MOULE 1.

INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE OF ETHICS

I.    STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES:

    Module 1 specifically is intended to enlighten target students on the origin, etymology

and importance of ethics and its study.

II.    LEARNING CONTENTS

        Lesson 1.  Definition and its Historical Origin
        Lesson 2.  A Study of Ethics
        Lesson 3.  Ethics and its Importance
        Lesson 4.  Human Acts and its Definition
        Lesson 5.  Ethos of Man
        Lesson 6.  Definition of Morality
        Lesson 7.  Human Values
        Lesson 8.  Divisions of Ethics
        Lesson 9.  Definition of Code of Ethics
        Lesson 10. Ethical Systems
        Lesson 11.  Ethics and other Sciences
        Lesson 12. The Art of Correct Living

    A.   General Objective: Understand the basic principles of Ethics.

    B.    Specific Objectives: 

            At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
            1.  define, explain and understand ethics
            2.  explain gained insights on the importance of ethics to man’s life in the modern world
            3.  distinguish human acts from acts of man
            4.  differentiate ethics from morality
            5.  identify human values and familiarize with core values of Filipinos
            6.  identify the divisions of ethics
            7.  discuss the ethos and importance of ethics
            8.  differentiate the divisions of ethics
            9. define and familiarize oneself with the code of ethics of various professional societies
           10. discuss the major ethical systems
           11. differentiate ethics from other sciences
           12. discuss the art of correct living 

III.    THEORIES/PRINCIPLES:

DEFINITION

        Ethics is the study of the moral behavior or conduct of man as viewed from ultimate
principles known by human reason. It is a discipline that deals with right or wrong or moral duty
and obligation with a group of moral principles or a set of values; consist of principles of
conduct governing a person or a group of people.

        Stated briefly, it is a philosophical science dealing with the human acts. Ethics guides the
intellect in its acquisition and application of the moral principles. It does not only point out the
way to right living, but also, compels man to follow the directions to his ultimate destiny. 

        Man’s thoughts and actions contain an ultimate purpose. To this, the greatest
accomplishment of man in the world is to know the purpose of his existence and the consequence
of his actions, as a whole.

        Ethics, as a science, answers the questions pertaining to the last end of man and the meaning
of his life. Ethics points out the right way to man’s ultimate destiny. In the social organization,
each man has a special mission to fulfill for which he must be prepared by technical education or
by special vocation.

        There are people who may think that life seems to be a “meaningless tragedy” while others
do not even bother to find out its meaning. However, any reasonable man will realize that
disregarding the problem of his ultimate end is considered foolish and unrealistic. it is through
ethics that people learn when and why their actions are good or bad, right or wrong with regard
to the ultimate end.
 
IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS

        Ethics serves as the art of human living, it desires to form good men in us and is referred to
as a “science of man as a gentleman”.

        1.  Ethics’ importance is derived from the significance of its material and formal objects.
        2.  Ethics show the way for a person o realize that nothing is more  important than the
acquisition of the ultimate purpose of life.
        3.  Life in a society is only possible by practicing the moral principles regulating human
relations.
        4.  The study of ethics deserves careful consideration by individuals who are not
familiar with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
              
        Ethics end product should be easier being the good man in every situation. It is a
systematized analysis of ones morality.

        In dealing with rightfulness or wrongfulness, ethics reflects a person’s morals. Morals mean
personal sense of which is right or just in ones conduct, but does not necessarily aligned with
legal rights and obligations. An individual’s personal sense of ethics also refers to as ‘one’s
conscience”.

        Ethics, in broader sense, puts every human activity and goal in its rightful place. In
knowing which is worth doing and not; identifying what is worth desiring and not worth it.
BRIEF HISTORY OF ETHICS

        As a set of moral principles, ethics is derived from the Greek word ‘ethos’ which
means “characteristic way of acting”, “a custom’, or a “particular behavior”. Moral, its Latin
equivalent is "mos, mores,” meaning “customs or tradition”.

         Ethics and moral are two terms having identical meaning. However, the human customs in
ethics are not the social manners, conventions, and fashions which differ according to nations
and which change from time to time.

        In traditional ethics, the word “custom” means a more or less permanent moral behavior.

This is in accordance with the precepts of the natural moral law that is universally known and
accepted to all men.

        On the questions whether there is a right and wrong way of living? Or If there is a pattern, a
model or an ideal of good life? And lastly, if there is, where can man find good life and maybe
how strictly to follow it?

        There were no record of such claim in historical event. But traces of the study of ethics was
in Greece where seafarers and colonizers had close encounters with different people and different
continents and were awed by the different customs, traditions, laws, and institutions existing in
their countries. The question of superiority was a prevalent matter during the time led them to
examine all human conduct. This part of philosophy was coined as “Ethics”. From its original
concept, we still pursue the same term “Ethics” to further study human conduct and customs.

        It was in Athens where the philosophical discussions on moral  problems began during the
time of great philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

        For Socrates, it was the philosophy of “know thyself”. He was a morally upright and

courageous man who spent his life teaching the beauty and necessity of virtue. The irony of his
life was that he was condemned to death by a court of corrupt judges.

        Plato, another philosopher wrote Dialogues which dealt with extensive and
profound discussions the nature of good and evil, happiness, virtue and others. To him, happiness
is found neither in material things nor in the pleasure of this life, but in making the soul like God,
the Supreme Being.

        The first treaties in Ethics was written by Aristotle called Nicomacheon Ethics, dedicated to
his son Nicomacheon. On the other hand, Eudemus of Rhodes, a disciple of Aristotle, made a
compilation of his lectures called the Eudemian Ethics.

        Aristotle’s moral principles were adopted by St. Thomas Aquinas, a great philosopher of the
13th century. St. Aquinas corrected some errors of Aristotle  and clarified many of the former’s
principles.
HUMAN ACTS

        Since ethics deals with the morality of human acts, ethics then is interested in morality.
Human acts as defined, are those actions performed by man knowingly and freely. Human acts
are also called ”deliberate or intentional actions” or “voluntary actions”.

“GOOD” AND “EVIL"

        Before the discussion on morals, ethics, and values, it is necessary to clarify the concepts of
what is good and what is evil?

        Webster dictionary definitions for “good as having the proper qualities and beneficial”  and
the term “evil as morally bad or wrong, wicked, and harmful”. These definitions are in contrast
abstract concepts with one another. Some fundamental questions arise some basic questions like
“how one determine the proper qualities? to whom this is beneficial and in what sort of way?”

        To correctly label whether an action is  good or evil, one can see and feel the quality of
good and evil in each action a person may take. Theoretically, it is possible to label an action as
“right" or “wrong”. It is safe to conclude that the concept of “good” and “evil”, “right” and
“wrong” are to serve as basic foundation of a framework that arouse and guide one to choose the
appropriate actions for different circumstances.

MORALS/MORALITY

       Morality is the quality of human acts by which they are constituted as good, bad or
indifferent.

         Moral refers to being or acting in accordance with standards and precepts of
goodness, arising from conscience or a sense of right and wrong. They are the welfare principles
proclaimed by wise people with their experience and wisdom. Morals were edited, changed or
modified or evolved to suit the geography of the region, rulers (dynasty), in accordance with
development of knowledge in science and technology and with the time.

        Human act that is good can be described as moral; act that is bad as immoral; and act which
is indifferent is amoral.

        The human acts reveal the thoughts, even the inclinations of the person doing these acts. An
individual inclined to do good is called virtuous person while another individual who has the
habit of doing wrong is a vicious person.

DIVISION OF ETHICS

1.  General Ethics

        It discusses the nature of human acts and their relation to morality:

        1.1.  the ultimate end of man
        1.2.  human acts
        1.3.  morality of human acts
        1.4.  law and conscience
        1.5.  virtue in general

2.  Specific Ethics

        It deals with the application of the general principles of morality to the particular actions of
man as an individual and as a member of society.

        2.1.  Rights and Duties

        2.2.  Individual Ethics

                2.2.1.  duties to God

                2.2.2.  duties to oneself
                2.2.3.  duties to others

        2.3.  Social Ethics

                2.3.1.  right to life

                2.3.2.  right to property
                2.3.3.  right to marriage

        2.4.  Political Ethics

                2.41.  the State

                2.4.2.  the political authority
                2.4.3.  the international society

        2.5.  Professional Ethics

        The practice of a profession cannot be regulated entirely by legislation. Each profession

therefore, subscribes to "a set of moral code. This Code of Ethics guides the actuation of a
professional where the law is silent or inadequate.

        A Code of Ethics implies that, before anything else, a professional is a person who has the
obligation to listen to the “dictates of reason”. The need for it is obviously to the advantage of the
profession. 

ETHICAL SYSTEMS

        1.  Atheistic Approach

        Atheistic approach assumes that only matter exists and that man is responsible only to
himself since the belief is that there is no GOD who created and rules the universe. In this
particular system, morality is an invention of man to suit his requirements and to preserve his
society.

        In this respect, moral truths are therefore temporary and mutable depending on the
situations. The concept of good and evil is always relative and changeable.

    Atheistic theories propose the following principles:

        1.1.  Matter is the only reality.

        1.2.  Man is mater and does not have spiritual dimension.
        1.3.  Man is free and must exercise his freedom to promote the welfare of society.
        1.4.  There is no life after death.
        1.5.  Man is only accountable only to the State.

2. Theistic Approach

        In this approach, the assumption to begin with is the existence of GOD, the Supreme
Lawgiver. Everything must conform to God’s Will. There are absolute principles of morality
which are not changeable. Man is accountable for his actions and deserves either a reward or
punishment in this life or in the next.

        Theistic theories postulate the following truths:

        2.1.  The Existence of GOD 

        GOD is the Creator of man and his last End. GOD is also the Author of the natural and
moral law, the Supreme Judge of all human actions.

        2.2.  Man is free and must use his freedom. The dignity of the human person,  together with
the duties and rights given to man to fulfill his destiny in the world.

        2.3.  The immortality of the soul. The hope for eternal life and eternal rewards sustains man
in his struggle against evil.

        2.4.  Man is accountable for his actions, both good and evil.

ETHICS AND OTHER SCIENCES

1. Biological Sciences. Sciences that treat man as a living organism. Ethics considers man
as a moral being subject to moral duties and possessor of moral rights.

2. Anthropology. This science  investigate the origin of the human body and the behavior
of the primitive men. Ethics deals with the principles of right conduct as applied to men
of all times.
 3. Sociology. Sociology describes the general structure and attitude  of social groups: the
family, government, the working class, and others. Ethics studies the social groups with
reference to the moral social order.

4. Psychology. Psychology  discusses man’s intellect and free will. Ethics directs

the intellect to know and the will to practice the moral truths.

5. Logic. It is the science of correct thinking. Ethics is the science of correct doing.           

6. Jurisprudence. The knowledge of  the origin and interpretation of laws. Ethics is the
knowledge of the natural or moral law, common to all men.

7. Christian Moral Theology. The  moral theology studies human conduct but puts
particular emphasis on the supernatural means given to man for the attainment of his
supernatural end, the union with God.

            
THE ART OF CORRECT LIVING

        Accordingly, Art is the appreciation of beauty. It implies order and harmony of parts in a

given whole.

        Human life does not imply merely physical survival. It is a vocation towards the refinement
of the spirit. The demands of daily life includes and derives meaning from the cultivation for
those traits that truly reflects man’s innate dignity.

        In this context, Ethics is an art. It is the breath of life, pulsating with the desire for growth
and development. It is a masterplan indicating where a man must go and what he ought to do in
order to live well. In a sense, every man is an artist, creating something of beauty out of his self.

“To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”
Theodore Roosevelt