicomachean ethics, or better known as virtue ethics. Aristotle explained if an individual were to live a virtuous life, then that individual is living a happy life. Therefore, virtue ethics focuses on happiness and the way to reach the highest level of happiness for an individual. Within Aristotle’s ethical theory, he focuses on three key terms: eudaimonia, arête, and telos. Eudaimonia refers to the highest level of good or happiness an individual can be reached. Additionally, Aristotle states that eudaimonia is acquired through moral goodness as well as reached through the practice of virtue or