ST.

FERDINAND COLLEGE
City of Ilagan, Isabela

PRELIM PERIOD

CHAPTER 1

ETHICS

Definition

Ethics is derived from the Greek word “ethos” which means “characteristic way of acting”, “habit” or
“custom”. The Latin equivalent is mos, mores, from which come the word moral and morality.

Ethics studies the characteristics behavior of man as endowed with reason and freewill.

The study of Ethics started with the Greek philosophers – Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates is
regarded as the father of moral philosophy. However, it is Aristotle who has greatly influenced ethical
thinking with three treatises:

Nicomachean Ethics – is the name normally given to Aristotle's best-known work on ethics. The work,
which plays a pre-eminent role in defining Aristotelian ethics, consists of ten books, originally separate
scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes from his lectures at the Lyceum. The title is often
assumed to refer to his son Nicomachus, or alternativelyto his father, who was also called Nicomachus.

Eudemian Ethics –sometimes abbreviated EE in scholarly works, is a work of philosophy by Aristotle.

Its primary focus is on Ethics, making it one of the primary sources available for study of Aristotelian
Ethics. It is named for Eudemus of Rhodes, a pupil of Aristotle who may also have had a hand in
editing the final work. 

The Eudemian Ethics is less well-known than Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, and when scholars refer
simply to the Ethics of Aristotle, the latter is generally intended. The Eudemian Ethics is shorter than
the Nicomachean Ethics, eight books as opposed to ten, and some of its most interesting

Magna Moralia / Great Ethics – is a treatise on ethics traditionally attributed to Aristotle, though the
consensus now is that it represents an epitome of his ethical thought by a later, if sympathetic, writer.
Several scholars have disagreed with this, taking the Magna Moralia to be an authentic work by
Aristotle, notably Friedrich Schleiermacher, Hans von Arnim, and J. L. Ackrill. In any case, it is
considered a less mature piece than Aristotle's other ethical works, viz. the Nicomachean Ethics,
the Eudemian Ethics, and Virtues and Vices. There is some debate as to whether they follow more
closely the Eudemian or the Nicomacheanversion of the Ethics.

The name "Magna Moralia" cannot be traced further back in time than the reign of Marcus Aurelius.
Henry Jackson suggested that the work acquired its name from the fact that the two rolls into which it

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is divided would have loomed large on the shelf in comparison to the eight rolls of the Eudemian
Ethics, even though the latter are twice as long

General Ethics is about the principles of morality. It explains the norms with which the moral
significance of the human act is determined.

Special Ethics is the application of the principles of general ethics to the problems and issues
confronting a person on account of his circumstances in life, for instance, as a citizen,
neighbor, worker, wife, husband, or child. Special Ethics includes the sub-branches of
professional ethics, such as medical ethics, business ethics, legal ethics, biological
and environmental ethics.

Ethics is the science of the morality of human acts.

Human Acts – These are actions done intentionally and freely, like walking, reading, working, playing,
shopping, joining a contest, or signing a contract.

Acts of Man – These are instinctive, such as physiological and psychological movements like
breathing, feeling happy, or falling in love.

Ethics does not study the acts of man in themselves but as factors affecting man’s judgment and
volition.

Ethics is the study of man as a moral being, one who is traditionally able to distinguish between right
and wrong. It examines how man is accountable for his actions and its consequences. It proposes how
man ought to live his life – meaningfully.

Ethics is concerned with morality, the quality which makes an act good or evil, correct or wrong. Ethics
examines and explains the rational basis why actions are moral or immoral. In other words, Ethics is
concerned with the norms of human behavior.

A. Matter is the only reality.

B. Man is matter and does not have spiritual soul.
C. Man is free and must exercise his freedom to promote the welfare of society.
D. There is no life after death.
E. Man is accountable only to the State.

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1. Theistic Approach assumes that God is the Supreme Lawgiver. Everything must conform to
God’s Eternal plan of creation. Man must exercise his freedom in accordance with 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. Its tenets are:

A. God is the Supreme Creator and Lawgiver.

B. Man is free and must use his freedom to promote his personal interest along with that of
others.
C. Man has an immortal soul.
D. Man is accountable for his actions, both good and evil.