The Moral Reasoning
The Moral Reasoning
The Moral Reasoning
2. Moral Reasoning
∙ According to our lessons, feelings can be an obstacle to make the right decision when it is based on
Ethical Subjectivism — a theory which states that the basis of what is morally right or wrong ultimately
lies on the person's own standard.1 Due to self-interest, the act is done through a mere instinctive feeling, for
it is made without further thinking or reasoning, and thus, it is an obstacle to make the right decision.
∙ However, feelings can be helpful to make the right decision when it is based on Ethical Conventionalism
—a theory which states that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends on society's norms. 2In this
theory, feelings may be helpful to make the right decision because it is based on society's norms about
feelings.
∙ Consequently, these thinking process either ethical subjectivism or conventionalism has been rejected due
to its criticisms for we can't able evaluate the validity of an action.
∙ Thus, this topic aims to discuss moral reasoning that is directed towards deciding what to do involving
judgments about what one ought, morally, to do.3 Meaning to say, we must consider an act that is based
on moral reasoning, i.e., ought to confined values, established based on the adequacy of the reason that
supports and justifies an action (frameworks), and has universal validity (impartiality).4
When your action has values, verifiable or truthful claims, and universal validity, it is therefore based on moral
reasoning.
1
Francis Julius N. Evangelista and Napoleon M. Mabaquioa Jr., Ethics; Theories and Applications, (Mandaluyong City,
PH: ANVIL Publishing, Inc., 2020), 13. Hereafter Cited as Ethics.
2
Ibid., 12.
3
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/reasoning-moral/#DefiMoraReas. (Accessed on September 30, 2020).
4
Ethics, 18.