程序伦理是应用伦理学的一个基本特征,它不但关注道德决定的实质性内容,而且关注做出决定过程的独立价值和道德意义。传统伦理学不具有程序伦理的特征,因为,程序伦理之"程序"特指现代程序,即不只强调程序的过程性特征,还强调程序的交涉性特征。程序的交涉性特征赋予了程序一种价值倾向,即所谓正当的程序。可见,程序伦理是特定语境中的伦理学理论,我们把这个语境规定为道德的集体决策、道德难题的解决和个体权利的保护三个方面。由于应用伦理学是侧重于研究和解决当代社会决策中的道德难题的伦理学理论,因此,应用伦理学是具有程序伦理特性的伦理学理论。

procedural ethics is a basic feature of applied ethics,which is concerned not only about the substantive content of moral decision,but also about independent values and moral significance of decision-making process.Traditional ethics has not the characteristics of procedural ethics because the "procedures" of procedural ethics indicate modern procedures specifically,which not only emphasize the nature of the process of procedures,but also stress the nature of the negotiation of procedures.The nature of the negotiation of procedures has given a value orientation to procedures,namely,so-called right procedure.Thus,procedural ethics is a theory of ethics in a specific context.This is defined in three aspects:collective decision-making of moral,solution to moral problem and protection of individual rights.