Objectivity and Moral Expertise*

Abstract

Recently a well-known magazine published an article entitled ‘Moral Specialist.’ This article recounts the activities of Russell McIntyre, described by the authors as a theologian and philosopher who specializes in bioethics. McIntyre is routinely consulted by physicians for help in solving ethical problems. He is asked for moral advice on such matters as abortion, euthanasia, and sterilization for teenagers. McIntyre even wears an electronic ‘beeper’ so that when untimely moral quandaries arise he can easily be reached. McIntyre says that ultimately such moral decisions should be made by the people involved — the physician, the patient, and the family. However, he claims that there are still many gray areas in bioethics ‘where it is best to call in an expert for consultation.’

Artificial moral experts: asking for ethical advice to artificial intelligent assistants

“…It rather seems that it can be subjected to different degrees and sub-specifications. With this in view, we can define a moral expert as "someone who knows what people ought to do or is at least capable of helping people see more clearly (perhaps through questioning) what they have good moral reasons for doing" [17].…”

“…Expertise is based on objective knowledge of a particular matter. Thus, for there to be moral experts, there should be objective moral knowledge [8,17]. 3 Since there is no objectivity in ethics (i.e.…”

“…To begin with, the arguments of this category have also been heavily contested, sometimes by pointing out the problematic relation between moral philosophy and common sense morality [22] and other times by acknowledging the role of the philosopher even when claiming that moral philosophy is somewhat based in common sense morality [8]. Also, even if we assume that we are all moral agents and cannot avoid making moral judgements and decisions, we can still claim that some people are better than others in this regard [23].…”

“…For some, moral philosophers have a good claim to be moral experts [2,5], even if their expertise does not include (qua philosophers) the necessary knowledge of factual matters. In this case, their advice should be supplemented [17], as they have the relevant skills and knowledge, both moral and nonmoral (see above). In fact, moral philosophers are often hired to teach courses in medical or other professional ethics or are asked to join ethical committees.…”

Why Moral Expertise Needs Moral Theory

“…That experts are those whose testimony in their respective areas of expertise ought to be trusted also accounts for why expertise has little traction in those areas where knowledge is widely distributed (we have little need for experts in the addition or subtraction of single digit numbers) or where there is good reason for skepticism that there is knowledge in any robust or objective sense (experts in unicorn biology, say.) (McConnell 1984).…”