ethical legitimacy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ethical legitimacy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the moral justification or acceptability of an action, decision, or policy. Example: "The committee debated the ethical legitimacy of the proposed policy changes before making a final decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Furthermore, the straw-man argument that psychiatry turns "every flaw of character" into a disease amounts to a caricature of standard psychiatric diagnosis, which derives its medical and ethical legitimacy from recognition and alleviation of the patient's suffering.

The New York Times

There are two important limitations of using such economic efficiency criterion, namely, the ethical legitimacy of using households' existing preferences for groundwater projection projects and distributional effects of not protecting groundwater from pollution.

Applied Water Science

After years of denying that it had given scientific and ethical legitimacy to torture by the U.S. government, the American Psychological Association APAA) last week accepted the finding of an external investigation that concluded it had done just that.

Science Magazine

What to do?  Ironically, for the sake of saving one's face and gaining "moral" or "ethical" legitimacy in the eyes of their peers and superiors, these cadets must lie.

Huffington Post

Sarah Leeper and I in the journal AIDS argue: "The idea that differing global health initiatives must compete with each other lacks not only ethical legitimacy but also scientific merit.

Huffington Post

However, a treatment design aiming for minimal adjustments of insulin doses, could increase the risk and/or the severity of major hypoglycaemia (as suggested from our data) and so compromises its ethical legitimacy.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

A considerable number of participants (11 38%) were indecisive about statements regarding the ethical and legal legitimacy of using placebos.

BMC Health Services Research

Researchers thought CCP contributed to project outcomes by enhancing scientific and ethical standards, providing legitimacy and authority, and increasing the project's credibility and participation.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Researchers thought consumer and community participation contributed to project outputs and outcomes by enhancing scientific and ethical standards, providing legitimacy and authority, and increasing the project's credibility and participation.

Health Research Policy and Systems

While we were able to achieve some ethical and political legitimacy, CABs may be better placed for the linked objectives of capacity building and community empowerment due to the longitudinal nature of their engagement and the opportunity for training and education of members.

BMC Medical Ethics

Yet they find untenable Rorty's attempt to turn the issue of the legitimacy of ethical and epistemic norms into a matter of sociology.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Clearly define whose ethics are being used as the foundation for the legitimacy being discussed.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "ethical legitimacy" is universally understood. Different cultures and groups may have varying ethical standards. Be specific about the ethical framework you're using.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ethical legitimacy" functions as a noun phrase, where 'ethical' modifies 'legitimacy', specifying the type of legitimacy being discussed. It denotes the moral permissibility or justification of something, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ethical legitimacy" is a phrase used to describe the moral justification or permissibility of something. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various sources, including science, news, and encyclopedias. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to define the ethical framework being referenced. While alternatives like "moral permissibility" or "ethical justification" exist, "ethical legitimacy" offers a specific focus on the moral foundations of legitimacy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ethical justification

Directly focuses on providing reasons that make something ethically acceptable.

moral validity

Highlights the correctness and soundness of something from a moral perspective.

ethical permissibility

Focuses specifically on whether something is allowed from an ethical standpoint.

moral permissibility

Emphasizes the allowance of something from a moral standpoint, rather than its inherent rightness.

ethical soundness

Indicates the reliability and robustness of the ethical basis.

moral warrant

Suggests a justification or authorization based on moral principles.

moral defensibility

Highlights the ability to defend something on moral grounds when challenged.

principled acceptability

Focuses on the acceptance of something based on adherence to principles.

just moral ground

Indicates the existence of fair and reasonable moral reasons.

rightful moral standing

Suggests that something possesses the correct moral position or status.

FAQs

How can I use "ethical legitimacy" in a sentence?

Use "ethical legitimacy" to describe the moral justification or acceptability of something. For example, "The council questioned the "ethical legitimacy" of the proposed budget cuts."

What phrases are similar to "ethical legitimacy"?

Alternatives to "ethical legitimacy" include "moral permissibility", "ethical justification", and "moral validity", which all address the moral acceptability of an action or decision.

How does "ethical legitimacy" differ from "legal legitimacy"?

"Ethical legitimacy" refers to moral acceptability, while "legal legitimacy" refers to compliance with laws and regulations. An action can have legal legitimacy but lack "ethical legitimacy", or vice versa.

What makes a decision have "ethical legitimacy"?

A decision gains "ethical legitimacy" when it aligns with established ethical principles, such as fairness, respect for autonomy, and promotion of well-being. The specific principles will depend on the ethical framework being used.