Philosophy
Moral Particularism Versus Principlism in Bioethics
Quick fact
Although principlism—with its four principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice—has dominated Western bioethics since the 1970s, moral particularism has a strong philosophical pedigree, echoing Aristotle's insight that ethical judgment is about perceiving the 'right' answer in each context, not merely applying abstract rules.
Why this is interesting
In the high-stakes world of a hospital, every clinical decision is a moral test—but should you rely on a universal ethical rulebook or trust your judgment of the unique situation before you? This is the core tension between principlism and moral particularism.