This paper explores Henry Richardson’s model of specification as an alternative procedure to application and balancing of principles for addressing ethical problems, especially bioethical issues. Instead of resolving practical conflicts on the basis of abstract principles or intuitive balancing, the concept of specification is designed to supplement the general pragmatic approach by setting conditions on the relationship between the original norm and any modifications, showing how the original norms are respected also in the specified form. While it is a useful tool for clarifying prima facie tensions, it proves less effective in addressing hard-case conflicts between fundamental principles.
Keywords: Henry Richardson, Specification, Balancing, Moral Reasoning, Hard Cases.