Loading
Introduction To Philosophical Ethics
Ratings:
56 pages37 minutes
Summary
An Introductory overview of the various divisions of ethics and a practical approach to ethics in religious and non-religious situations.
Concepts evaluated include: Normative Ethics, Deontological Ethics, Metaethics, Altruism, Egoism, Egotism, Utilitarianism, and myriads more.
Publisher: Domenic MarbaniangReleased: Jan 18, 2014ISBN: 9781310586057Format: book
Book Preview
Introduction To Philosophical Ethics - Domenic Marbaniang
INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS
Copyright 1998, 2012, 2014 Domenic Marbaniang
Published by Domenic Marbaniang at Smashwords
Originally written as a paper for a philosophy class in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of Master of Divinity, Summer 1998.
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Divisions of Ethics
Applied Ethics in a Naturalistic Autonomous Society
The Absolute Law of God and Christian Ethics
Conclusion
Bibliography
Introduction
1.1 Definition
The American Heritage Dictionary defines ‘ethics’ as ‘the study of the general nature of morals and the specific moral choices to be made by the individual in his relationship with others.’
Manuel Velasquez, in his Philosophy: A Text with Readings, defines ethics as ‘the branch of philosophy that studies what constitutes right and wrong, good and evil….’ He adds, ‘Invariably all ethical questions involve a decision about what one should do in a specific instance…. Ethical questions are not concerned with what one would do (an essentially psychological concern) but what one ought to do…. in precise usage morals refers to the conduct or rule of conduct by which people live, while ethicsrefers to the study of moral conduct or the code that one follows.’ Also, ‘Taken together, questions of obligation and value form the heart of ethics.’
According to Titus, Smith, and Nolan: ‘Modern usage of morality refers to conduct itself and ethics to the study of moral conduct. We speak of a moral act
and an ethical code.
Ethics is the study of values in human conduct.’
The word ethics
comes from the Greek ethos,
which means character
[1] or the custom or the way of life.
[2] In philosophical parlance, ethics
refers to the study of moral conduct or of the code that one follows; it asks the question: ‘What one ought to do…?’
1.2. Significance
Ethics, as any other field of study, would be useless and meaningless unless it is in response to some ethical question. The existence of this field of study is itself a grand proof that important ethical questions exist. Man is a social being; therefore, any ethical decision he makes has great consequences in society. Ethical questions arise with the problem of making ethical decisions. Following are some of the questions that ethicists usually ask:
‘Who actually makes an ethical decision?’
‘What criteria should I use in making a relevant and meaningful ethical decision?’
‘To whom (or what) do my moral obligations
You've reached the end of this preview. Sign up to read more!
Page 1 of 1