Everyday we make decisions.

Everyday is an opportunity to make

ourselves better. Recall a situation in your life when you made a good
decision and you realized that you made a better choice.

Enumerate what steps you made to achieve that good decision.

7-Step Moral
Reasoning
Model
  Everyday we make decisions. Some decisions are easy
to make but there are times when we need to pause
Introduction and do some necessary steps. We studied and learned
that we have good and bad traits; that our culture
influences our decisions that’s why people can also
differ in the outlooks of things; and we learned that
there situations when we need to choose between two
things that we see as of equal importance or both of
unimportance. However, we need to make decisions to
act or attain what is good.

 The 7-Step Moral Reasoning Model is one way to

guide us to make a good decision and do what is right.
 At the end of the Lesson, the students are
Lesson expected:
Objectives  To understand that there are times that they
need to make difficult decisions;
 To make better decisions by taking time to
investigate and weigh in things to have a right
choice.
 In making difficult decisions, the 7-Step
Moral Reasoning Model helps us to
7-Step Moral choose the better and more reasonable
Reasoning choice.
Model
 Stop and think:
 When we allow ourselves time to focus on what
Step 1 is ahead of us it provides us several benefits.
 It prevents rash decisions, prepares us for more
thoughtful discernment, and can allow us to
mobilize our discipline.
 Clarify goals:
Step 2  Before you choose, clarify your short-term and long-
term aims. Determine which of your many wants and
"don't wants" affected by the decision are the most
important.
 Don’t forget that if you prioritize to fulfill immediate
wants, you may lose the opportunity to achieve the
more important goals in life.
 Ask yourself what is it really that you want.
 Determine facts:
 Be sure you have adequate information to support an intelligent
Step 3 choice. To determine the facts, first resolve what you know, then
what you need to know. Be prepared for additional information
and to verify assumptions and other uncertain information. In
addition:
 Consider the reliability and credibility of the people providing the
facts.
 Consider the basis of the supposed facts. If the person giving you
the information says he or she personally heard or saw something,
evaluate that person in terms of honesty, accuracy, and memory.
 Develop options:
 Once you know what you want to achieve and have made
Step 4 your best judgment as to the relevant facts, make a list of
actions you can take to accomplish your goals.
 If it's an especially important decision, talk to someone
you trust so you can broaden your perspective and think
of new choices. If you can think of only one or two
choices, you're probably not thinking hard enough.
 Consider consequences:
Step 5  Filter your choices to determine if any of your options
will violate any core ethical values, and then eliminate
any unethical options.
 Identify who will be affected by the decision and how
the decision is likely to affect them.
 Choose:
Make a decision. If the choice is not immediately clear,
Step 6 try:
 Talking to people whose judgment you respect.
 Think of a person of strong character that you know or
know of, and ask your self what they would do in your
situation.
 If everyone found out about your decision, would you
be proud and comfortable?
 Follow the Golden Rule: treat others the way you want
to be treated, and keep your promises.
 Monitor and modify:
Step 7  Ethical decision-makers monitor the effects of their
choices.
 If they are not producing the intended results, or are
causing additional unintended and undesirable results,
they re-assess the situation and make new decisions.
 We always hear these:
 Don’t act when you’re in doubt.
 Don’t make decisions when your emotions overwhelm
Conclusion you.
Why? Because decisions should be well-thought of and
not just based on moods and feelings.
 At times, making decision is hard. But our decisions
shape our life and if we want to achieve what is best for
us, we need to watch out and discipline ourselves to
make decisions for the good life.
References:

Rachels, James .The Elements of Moral Philosophy. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill College, 2004

Rae, Scott, "A Model for Moral Decision Making" Chapter 1, Beyond Integrity.

Josephson Institute of Ethics. Copyright 2002

ucsd.edu/finance/accountability/ethics/path.html