NOTE 7: ETHICAL THEORIES AND VALUE SYSTEM

Before we discuss aou! e!"ica# !"eories$ #e!%s discuss a few fu&c!io&s of ru#es' As we a##
(&ow !"a!, Rules of society are very important in the formation of the moral person.
Improve the _____________________ of the people.
Develop the __________________ of the people so that the function more effectively.
Protect human ____________
Defend _____________________________________
Prevent degradation in behavior and morals of the society
Stabilize condition in the society
Create and preserve social order
aintain peace in the society
Preserve social harmony, and
Save time and effort !hen ma"ing decisions for oneself or other people
HO) MANY THEORIES*
#. $heory of Social oralities
%. $heory of personality &irtue
'. Deontological $heory
(. $heory of $eleological )thics
Co&!e+,orar- E!"ics is the careful e*amination and critical evaluation of all moral issues
!hether or not they are based on religion, customs or tradition
+ehavior such as s!earing, eating greedily and dressing sloppily may be acceptable in some
situations but is considered ad +a&&ers in other situations.
THEORY O. SOCIAL MORALITIES
$he concept of morality that deals !ith human behaviour and practice in its socia#,
cultural and religious aspects.
Social morality also encompasses social taboo to ensure social harmony.
)*ample,
Don-t abandon your baby
.l!ays fulfill your promise
Ma#a-
$he alays !ho are uslims, practice a disciplined life observing the moral and ethical
teaching of the Quran and $he Hadis such as obey to their parents and to see" "no!ledge.
Hijrah !as the event mar"s the starting of the Islamic calendar . uslim believe that Hijrah can
bring to prosperity and piety in their life.
C"i&ese
$he Chinese saying /0ia you 1ia guo yua fa- / 2a family regulations, a !rong or nation has
its la!s3. .n individual has to "no! !hat he can and cannot do, and !hether a certain action is
right o !rong or a certain behavior is good or bad.
Hi&du
4indus are re5uired to observe the moral regulations in ancient !ritings li"e the
Ramayana and The Upanishads. $hese regulations guide the 4indus about !hat they
ought to do and !hat they must shun.
C"ris!ia&
$he daily life of Christians is governed by the commands and prohibitions set out in $he
$en Commandments !hich prohibit "illing, adulterous relation, slandering, stealing, etc.
$he oral standards system in the society identifies situation so that each person !ards off self6
interest to strengthen a system of behavior that brings benefit to himself as !ell as to other
people
/rude&!ia# C#ai+s
Prudential claims are based on self6interest, i.e on the need desire or ob1ectives of
individuals.
Self6interest !or"s best in __________________________.
Mora# C#ai+s
oral claims are based on standards that are outside the personal interest of individuals.
Social morality is different bet!een society because its la!s, regulations, customs and
moral value are not the same. $hus morality relativism !ill occur !hich result in
misunderstanding, conflict and social tension.
any instances of communal unrest, social crisis and !ar bet!een countries have ta"en
place because of differences in ideology and belief bet!een t!o parties.
Dogmatic regulations sometimes ma"e it different for members of the society to adapt
themselves to ne! situation that can lead serious repercussions because of the society
do not consider offenders such regulations as guilty.
$his theory also pays special attention to the interest and benefits of society not the
interest of the individuals.
. society that is closely controlled by regulations, particularly regulations that restrict the
freedom of members of society !ill result in a dogmatic and authoritative situation.
Sometimes societal regulations are challenged by members of that society themselves7
some people may refuse to obey an authoritative rule instead do something that
opposes the moral standard of that society.
)8.P9),
Smuggle firearms or ta*able goods into the country for profit
THEORY O. /ERSONALITY O. VIRTUE
$he concept of morality that deals !ith ________________________.
/erso&a#i!- embraces moods, attitudes, and opinions and is most clearly e*pressed in
interactions !ith other people. It includes behavioral characteristics, both inherent and
ac5uired, that distinguish one person from another and that can be observed in people:s
relations to the environment and to the social group.
Aris!o!#e
Individuality is ______________. &irtue or individuality honorable is the group of
concept li"e 1ustice, bravery, honesty, generosity patience and !isdom that plays important role
in life moral.
Personality virtue is an inclination to do !ith a purpose. It is not naturally produced as a person.
$he individual is not besto!ed !ith honorable or evil characteristic. 4e need to follo! and
practice it consistently until he can ma"e its as an habit
)very individuality there is one _______________-. $hat is not more e*cessive and not
e*tremely lesser. .ction that more e*cessive or e*tremely less is !rong action, evil, bad and
can be criticize.
M' 0 Va#es1ue2
Individual is _________________ !ith the ability to understand and apply moral
standards. $his ability li"e physical, emotional and cognitive abilities, develop !ith maturity.
4ence, his ability to deal !ith moral issues is formed as he gro!s physically. 4e must learn from
the environment around him in order to inculcate his personality virtue
3o"& Loc(e
Tabularasa ;
____________________________________________________________________________
_________
&oid of all characters, !ith all the materials of reason and "no!ledge derived from
e*perience.
. good life !as a life of pleasure. Pleasure and pain !ere simple ideas that
accompanied nearly all human e*periences.
T"e for+a!io& of ,erso&a#i!-:
CHILDHOOD 4ADOLESCENCE4ADULT
5' During _______________, !e are only told !hat is correct and !hat is !rong. <e !ill obey
advice !ithout thin"ing so as to avoid punishment. Childhood obedience to moral standard is
based on self6interest.
%. <hen !e reach ___________________, the moral standard become internalized. <e begin
to understand the implications clearer, and obey them because they appease the people !e
"no! and the people !ho are related to us.
=bedience to moral standards at the stage is based on loyalty to family, to friends or to
country.
'. It is only !hen !e become _______________________ that !e ac5uire the moral. Standards
inherited from our family or passed on through our peers, our culture or our religion. <e begin to
evaluate moral standard and their conse5uence inconsistent, or biased against a certain group.
T"e C"arac!eris!ics of /erso&a#i!- Vir!ue:
#. Personality virtues are ________________, !hich mean that they are ordinary deeds that are
definite and prominent, called as individual-s characteristics.
%. Personality virtues are ________________ $hey enable us to determine ho! to behave and
act certain !ay, i.e !hen !e thin" about a mathematical problem or !hen !e render help to an
accident victim.
'. Personality virtues are ______________, they differ from bad habits and vices. $hey are
perfect and allo! us to act in the best possible manner. <ith the ac5uisition of personality
virtue, !e become good individuals.
(. Personality virtues in their perfect form re5uire the agent and his professional s"ills to be
e5ually good in order that the individual can live !ell.
T"e Differe&ces Be!wee& S(i## a&d /erso&a#i!- Vir!ue
#. Personality virtues are ____________________ important to everyone, !hereas s"ills, li"e
ma"ing mathematical calculations are not as important. <e can do !ithout s"ills, but !e must
have personality virtues.
%. Personality virtues are 5ualities that ma"e us successful in life. $he benefit !e can get from
personality virtues are !ide and can be applied in various matters.
'. S"ills such as playing chess can be forgotten, but !e are not li"ely forget the differences
bet!een right and !rong.
(. S"ills involve the mastery of certain techni5ue. <e can ac5uire a s"ill through intensive
practice but to carry out a certain personality virtue is fre5uently difficult, e.g telling the truth is
not easy !hen !e have the tendency to lie.

>. S"ills may allo!ed a /rest period?, e.g, mechanic may shut his !or"shop to rest during the
!ee"end and this does not constitute to an offence. 4o!ever the mechanic cannot ta"e a
/moral holiday / to cheat his customers
@. Personality virtues do not only mean a capacity to act in a certain manner, but the relevant
against must be in a certain condition !hen performing that act. $here is a difference bet!een
right act and a virtuous agent.
/OSITIVE
Aod6fearing in !hatever one does
Complete one duties and !or" entrusted
Sincere in Carrying out duties
Possesses !ide "no!ledge
NE0ATIVE
9i"es to malinger
Displays a proud and sho!y attitude
Bind it difficult to do !elfare !or"
9i"es to slander colleagues
THEORY O. DEONTOLO0Y
=riginated from Aree"7 6deo&!os% 7 du!-.
Deontology originates from Aree"-s /Deon? means !ish the one that is obligate or is
obliged.
$his theory emphasizes that correct or !rong of one of the action is not based or is
determined from the results of action. =n the other hand, the action can be carried out
1ust li"e that because one of the actions really is or not assumed good.
Initiated by I++a&ue# 8a&! 2#C%( ; #DE(3 to re1ect F oppose utilitarianism.
Immanuel Gant believed that moral values do not spring from Aod, community or human
authority but from reaso&i&9'
Gant opposed utilitarianism, as the moral aspects are concentrated solely on the conse5uences
$o chec" ho! are our responsibilities !hen treating an individual and !hat are our
duties to!ards them.
A& ac!4orie&!ed a,,roac" .
To +easure w"e!"er is a& ac!io& e!"ica# and NOT based on the fac!s a&d co&se1ue&ces of
a& ac!io&
O&e is ei&9 :ud9ed w"e!"er a& ac!io& is ri9"! a&d wro&9 .
Huestion is, IS IT EASY OR DI..ICULT TO 3UD0E AN ACTION RI0HT OR )RON0*
)*ample,
.bortion I do you thin" it-s right and !rongJ Do you "no! that it is accepted in
0apanJ
$he 1udgement K measurement of an action must be ased o& a s!a&dard
+easure+e&!7 not fun, misery, happiness or sadness 2feelings3.
$herefore, we +us! use a s!a&dard :ud9e+e&! ; +easure+e&! ased o&
co&di!io&s ; e&<iro&+e&!.
A& a,,ro,ria!e ac!io& is a& e!"ica# ac!io& w"i#e a& i&a,,ro,ria!e ac!io& is &o! a&
e!"ica# ac!io&.
)*ample ,
+ombing of 4iroshima can be considered as moral erroneous because 4iroshima-s
resident is not sinful become the e5uipment to stop !ar. $his is unfair and outrage human rights
to live.
E!"ics are ased o& !"e +o!i<e of a& ac!io& .
If +o!i<e is 9ood$ !"e& ac!io& is 9ood a&d <ice <ersa .
Gant stressed that a 9ood i&di<idua# is a& i&di<idua# wi!" +ora# <a#ues$ e"a<e$ ac! a&d
:ud9e wi!" +ora# <a#ues ecause "e ; s"e res,ec! ; aide !"e #aw
.ll the follo!ing are criticisms of Gant-s ethics,
o place of inclination
o abstraction
o rigorism