LESSON 1

INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS

Objectives

On successful completion of this chapter, the students are expected to:

1. Define ethics.
2. Identify the factors that makes humans as the only moral being.
3. Analyze how ethics is compared with other sciences that deals with man.

What is the relevance of ethics in education? What is the place of ethics in the life
of the contemporary man? The relevance of ethics is seen in the fact that it is a basic
discipline. It is the backbone of human existence and give support to the whole direction
of man. Without ethics, there will be a total collapse of the whole human person and the
entire human society.
Why do we want to be moral? This is a basic moral question that remains to be
intriguing. However, there are varied answers to this question. We want to be morally
good because:
 It is man’s rational duty. – Kant
 Pleasure and happiness. – Mill and Bentham
 It depends upon the situation. – Fletcher
 Fear of punishment. – Lawrence Kohlberg
 Intrinsic impersonal standpoint any moral agent is supposed to do, every person
being a person among others. – Thomas Nagel
 Every person is a creature of values. – Ralph Barton Perry
 As a member of a certain society, man adopts a particular moral way of life. –
Beauchamp
 There is God. – Saints Augustine and Aquinas
 Happiness. – Aristotle, Plato, Socrates
 Man’s Karma to be one with the Brahman. - Hindu
 Man’s deepest pleading to be in harmony with nature. – Lao-Tzu and Confucius
 Allah. – Mohammed
In realistic manner, there are threefold manner why man wants to be moral.
1. We want to be moral because we want to win the good opinion or impression of
others concerning our self-image.
 2. We want to be moral because we want to refrain from troubles, or consequently,
punishment, which could result from immorality.
3. We want to be moral because we are persons, persons, who exist in the collectivity
of person.

MEANING OF ETHICS
Etymologically, ethics is derived from the Greek word ethicos, or that pertains to
ethos, which means “custom” or “character”. It is a philosophical science (branch of of
philosophy) that deals with the morality of human conduct or human acts. Ethics as a
philosophical science is a normative philosophy, which posits the question, What is good
and what is bad? What is right action or wrong action? It systematically establishes
standards or norms of human conduct. It qualifies human conduct as to whether it is good
or bad and right or wrong. It also requires man to act properly as a human being. And to
act properly as man, ethics idealistically requires man to do what is good and what is
right.
What is the difference between ethics and morality? Etymologically, there is no
difference between ethics and morality. As cited above, ethics comes from the Greek
work ethos meaning “custom”. Morality, on the other hand, comes from the Latin word
mos or moris, which also means “custom”. In this regard, ethics is also called moral
philosophy, or precisely, the other name of ethics is moral philosophy. However, there is
a slight difference between ethics and morality in the way of applying the concept of theory
and practice of ethics. Ethics provides the principles on the morality og human acts; it
equips man with a knowledge of the morality of human acts. But, knowing is different from
doing. It does not necessarily follow that man does what he knows. One can only become
moral (or good human person) when one applies ethics. When one does the theories of
ethics one actually performs the theory, meaning one is actually doing ethics.

Ethics Compared with Other Sciences that Deal with Man

1. Ethics and Psychology
Psychology is a descriptive philosophy that treats of man’s intellect, free will, and
conduct while ethics guide man’s intellect to know moral truths and man’s will to
translate his intellectual knowledge of moral truths into action (conduct).
2. Ethics and Sociology
Sociology deals with humans relations. Human relations, however presuppose
proper setup or order in society. This proper order postulates the observance of proper
laws. These proper laws postulate the moral laws or order of right and wrong action,
which is ethics.
3. Ethics and Logic
Logic is the branch of philosophy that deals with man’s correct thinking. Ethics, on
the other hand, deals with man’s correct doing and correct living. Therefore, logic is
 closely associated with ethics since a person who does not know how to think correctly
can never live his life rightly.
4. Ethics and Anthropology
Anthropology deals with man’s origin and the behavior of primeval man. Ethics, on
the other hand, deals with the principles of right conduct as applied to all men at all
times.
5. Ethics and Moral Theology
Ethics and moral theology presuppose God’s existence; they have the same end
which is the attainment of man’s ultimate goal: God. They have the same means
towards the attainment of this end which is the right living.

MORALITY AND HUMAN EXISTENCE

There is morality only in the context of humanity. There is no morality outside the
context of humanity. In simple terms, there is morality because there is man.
1. Man is the Only Moral Being
Man is the only moral being by virtue of the following reasons:
a. Man is a being of action. Man acts and know his acts. Because he knows his acts,
he knows he is responsible for his actions.
b. Man has intellect. Man’s intellect enables him to know, to know what is right or
wrong and good or bad actions. Because man is capable of knowing, he is therefore
mandated to face the consequences of his actions. Thus, morality of human acts
can be applied only to those who have the knowledge of right or wrong and good
or bad actions.
c. Man has will. Man is free to act or not to act. Man’s will equips man with the power
to choose either food or bad and right or wrong actions. It is his will that enables
him to enjoy freedom to act or not to act and freedom to choose what course of
action to perform.
2. Man as an Animal
The diagram below illustrate man both as an animal and as a rational animal.

Knowledge: Senses

Animal

Appetency: Instinct

Man
Knowledge: Senses + Intellect

Rational
Animal

Appetency: Instinct + Will

 As we see in the diagram, animals acquired their knowledge through their senses,
as their indispensable medium of knowledge. Humans are also the same with animals
because man also acquires knowledge through his senses but the difference is man
has intellect to know what is right or wrong. By appetency or the drive to seek or strive
for something, animals seek for something out of their instinct (natural ability). If they
are hungry, they search for food to eat. Humans are also subject to these drives, man
desires for food when hungry and seeks water when thirsty. But man has the will, the
freedom to choose either good or bad actions.

3. Man as a Rational Animal

It is being rational that makes man man. It is only in this context that man is to be
understood as a moral being or a moral agent. Being rational, man’s knowledge does
not stop in the senses since his sensual knowledge is further processes by his intellect.
It helps man draw judgements as he compares ideas so that eventually he engages in
what is called reasoning. Man, therefore, does not perceive things but also analyzes,
assesses, criticizes, or, in a word, intellectualizes things. Moreover, man strives for
something not only through his instincts, but also through his will.
4. Intellect Compared with Will
The table below shows the difference between intellect and will properly.

Intellect Will
Highest Goal: Wisdom Virtue
Goal: Truth Good
Function: Thinking Doing
Purpose: Knowing Choosing

Man as a moral being, man possesses intellect and will. Through his intellect, man
knows and can know right or wrong actions. Through his will man can choose between
good or bad actions. Man’s intellect makes him capable of understanding right or wrong
actions; his will makes him capable of doing (or expressing) his choice, either good or
bad actions. Man’s intellect enables him to search for truth while his will, for good.

5. Concrete Basis of Morality

Morality is an applied ethics. Therefore, it is also real or concrete. It becomes real,
perhaps, through the following:
a. When one encounters a moral experience;
b. Moral experience could ensure when one encounters a moral problem; and
c. A person encounters a moral problem when the problem injuncts him of moral
obligation.
Not all experiences are moral. It can be moral only when it makes one entangled
in a moral problem. In like manner, not all problems are moral. A problem can be moral
only when such a problem calls one on his obligation.
Assessment Questions
1. In what instances wherein man as a moral being is not a moral agent? Provide an
explanation.
2. Does ethics guarantee that man will be moral or good? Yes or No. Explain your
answer.
3. Is there a morality outside the context of humanity? Yes or No. Explain your
answer.