Evaluation as a moral practice: The case of virtue ethics

Area of Science:

• Moral philosophy
• Ethics
• Professional evaluation

Background:

• Evaluation is inherently a moral practice.
• Commonly discussed ethical frameworks include consequentialism and deontology.
• Virtue ethics offers an alternative lens for understanding evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the underpinnings of virtue ethics in professional evaluation.
• To contrast virtue ethics with consequentialism and deontology in evaluation.
• To elucidate the importance of moral philosophy awareness for evaluators.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of virtue ethics.
• Comparative analysis of ethical theories (virtue ethics, consequentialism, deontology).
• Philosophical inquiry into the moral dimensions of evaluation.

Main Results:

• Virtue ethics provides a foundation for professional evaluation practices.
• Awareness of moral philosophy illuminates the variety of ethical considerations in evaluation.
• Understanding different moral perspectives enhances evaluators' judgment and flexibility.

Conclusions:

• Evaluators benefit from understanding the moral philosophy guiding their practice.
• Explicitly recognizing moral roots improves evaluation tailoring and effectiveness.
• Connecting evaluation to moral philosophy fosters more adaptable and situation-specific assessments.