Ralph B. Potter Jr. was a professor of social ethics at Harvard from 1965 to 2003 (Harvard.edu). He created a model for critically thinking through ethical dilemmas. It is best fit for dilemmas that are clearly defined and understood.
The concepts are displayed in a four square box and flow in a counterclockwise motion, beginning with “Situation.”
Situation –> Values –> Principles –> Loyalties
Situation
How would you define the situation?
What do you know?
What don’t you know that you wish you did?
How would other people describe the situation and why?
Values
List all of the values at play in this situation.
Principles
-Write out how principles would handle the dilemma. For instance:
-Aristotle would say extremes are unethical, so when is this okay (or not okay)?
-Kant would ask the categorical imperative and tell you not to think about the consequences.
(Categorical Imperative:
Would the world work if everyone handled it this way?
Would you want to live in a world that did run that way?)
-Rawls asks you to imagine being in everyone’s role and finding the best solution for each.
-Mill WOULD have you look at consequences and ask what is best for the most people?
Loyalties
List all of the parties who have a stake in your decision. Determine whose loyalties are most important.
After you have went through each quadrant, you can then make a values-based decision.
Ethical Guidance 