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Chapter I: Ethical Dimension Of Human Existence, Ge 8

Ethics 2Nd Sem
Ethics (Bicol University)

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CHAPTER I: ETHICAL DIMENSION OF HUMAN EXISTENCE

Ethics – generally speaking, is about matters such as the o Perhaps, I may approve of a child who
good thing that we should pursue and the bad thing that knows how to ask for something
we should avoid; the right ways in which we could or properly by saying “please” and
should act and the wrong ways of acting. It is about otherwise, disapprove of a woman that I
what is acceptable and unacceptable in human behavior. see picking her nose in public.
It may involve obligations that we are encouraged to - These and other examples similar examples
meet. Ethics as a subject to study is about determining belong to the category of etiquette, which is
the grounds for the values with particular and special concerned with right and wrong actions, but
significance to human life. those which might be considered not quite
grave enough to belong to a discussion on
CLASSIFICATIONS AND TERMINOLOGY
ethics.
Recognizing the notions of good and bad, and - To clarify this point, we can differentiate how I
right and wrong, are the primary concern of ethics. In may be displeased seeing a healthy young man
order to start, it would be useful to clarify the following refuse to offer his seat on the bus to an elderly
points. lady but by indignation and shock would be
much greater if I were to see a man deliberately
Kinds of Valuation push another one out of a moving bus.

- Our first point of clarification is to recognize - We can also consider how a notion of right and
that there are instances when we make value wrong actions can easily appear in a context that is
judgements that are not considered to be part not a matter of ethics.
of ethics.
o For instance, I could say that this new o This could also be when learning
movie I had just seen was a “good” one how to bake, for instance, I am told
because I enjoyed it, or a song I had just that the right thing to do would be
heard on the radio was a “bad” one to mix the dry ingredients first, such
because it had an unpleasant tone, but as flour, or sugar before bringing in
these are not part of the discussion of any liquids, like milk or cream; this
ethics. is the right thing to do in baking but
o I may have an opinion as to what is the not one that belongs to the
“right” dip (sawsawan) for my chicken discussion of ethics.
barbeque, or I may maintain that it is o This could also be when learning
“wrong” to wear a leather vest over a how to play basketball. I am
Barong Tagalog, and these are not instructed that it is against the rules
concerns of ethics. to walk more than two steps
- These are valuations that fall under the domain without dribbling the ball; again,
of aesthetics. The word “aesthetics” is derived obeying this rule to not travel is
from the Greek word aesthesis (“sense or something that makes sense only in
feeling”) and refers to the judgements of the context of the game and is not
personal approval or disapproval that we make an ethical prohibition.
about what we see, hear, smell, or taste. In fact, - We derive from the Greek word techne the
we often use the word “taste” to refer to the English words of “technique” and “technical”
personal aesthetic preferences that we have on which are often used to refer to a proper way
these matters, such as “his taste in music” or (or right way) of doing things, but a technical
“her taste in clothes.” valuation (or right and wrong technique of
doing things) may not necessarily be an ethical
- Similarly, we have a sense of approval or one as these examples show.
disapproval concerning actions which can be
considered relatively more trivial in nature. - Recognizing the characteristics of aesthetic and
technical valuation allows us to have a rough
o Thus, for instance, I may think that it is guide as to what belongs to a discussion of
“right” to knock politely on someone’s ethics.
door, while it is “wrong” to barge into - They involve valuations that we make in a
one’s office. sphere of human actions, characterized by
Dianna Rose O. Belen, RN, LPT GE 8 ETHICS 2nd Sem
2018-2019

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certain gravity and concern the human well- “love”, while Sophia is the noun often
being or human life itself. translated to English as “wisdom”).
- Therefore, matters that concern human well- - Branches:
o Metaphysics – wonders as to what
being such as poverty, inequality, or sexual
constitutes the whole of reality.
identity are often included in discussion of o Epistemology – asks what is our
ethics. basis for determining what we
- One complication that can be noted is that the know.
distinction between what belongs to ethics and o Axiology – study of value and is
what does not is not always so clearly defined. divided into:
- At times, the question of what is grave and  Aesthetics – value of
beauty.
trivial is debatable, and sometimes some of the
 Ethics – value of human
most heated discussion in ethics could be on the actions.
fundamental question whether a certain sphere
of human activities belongs to this discussion.
o Are clothes always just a matter of taste Descriptive and Normative
or would provocative clothing call for
- Descriptive study of Ethics – reports how
some kind of moral judgment?
people, particularly groups, make their moral
o Can we say that a man who verbally
valuations without making any judgment either
abuses his girlfriend is simply showing
for or against these valuations.
bad manners or does this behavior
o Work of a social scientist: historian,
deserve stronger moral condemnation?
sociologist or an anthropologist
ETHICS AND MORALS - Normative study of Ethics – done in
philosophy or moral theology.
- This discussion of ethics and morals would o What could or should be as the right
include cognates such as ethical, unethical, way of acting?
immoral, amoral, morality, and so on. - It prescribes what we ought to maintain as our
- The term “morals” may be used to refer to standards or bases for moral valuation.
specific beliefs or attitudes that people have or
to describe acts that people perform. ISSUE, DECISION, JUDGEMENT AND
- Thus it is sometimes said that an individual’s DILEMMA
personal conduct is referred to as his morals,
Moral Issue – a situation that calls for moral valuation.
and if he falls short of behaving properly, this
can be described as immoral. Example:
- We also have terms such as “moral judgement”
or “moral reasoning”, which suggest a more Imagine a situation wherein a person cannot
rational aspect. afford a certain item, but then the possibility presents
- Ethics - can be spoken of as the discipline of itself for her to steal it. This is a matter of ethics (and
studying and understanding ideal human not just law) in so far as it involves the question of
behavior and ideal ways of thinking. respect for one’s property.
o It is acknowledged as an intellectual
Moral Decision – when one is placed in a situation and
discipline belonging to philosophy.
confronted by the choice of what act to perform.
- With regard to acceptable and unacceptable
ways of behaving in a given field, we have Example: I choose not to take something I did not pay
“professional ethics” (e.g., legal ethics for the for.
proper comportment of lawyers and other
people in the legal profession; medical ethics for Moral Judgement – when an observer makes an
doctors and nurses; media ethics for writers and assessment on the actions or behavior of someone.
reporters).
Example: A friend of mine chooses to steal from a
Philosophy is commonly thought of today as a store, and I make an assessment that it is wrong.
particular discipline in a curriculum, perhaps as a
subject that one could take, or a course in which Moral Dilemma – when going beyond the matter of
one could get a degree. choosing right over wrong, or good over bad, and
- The word philosophy is rooted in the Greek considering instead the more complicated situation
words that translate to “love of wisdom” wherein one is torn between choosing one of two goods
(philia is the noun often translated into or choosing between the lesser of two evils.
English as some form of “friendship” or
Dianna Rose O. Belen, RN, LPT GE 8 ETHICS 2nd Sem
2018-2019

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Example: A mother may be conflicted between wanting

to feed her hungry child, but then recognizing that it
would be wrong for her to steal food.

Dianna Rose O. Belen, RN, LPT GE 8 ETHICS 2nd Sem

2018-2019

Downloaded by Roger Paul Fuentes (fuentesrogerpaul@gmail.com)