Principle Ethics in Applied Ethics

Abstract

In applied ethics, principlism demonstrates an approach to applying ethical principles to specific practices. Unlike proponents of deductivism, which relies on a moral system based on a supreme principle with universal applicability, and those of casuistry, which depends on analogical evaluation based on perceptual judgment, principle ethicists seek middle-level principles that bridge abstract moral theories and concrete moral practices. These principles provide a normative framework with value standards and argumentative foundations for addressing ethical conflicts. While non-maleficence, beneficence, justice, and autonomy are considered as traditional ethical principles, human rights, dignity, privacy, and responsibility have emerged as widely recognized modern ethical principles. The middlelevel principles in applied ethics are self-evident in nature, fundamentally rooted in human moral intuition. These principles maintain a coherent and coordinated relationship, requiring specific interpretation and flexible weighting according to different contexts in practice.

Keywords

applied ethics / principle ethics / deductivism / casuistry / moral intuition

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