Topic 2 The Ethical Dimension of Human Existence

2.1 Values are basic and fundamental beliefs that guide or motivate attitudes or actions.

They help us to determine what is important to us. A value is that which is good, desirable, or
worthwhile. Values are the motive behind purposeful action.

2.1.2. Clarifications and Terminology

Recognizing the notions of good and bad, and right and wrong, are the primary concern of
ethics. In order to start, it would be useful to clarify the following points.

· Kinds of Valuation

Our first point of clarification is to recognize that there are instances when we make value
judgments that are not considered to be part of ethics.

· Ethics and Morals

Our second point of clarification is on the use of the words “ethics” and “morals”. This
discussion of ethics and morals would include cognates such as ethical, unethical, immoral,
amoral and moral actions.

· Descriptive and Normative

Our third point of clarification is to distinguish between a descriptive and a normative study of
ethics.

· Issue, Decision, Judgment and Dilemma

As the final point of clarification, it may be helpful to distinguish a situation that calls for moral
valuation. It can be called a moral issue.

2.1. Reasoning

Why do we suppose that a certain way of acting is right and its opposite wrong? The study of
ethics is interested in questions like these: Why do we decide to consider this way of acting as
acceptable while that way of acting, its opposite, is unacceptable? To put it in another way,
what reasons do we give to decide or to judge that a certain way of acting is either right or
wrong?

2.1.1. Four moral determinants of action:

Intention, nature of an act, circumstances, consequences