Introduction

A recurrent issue in the vast amount of literature on reasoning models in ethics is the role and nature of moral intuitions. In this paper, we start from the view that people who work and live in a certain moral practice usually possess specific moral wisdom. If we manage to incorporate their moral intuitions in ethical reasoning, we can arrive at judgements and (modest) theories that grasp a moral experience that generally cannot be found outside the practice. Reflective equilibrium (RE) provides a framework for balancing moral intuitions, ethical principles and general theories. Nevertheless, persisting problems associated with the use of intuitions need to be addressed. One is the objection that moral intuitions lack the credibility necessary to guide moral reasoning. Ethicists have tried to solve this problem by formulating criteria to separate the "bad" intuitions from the "good" ones at the beginning of the reasoning process. We call this the credible input-justified outcome strategy. An example is the appeal to the common morality by Beauchamp and Childress. We think this approach is unsuccessful. As an alternative, we outline the good reasoning-justified outcome strategy. It connects to a variant of RE in which intuitions from different sources are incorporated. We argue that the elements of RE have different levels of justificatory power at the start of reasoning. In our strategy, each element can gain or lose justificatory power when it is tested in a reasoning process that meets several criteria.

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“…RE was originally designed for pure theoretical purposes. However, its core idea is also suitable for practical moral reasoning 5 – 7…”

Section: Reflective Equilibriummentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another model is reflective equilibrium (RE). Many authors used the idea of RE—originally formulated by Rawls—as a starting point for their work on methods of moral reasoning 5 – 7. Moreover, some tried to combine a hermeneutical method with RE 8…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The justificatory power of moral experience

Thiel

Delden

2009

J Med Ethics

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Introduction

Rechnitzer

2022

Applying Reflective Equilibrium

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Reflective equilibrium (RE) is widely regarded as an important philosophical method—yet despite this high regard, we find strikingly few cases in which it is actually and explicitly applied. This chapter introduces the main ideas of reflective equilibrium, gives an overview about how it has been applied so far, and identifies desiderata for a case study on the applicability of reflective equilibrium as a method. I argue that the justification of a precautionary principle (PP) provides ideal content for such a case study: PPs are intended as principles that guide decisions concerning threats of uncertain, but potentially serious or even catastrophic harm. While the basic idea of PPs—“better safe than sorry”—is intuitively plausible, it is contested how it should be spelled out as a normative principle. It thus provides an ideal case to test whether RE can indeed be used to provide clarification and justification of philosophical principles and theories.

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Specifying the Method of Reflective Equilibrium: A Methodological Framework

Rechnitzer

2022

Applying Reflective Equilibrium

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This chapter discusses how we can obtain an applicable method of reflective equilibrium based on the theoretical foundations described in the previous chapter. It describes a methodological framework which identifies the tasks one has to complete in order to apply reflective equilibrium, the methodological decisions one has to make in order to be able to address these tasks, and the challenges one faces when making these methodological decisions.

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Introduction

Cited by 4 publications

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The justificatory power of moral experience

The justificatory power of moral experience

Introduction

Specifying the Method of Reflective Equilibrium: A Methodological Framework

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