CONCEPTS OF ETHICS OR MORALITY

INTRODUCTION

 The world is rapidly changing in terms of its society, economics, politics,Environment and
technology.

• Human life becomes complex while trying to cope up with these local and global transformation, way
of life and norms.

■Moral problems/dilemmas are inevitable as one tries to develop himself To the fullest.

• Along the way, man must maintain a moral judgment, decision and action for right and good living in
the society.

 Ethics and moral standard with right reason will lead people to the right path of life.

Concepts of Ethics/Morality:

The Greek word, "ethos" which means custom, habits, behaviors and characters.

• Moral Philosophy means, set values and rules of human conduct. For Science- it is a systematic
investigation of things before the judgment, whether the humzan actions are bad or good.

This focuses on the human acts of man as person. Ethics is one the branches of Philosophy, it has
divisions (meta ethics, applied ethics, Comparative ethics and Normative ethics). Yet, the study centers
on the Normative ethics, stressing the human acts and their effects. Its theories will serve as the
frameworks of our of moral dispositions and learning.

Four Theories of Normative Ethics

Aristotle’s Nicomachean (Aristotelian Teleology) Constant practice of virtues that will lead to that
Purpose or end.

■ Moral virtues: Prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance, goodness and Generosity.

•Hume’s non cognitive- passion and interest (Happiness)

Kant’s deontology – follow universal rules, norms and duty (Categorical Imperatives)

Bentham’s utilitarianism-one ought to do whatever will promote the Greatest good and happiness for
the greatest number: consequences and Results

>Morality

■Gk. Mos, Lt. mores means manner, character and behaviour.

⚫ it refers to rightness or wrongness (Manebog et al, 2013). >Significance of the study of Ethics
• Social moral problems: experts rebuild the necessary measures to address The present characteristics
of moral issues today.

 To enlighten the people especially the young ones to behave what is good and right in their life.
Teens are unable and unwilling to act in manner of moral way or may be they are confused
because different influences.
 To establish a solid foundation of values system in school, particularly The manner of interaction
between the teachers and students.

>Ethics in moral Life

• Ethics needs to provide advantage and answer ethical theories are useful in practice when they affect
the way human beings. Behave. Ethics can provide moral plan despite the confusing mind and Heart
about the moral issues or problems,

Ethics set an ethical rules and principles to take a cooler view of moral problems and provides us a moral
plan which gives us a framework that can be used to find a way through difficult issues.

Four Ethical Isms- various ways of making a moral judgment.

*Subjectivism Moral judgement is based on feelings,

• Moral judgement is based on feelings, emotions or attitudes. This is based on positive and negative
feelings about issues. Moral judgement does not contain factual truths about goodness or badness. Ex.
Lie is either bad or good, depending on the person’s feelings and attitudes.

Moral Realism

There is a real objective moral facts or truths in the universe Moral statements provide factual
information about these truths. Ex. Respect the rights is a universal moral truth

• Emotivism-

Moral statement either bad or good is shown in gestures. Concern on expressing of those feeling in
signs. Ex. If the act is good, gesture of approval, through thumb up gestures.

Prescriptivism

Believing that moral statements are How people ought to do. Norms and rules... just

Instructions and recommendations

Ex. Students must have a complete uniform inside the school.

>Ethics and People

“Ethics is about the “other”

• It shows concern to people rather one’s own desire and self-interest.

• It cares for the interest of people’s wellbeing and God as the ultimate good.

⚫ It shows a selfless love for people.

“Ethics as source for group strength

If the group believes that the actions of one is wrong because of the foundation of morality people have
the guts to correct the wrong doing without any hesitation.

• Good people as well as good actions Ethics is also about goodness of individuals and what it means to
live a good life. Virtue ethics is concerned with the moral character of human beings.

Some useful rules in our lives- Rules are ways rectify the life of individuals and peoples

⚫ Etiquette -standard of moral judgement bad or good normally dictated by a socio-economic elite.

⚫ Legal -standard of moral statement by which we judge legal right or wrong in democracy through
representative of the people.

Language - standard by which we judge what is grammatically right or wrong evolved through the use

Aesthetics – standard by we judge good or bad art usually dictated by a small art specialists. • Morality is
first consulting the reason, the act is good in a circumstance by which there a reason of doing it.

Ethics: Its Meaning, Nature and Scope

Etymology

Ethics - Gk. "ethos" translated as custom in English; which means behavior or character.

• "mos" or "mores" is the Latin equivalent of "ethos,"

⚫ Morality and Ethics are literally synonymous; however, there is a distinction

According to Friedrich Nietzsche

Ethics doing what is right because you Know that it is right; it stems from the Person’s consciousness and
common sense Morality – stems from tradition, religion, the law, constitution, and our upbringing. A
person does what is right because someone taught them.

Ethics and Praxis (Fernandez)

Theory and action differs; thus, it does not mean when one knows one also acts - Morality actualizes the
theory in ethics.

We transform one's ethics, not only by knowing the theories but treating it as a "way of life."

*Ethics makes us human.

Without moral perception, man is only an animal. Without morality, man as a rational being is a failure.

Importance of Ethics

We become good or bad persons depending on the choices we make. Oftentimes, there are dilemmas
that are difficult to solve; and ethical decisions must be met.

It will enable us to examine our moral beliefs rationally.

It will widen one's horizon to the paradigm of justice.

Valuation of Life

“The Unexamined life is not worth living” – Socrates

Diff. Between Ethics And Law

⚫ Ethical Rules are necessary even if laws implemented by civil authorities exists.

 Legality is diff. from morality.

Importance:

T. Laws are concerned with the “public”

2. Morality goes beyond legality.

3. Theories in ethics are the foundations Of law.

4. Morality precedes legality.

Distinction: Ethics and Religion

Ethics solely rely on natural reason, religion relies on super- natural reason The practice of morality need
not be motivated by religious considerations

Ethics: A Definition
It is a branch of philosophy and a practical science of the morality of human act or Conduct and of the
good life. It constitutes the “good life” for human beings;

And consequently teaches us to be truly human. It is a philosophical discipline which deals with ultimate
principles and truth concerning morality of human conduct through the use of human reason alone.

Objects of Ethics Material

⚫ The subject matter of ethics is human conduct or human act

⚫the deed

Formal

⚫ In the investigation of ethics flows the Morality or the moral

Rectitude of human act Or human conduct

⚫the rightness or Wrongness of the deed

Division of Ethics

It is traditionally divided into two general areas: General Ethics and Special (Applied) Ethics

General Ethics

1. Basic course in the study of ethics.

2 Deals with the morality of human acts.

Special Ethics

1. Applies the specific and fundamental norms in the specific areas of human life.

Norms

• It is the criteria of judgment about the sorts of person we ought to be and sorts of actions we ought to
perform.

Norm of morality-standard of right and wrong in human actions. Types of Norms:

1. Technical Norm - man's needs 2. Societal Norm-keeps community 3 Aesthetic Norm-considers

beauty 4. Ethical/Moral Norm- ultimate norm/ non-negotiable; subordinates other norms.

Why do we need to know the Norms?

It allows us to pinpoint our valuations, which leads us to do a more critical and meaningful assessment
on issues.

The experience of morality is part of every person’s life. It is found in the various obligations that arise,
the experience of actions which should be either performed or avoided. [Moga, 1993, 1]

Moral Dimension of Human Existence Answers the application of morality to

human existence. Moga's Three Positions:

1. A-Morality

Morality occupies only one area of life, other areas [non-moral] have their own meanings (or rules). 2.
Morality is ever-present and necessary To be human is to follow the moral

rules.

2. Morality as found in every situations invarious ways; and sometimes not.

To be human is to balance out all these areas... without neglecting any. Thus avoid focusing on one area
and fail to justify others

Characteristics of Moral Principles

Moral principles are important feature of morality since it outlines the importance of morality itself.

However, not all ethical philosophers agree to all the shortlisted principles

1. Reasonability

This means that primarily, moral judgements must be backed by good reasons and not with unguided
emotions.

If it is not reasonable and appeal to experience/common sense, then it has to be viewed with
reservation.

2. Impartiality

This means that an ethical or moral rule should be neutral regardless of who the recipientsAre.

This is also evident in John Rawls “veil of Ignorance”. In other words, moral standards should be applied
to all without special treatment

3. Prescriptivity

Also known as “the commanding aspect of morality.”

⚫ Moral principles should be in a form of imperatives for us to know what to do and not to do.

4. Overridingness

Moral standards must reign above all other standards or norms of valuation.

5Autonomous from Arbitrary Authority

⚫ Moral standards should stand in spite of the biases of the majority.

6. Publicity

• Moral standards should be made public

For us to have a guideline to our actions. After all, if an act is right, we will not be ashamed of showing it
to the public.

7. Practicability

Moral standards should be at reach. Meaning to say, it must be doable by human beings.

8. Universalizability

It must be applied to all regardless of the

Context or situation. If a certain act is wrong for right] for this person, then this act must also be wrong
[or right] for any other person.