However, apart from these, the summary statement encapsulating the decision procedure, the one to which this note refers, is rough in the sense that it includes one and omits three of what Rawls cites as jointly sufficient criteria for the justification of
moral principles. The other three criteria (1951, 187-189) are as follows: (1) A
moral principle must show a capacity to become accepted by competent moral judges after they have freely weighed its merits by criticism and open discussion and after each has thought it over and compared it with his or her own considered moral judgments.
(26) Does the moral reading entail that this judge should strike down laws that prohibit abortion, on the grounds that he accepts a
moral principle to the effect that abortion is morally required?
Acting on our
moral principles will enhance, not diminish, our quality of life by creating millions of good jobs in clean energy fields, supporting healthy families, and building vibrant communities.
For example, the
moral principle expressed or conveyed by "Causing pain is wrong" could be that any token act of the type causing pain is pro tanto wrong in virtue thereof provided that it (also) instantiates the normative basis for causing pain's being a (contributory) wrong-making reason--i.e., provided that it is (also) a token of that basis type (2008, 87).
This account and analysis of the IGOs' experience is both instructive and heartening: It shows that
moral principles can be adopted as a guide in global governance in some organizations.
School counselors can also look to
moral principles or "shared beliefs or agreed-upon assumptions that guide the ethical reasoning of helping professionals" (Remley & Herlihy, 2001, p.
In the most general terms, the issue is whether sound moral judgment depends on a suitable provision of
moral principles. But this leaves open a wide range of views.
Thus, a decision in a case may be justified by showing that it follows from
moral principles that we (the justifiers) hold in reflective equilibrium.
That being the case, claims of pragmatic benefit need have no more appeal for irrealists than they have for realists, and irrealists need not choose a methodology for moral reasoning on the basis of its tendency to elicit
moral principles that it would be useful for us to accept.
This surely flies in the face of a
moral principle, and the moralist is thus apt to feel the negative answer to the question forced upon him.
Furthermore, it doesn't stand alone--it requires supplementation by other important
moral principles and concerns, such as care and compassion.
SIR - Once again Shirley Bassey's lack of
moral principle is making headlines.