1 Ethics Its Meaning Nature and Scope

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.
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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.
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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.
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Without moral perception, man is
“ only an animal. Without morality,
man as a rational being is a
failure.
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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.
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Valuation of
Life
“The Unexamined life is not worth
living” – Socrates
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Diff. Between Ethics and
Law
◂ Ethical Rules are necessary even if laws
implemented by civil authorities exists.
◂ Legality is diff. from morality.
Importance:
1. Laws are concerned with the “public.”
2. Morality goes beyond legality.
3. Theories in ethics are the foundations of law.
4. Morality precedes legality.
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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.
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Objects of Ethics
Material Formal
◂ The subject matter of ethics is ◂ In the investigation of ethics
human conduct or human act. flows the morality or the
◂ the deed moral rectitude of human act
or human conduct.
◂ the rightness or wrongness of
the deed
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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]
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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.
3. Morality as found in every situations in various
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.
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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.
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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.
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2. Impartiality
◂ This means that an ethical or moral rule should be neutral
regardless of who the recipients are.
◂ This is also evident in John Rawls “veil of ignorance”.
◂ In other words, moral standards should be applied to all
without special treatment.
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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.
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4. Overridingness
◂ Moral standards must reign above all other
standards or norms of valuation.
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5. Autonomous from Arbitrary Authority
◂ Moral standards should stand in spite of the biases
of the majority.
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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.
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7. Practicability
◂ Moral standards should be at reach. Meaning to
say, it must be doable by human beings.
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8. Universalizability
◂ It must be applied to all regardless of the context or
situation.
◂ If a certain act is wrong [or right] for this person,
then this act must also be wrong [or right] for any
other person.
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