ethically justifiable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ethically justifiable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing whether an action or decision aligns with ethical principles or standards. Example: "The committee concluded that the proposed policy was ethically justifiable given its potential benefits to the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This analysis is particularly relevant for Methylphenidate, as the identified side effects may not be acceptable or ethically justifiable for a patient who does not have a condition that justifies them.

BMC Medical Ethics

An ethical analysis of non-medical fetal ultrasound concludes that obstetric ultrasound practice is ethically justifiable only if the indication for its use is based on medical evidence [ 9].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Is it ethically justifiable to stop doing everything that could be done for a patient?

The New York Times - Health

(This came about in lieu of forcing participants to eat their chocolates, which the researchers decided was "not ethically justifiable").

The Economist

"We do believe that properly programmed machines are likely to make decisions that are more ethically justifiable than humans," they said in an email.

The Guardian - Tech

Perhaps certain brain functions or a pre-specified level of brain activity, signalling a lack of capacity, could be used to delineate ethically justifiable research.

Nature

The current protocol is designed to provide an ethically justifiable test of combined statin plus fibrate treatment consistent with the highest level of safety and lipid treatment standards of care.

The American Journal of Cardiology

As placebo-controlled trials are not currently ethically justifiable, human pneumococcal challenge models using prevention of carriage as a test endpoint offer an attractive link between preclinical studies and clinical efficacy trials.

Trends in Microbiology

As we consider whether the British ban on sex selection of children born through IVF is ethically justifiable or not, in India a controversy rages on precisely this issue.

The Guardian - Opinion

If so, it would provide a general method for generating new crop plants, treating many human diseases, and even making inheritable changes in human sperm or eggs, should such interventions ever be regarded as ethically justifiable.

The New York Times

The foundation document also says the concept of an ethically justifiable war, which originated with Saint Ambrose and Saint Augustine in the fourth and fifth centuries, is inapplicable to nuclear warfare.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When evaluating a course of action, ensure you've thoroughly considered all potential consequences before deeming it "ethically justifiable". This includes considering impacts on all stakeholders.

Common error

Avoid assuming that what is "ethically justifiable" in one context is necessarily so in another. Ethical standards can vary significantly across cultures, professions, and legal systems.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ethically justifiable" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying nouns to describe actions, decisions, or policies that align with ethical standards. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase follows standard grammar rules and is considered correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ethically justifiable" is a commonly used and grammatically correct adjective phrase employed to describe actions or decisions that align with established ethical standards. As per Ludwig AI, its primary function is to express the ethical permissibility of something. The phrase is most frequently encountered in scientific, news, and academic contexts, highlighting its relevance in formal and objective discussions. While "ethically justifiable" is widely used, it's crucial to ensure a thorough ethical evaluation before applying it and be mindful of varying ethical standards across different contexts. Alternatives such as "morally justifiable" or "ethically defensible" offer subtle nuances in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

morally justifiable

Replaces "ethically" with "morally", emphasizing a personal or societal code of conduct.

ethically defensible

Focuses on the ability to defend the ethical position, rather than simply justify it.

morally defensible

Combines the emphasis on moral principles with the ability to defend the position.

ethically acceptable

Highlights the acceptance of the action or decision based on ethical standards.

morally acceptable

Focuses on the general moral acceptance of an action or decision.

ethically sound

Emphasizes the robustness and integrity of the ethical reasoning.

morally sound

Emphasizes the moral robustness and integrity of the decision or action.

ethically permissible

Indicates that the action is allowed or permitted from an ethical standpoint.

morally permissible

Indicates that the action is allowed from a moral perspective.

justifiable on ethical grounds

This is a longer, more explicit way of stating that the action can be defended based on ethical principles.

FAQs

How can I use "ethically justifiable" in a sentence?

You can use "ethically justifiable" to describe actions, decisions, or policies that are in alignment with moral principles and can be defended as such. For example, "The research was deemed "ethically justifiable" because the potential benefits outweighed the risks."

What's the difference between "ethically justifiable" and "morally justifiable"?

While similar, "ethically justifiable" often implies adherence to a specific code of ethics, such as a professional or organizational code. "Morally justifiable" refers more broadly to alignment with personal or societal morals. The phrases are often interchangeable, but /s/ethically+justifiable might be preferred in professional contexts.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "ethically justifiable"?

You could use alternatives like "morally defensible", "ethically acceptable", or "justifiable on ethical grounds", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it not appropriate to use the phrase "ethically justifiable"?

It is not appropriate to use the phrase if you haven't rigorously examined all sides of an issue and are unable to reasonably defend your reasoning based on established ethical principles. Using it without due diligence can undermine your credibility.