7-STEP MORAL REASONING MODEL

by Scott B. Rae, Ph.D.

> a model for making ethical decisions with the use of reason and impartiality on moral matters.

1. Gather the Facts - determining what do you already know or the facts at hand and what you are going to do.

2. Determine the Ethical Issues - these are the ethical or moral issues needed to be tackled or faced in a certain situation that may cause harm to an individual.

3.Identify the Principles that have a Bearing on the Case - it could refer to Biblical Principles, Constitutional Principles, Personal Principles or principles drawn from natural law, which guides a person in making decisions. usually, biblical principles weighs more heavily than the others.

4. List the Alternatives - coming up with various alternative courses of action as part of creative thinking included in resolving a moral dilemma

5. Compare the Alternatives with the Principles - involves eliminating alternatives contradicting to the principles we believe in.

6. Weigh the Consequences - in case the principle do not produce a clear decision, then consider possible consequences (positive & negative) in your chosen alternatives.

7. Make a Decision - the decision made is one that possesses the least number of negative consequence.