Does Momentary Outcome-Based Reflection Shape Bioethical Views? A Pre-Post Intervention Design.

Area of Science:

• Normative ethics
• Bioethics
• Moral psychology

Background:

• Bioliberals often use consequentialist ethics, suggesting progressive views stem from outcome-based reasoning.
• This implies encouraging outcome-based reflection might shift nonexperts toward bioliberal stances on bioethical controversies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test if encouraging outcome-based reflection influences moral attitudes on divisive bioethical issues.
• To determine if such reflection leads to moral progress or consensus among nonexperts.

Main Methods:

• Identified empirical premises underlying disagreements on seven bioethical issues (e.g., vaccines, abortion, GMOs).
• Conducted experiments assessing changes in moral views after momentary reflection on empirical questions.
• Utilized autoregressive models to analyze moral reasoning and attitude shifts.

Main Results:

• Momentary reflection showed no overall effect on the central tendency or dispersion of moral attitudes.
• Participants engaged in consequentialist moral reasoning, but this did not result in moral progress.
• Self-guided reflection did not reduce the dispersion of moral attitudes, failing to foster consensus.

Conclusions:

• Outcome-based reflection alone may not foster moral consensus on bioethical issues.
• Flexibility in seeking empirical answers might limit the effectiveness of reflection in aligning moral views.
• Further research is needed to understand factors influencing moral consensus in bioethics.