3.8 Practical judgement

As a look at the few ethics presented in this learning unit shows, it is not easy to find out which specific actions in a given situation are ethically right or wrong. If we want to move beyond quick, largely unquestioned moral judgements, it is necessary to reflect on ethical reasoning. As we have seen, ethical demands often remain vague in terms of content. They can provide guidance, but often they remain vague. They need to be implemented in a situation applicable way. In order to arrive at ethically appropriate decisions and actions, we need an ability that can be described as practical judgement. This ability to judge enables us to apply and reflect on ethical norms in concrete situations. But also if norms compete or even collide with each other, it is necessary to assess their appropriateness in the given situation.

Especially in a modern, pluralistic society, in which there is a multitude of values and norms, practical judgment is of central importance. This social plurality is reinforced by global interdependencies and networking, as can be found not least in the commodities sector.

A profound practical power of judgment can help to reflect on various moral principles and ethical demands in the field of tension between individual and general perspectives. And it can help to arrive at ethically legitimate, well-founded judgments and actions. “Moral competence, which is documented in practical judgment, is the existential basis for thriving interpersonal relationships that can be described as “humane” in an empathic sense.”

Example

With regard to our example of sustainability officer it can therefore be stated that there can probably be no one hundred percent recommendation for her on the basis of a single, all-encompassing, binding ethical principle. The ethical reasons for her “ethically desirable” behavior can also be very different.

Nevertheless, our practical ability to judge can be sensitised, sharpened and trained using the example and reflection of the ethics presented. The more specialised certain fields are in which moral conflicts and controversial practices of norms can arise, the more important it can be that specialist knowledge must also be included in ethical reflection in order to arrive at viable decisions. General ethics then becomes applied ethics, which is the subject of the next learning unit.

Exercise

 Task 3.4: Moral judgements (transfer exercise)

Discuss the following quote against the background of duty ethics, utilitarianism and virtue ethics.

"A consequentialist appears [...] as a highly unreliable partner, because his conviction demands that he does not adhere to certain rules without ifs and buts, but examines what is best on a case-by-case basis."

Franz von Kutschera

Time to complete approx. 45 min.