THE SEVEN STEPS TO MORAL REASONING

THE 7 STEPS
TO MORAL
REASONING
 SCOTT RAE’S 7 STEPS TO
MORAL REASONING
MODEL
Scott Rae, in his book entitled Moral Choices,
proposed a moral reasoning model that could be
used as a guide in making moral decisions. Rae’s
moral reasoning mode does not guide one to an
absolute correct or “right” answer or decision to a
moral dilemma; rather, his model may guide an
individual to ask the right questions to ethical
deliberation. (Rae, 2018)
 SCOTT RAE’S 7 STEPS TO
MORAL REASONING
MODEL
Scott Rae’s model for moral reasoning presents a
Seven Step Approach to moral analyses and
evaluation. It is oriented towards virtues and
principles with consideration of consequences as a
supporting role (Rae 2018). This model is free from
cultural, ethnic, and religious background and
biases, though it is consistent/uses biblical
principles.
 SCOTT RAE’S 7 STEPS TO
MORAL REASONING
MODEL
1. Gather the facts
2. Determine the ethical issues
3. Determine what virtues/principles have a bearing on the case
4. List the alternatives
5. Compare the alternatives with the virtues/principles
6. Consider the consequences
7. Make a decision
 1. GATHER THE
FACTS
It is essential that in moral
decision-making, one must know
the general facts of the moral
situation, before coming up with a
moral analysis, more so, a decision
or an evaluation.
 1. GATHER THE
FACTS
The simplest way of clarifying an ethical dilemma is to
make sure the facts are clear.
Ask: Do you have the facts that are necessary to make a
good decision? What do we know? What do we need to
know? In this light it might become clear that the dilemma
is not ethical but about communication or strategy.
 2. DETERMINE
THE ETHICAL
AfterISSUES
having identified the facts and overall context of the
moral situation, the ethical issue/s involved in the
situation, must be clearly stated in order to specify what
issue one has to make a decision to. This section must
likewise clearly state the major moral dilemma involved in
the case.
 2. DETERMINE
THE ETHICAL
EthicalISSUES
interests are stated in terms of legitimate
competing interests or goods. The competing interests are
what creates the dilemma. Moral values and virtues must
support the competing interests in order for an ethical
dilemma to exist. If you cannot identify the underlying
values/virtues, then you do not have an ethical dilemma.
Often people hold these positions strongly and with
passion because of the value/virtue beneath them. (Rae,
2018)
 3. DETERMINE WHAT
VIRTUES/PRINCIPLES HAVE
A BEARING ON THE CASE
Applicable ethical values and principles relevant to
the case must be identified and briefly explained in
order to justify how such principles could be used in
coming up with a decision concerning the moral
dilemma later on. These values, principles could
come from: (1) established philosophical ethical
principles; (2) socio-cultural norms; (3)
socio-political norms and laws; (4) religious
traditions and others.
 3. DETERMINE WHAT
VIRTUES/PRINCIPLES HAVE
A BEARING ON THE CASE
In an ethical dilemma certain values and principles are
central to the competing positions. Identify these.
Determine if some should be given more weight than
others. Ask what the source for the principle is -
constitution, culture, natural law, religious tradition.
 4. LIST THE
ALTERNATIVES
After having identified relevant values, virtues, and
principles involving the moral situation, possible
alternative courses of actions must then be proposed
and briefly explained. These suggested courses of
actions must then be evaluated based on its
applicability, sensibility, practicality before selecting
one as the course of action or decision to be made
regarding the moral situation.
 4. LIST THE
ALTERNATIVES
Creatively determine possible courses of action for your
dilemma. Some will almost immediately be discarded but
generally the more you list the greater potential for coming
up with a really good one. It will also help you come up
with a broader selection of ideas (Rae, 2018).
 5. COMPARE THE
ALTERNATIVES WITH THE
VIRTUES/PRINCIPLES
The initial list of suggested course of
actions must then be evaluated from the
vantage point of the identified ethical
values and principles.
 5. COMPARE THE
ALTERNATIVES WITH THE
VIRTUES/PRINCIPLES
This step eliminates alternatives as they are weighed by
the moral principles which have a bearing on the case.
Potentially the issue will be resolved here as all
alternatives except one are eliminated. Here you must
satisfy all the relevant virtues and values - so at least some
of the alternatives will be eliminated. Oftentimes, you
must weight principles and virtues - make sure you have a
good reason for each weighting.
 6. CONSIDER THE
CONSEQUENCES
If principles have not yielded a clear decision
consider the consequences of your alternatives.
Take the alternatives and work out the positive
and negative consequences of each. Estimate
how beneficial each positive and negative
consequence is - some might have greater
weight than others.
7. MAKE A DECISION
After having analyzed the moral
dilemma situation (from steps 1 thru 6),
one must now make a decision based
on what has been previously discussed
and must clearly justify the decision
that has been made.
7. MAKE A DECISION
Ethical decisions rarely have pain-free
solutions - it might be you have to choose
the solution with the least number of
problems/painful consequences. Even when
making a “good” decision you might still
lose sleep over it! (Rae, 2018)