Discussion of the ethical issues arising from the case studies is informed by a range of philosophical perspectives and
concepts introduced in the first chapter. Although the first chapter contains some discussion of the strengths and
limitations of the various approaches, no attempt is made to reach conclusive judgements about them, and the subsequent
discussion does not favour or promote any particular perspective. Similarly, reference will be made to major
religious views where relevant (for example in relation to research involving human embryos), but without endorsing
or rejecting any particular view. This approach is based on a recognition that these are matters on which reasonable people
can (and do) disagree. Nevertheless, an understanding of the key differences between different moral perspectives
is important for those wishing to engage in debates about practical moral issues. Often, people approaching ethical
problems from different philosophical perspectives can agree at a practical level about what ought to be done, because
they share many values though for different underlying reasons. Nevertheless, different philosophical perspectives tend
to emphasise different factors as being ethically important, so thinking about an ethical issue from a variety of perspectives
can alert us to considerations that we might have missed had we addressed it from a single perspective.
When there is disagreement at a practical level, awareness of the philosophical perspectives underlying the competing
views can help to identify what is at issue between them and to find grounds for agreement or compromise.