Objectivity and Ethical Neutrality

2016

On one account, the moral point of view is impartial, hence in this sense objective. On a different account, morality sometimes seems to recommend partiality, hence, in one sense of ‘partiality,’ bias. Still another view says that in some cases morality is neutral between impartiality and partiality in choosing between alternative actions. I will explore the topic of impartiality (objectivity) and partiality (bias) in first-order ethical argumentation by reference to selected philosophers, including Derek Parfit and Peter Singer.

Objectivity is a virtue in most circles. As we evaluate our students (even those we don't like) we try to be objective. As we deliberate on juries, we try to be objective about the accused and the victim, the prosecutor and the defence. As we tote up the evidence for and against a certain position or theory, we try to separate our personal preferences from the argument, or we try to separate the arguer (and our evaluation of him/her) from the case presented. Sometimes we do well at this, sometimes we do less well at it, but we recognize something valuable in the effort.

This article offers a procedural, pragmatist account of objectivity in the domain of the good that is inspired by pragmatic and feminist critiques of objectivity in philosophy of science and epistemology. I begin by asking first what we want to capture-or ought to want to capture-with a notion of ethical objectivity and in answer to this question I identify four "points" to ethical objectivity: undergirding the possibility of mistakenness, making genuine disagreement possible, making sense of our appreciation of the ethical perspectives of others, and making possible a sense of ethical improvement or learning. I then lay out a process-based account of objectivity in ethics that makes good on the four points I have identified. Finally, I consider worries related to convergence, bias, and ontology and defend the procedural, pragmatist account in light of those potential objections.

2016

Hypatia, 1997

Sandra Harding is working on the reconstruction of scientific objectivity. Lorraine Daston argues that objectivity is a concept that has historically evolved. Her account of the development of “aperspectival objectivity” provides an opportunity to see Harding's “strong objectivity” project as a stage in this evolution, to locate it in the history of migration of ideals from moral philosophy to natural science, and to support Harding's desire to retain something of the ontological significance of objectivity.

Canadian Journal of Philosophy

Recently a well-known magazine published an article entitled ‘Moral Specialist.’ This article recounts the activities of Russell McIntyre, described by the authors as a theologian and philosopher who specializes in bioethics. McIntyre is routinely consulted by physicians for help in solving ethical problems. He is asked for moral advice on such matters as abortion, euthanasia, and sterilization for teenagers. McIntyre even wears an electronic ‘beeper’ so that when untimely moral quandaries arise he can easily be reached. McIntyre says that ultimately such moral decisions should be made by the people involved — the physician, the patient, and the family. However, he claims that there are still many gray areas in bioethics ‘where it is best to call in an expert for consultation.’

Atlantic Open Education Resource, 2021

Every applied ethics course requires some brief introduction, survey, or primer on ethical theory and moral decision making. At the same time, spending too much time on argumentation and normative ethical theory can take precious course time away from the applied issues that are the focus of the course. The Applied Ethics Primer offers a concise introduction to both basic argumentation and normative ethical theory. Somewhat more inclusive than many similar resources, this primer offers students a taste of the truly global history of ethics, while still being squarely focussed on providing practical tools for ethical decision making and is appropriate for any introductory applied ethics course.