Final answer:
Reflective equilibrium is an ethical decision-making method used in moral philosophy to achieve consistency between theoretical principles and practical judgments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reflective equilibrium is an ethical decision-making method rather than a treatment method in psychology or an economic model in healthcare. It is a process of mutually adjusting one's theoretical and practical considerations to achieve consistency in moral philosophy and ethical decision-making. The approach requires a balance between principles and applied judgments, aiming for a coherent set of beliefs.
Philosophers and ethicists use this method to revise their theoretical standpoint based on concrete cases and applications. The goal is to reach a state where both theoretical commitments and practical implications of a position are in harmony. The process is ongoing and emphasizes a bidirectional influence between theory and case judgments. Reflective equilibrium is valuable for introductory philosophy or ethics students because it helps to integrate complex theoretical issues with real-world applications without the need to fully solve theoretical questions first.
An individual engaged in reflective equilibrium might have to "bite the bullet" by acknowledging and accepting the negative consequences of their view because the overall coherence or other advantages of the view may outweigh these consequences.