Chapter 2

Moral Philosophy/Ethics

It is good to note that Philosophy exists when man began to wonder about
the reality around him. This claim is based on the idea that philosophy is a way of
life.
In the same manner, ethics or moral philosophy also started when man
began to wonder about how he should treat others and how he should live his life
with others morally. 
 It is believed that the first one who wondered about the morality of man’s
action and at the same time study man as the only moral being was Socrates. So
being the first moralist in the history of philosophy, he was regarded as the father
of moral philosophy/ethics. 
I would like you to know that this field of study, so to speak Ethics is very
essential to you as the hope of this nation, why? Because it deals with the
development of virtue and moral character. 

I believed that developing such character you will know the right thing to
do, and you will be able to live the right way of life. But the question is, what is
precisely the right way of life? If we reflect on this question and borrow the mind
of the great moralist (Socrates), the answer is the examined life. What does it
mean by saying “examined life”? Take note, an examined life is a life guided and
enriched by self-awareness and self-knowledge. 

In other words, Self-examination simply means knowing your desires,

choices, motivations, and beliefs if they are morally agreeable and morally
acceptable. 
 According to Socrates, the first ethical imperative that you should observe
is “know thyself” it means that you as a moral being you should know yourself.
Meaning it is your obligation to rediscover your humanity. Here, therefore, we can
conclude that morality is life itself. This is what you do rightly every day.

 However, many people nowadays either directly or indirectly would prefer

to sacrifice morality in favor of practicality. (For what reason? Their personal
interest and the so-called economic progress. Bear in mind class that this false
ethical theory or such kind of belief is a great manifestation of the moral
decadence and upheaval in our contemporary or the called millennial society. Now
if we just leave or let this thought ruined your time, then, my question is, what will
happened to the new generation? (My son and your children’s time)

That’s why today which I believed, there is a dire need of spreading

morality aggressively, especially to you (students, youth), for you to become a
good and a responsible member of our society. Which generally you are branded
as the hope of our nation. Always put it in your mind class, that YOU as a student
(youth) today are the future members and leaders of our society, you are the
engineers of your family’s future.

 Therefore, you are the one who urgently needs to study Ethics, because if
you will not commit yourself to this moral formation, you might graduate from
this institution who are bereft of vital affirmation, firm conviction and social
commitment.  

That’s why I am calling you to be one with us, as we build a community of

persons who are willing to be formed and to commit to what is right and proper to
be worthy called a human person. I want you to be equipped with the necessary
virtues for you to smash the fetters that hinder you to attain your moral ideals. 
 Now, as a bearer of truth, you have to be cautious of the misrepresentation
and howling on wearing-out the web of morality. I believed that academic
institution is a very influential venue for effecting this sound formation and
transformation of a human person, so I would say, start now!  

I – Meaning of Ethics or Moral Philosophy

The term Ethics and Moral Philosophy are used to mean the same thing, so
from time to time these terms are used interchangeably 

Etymologically, the term ethics is derived from the Greek word ethicos, or
that which pertains to ethos, which means “characteristic way of acting, habit, or
customs” the Latin term for this is mos or moris (mores), which means also
customs or norms, from which comes the word moral or morality. Thus ethics is
defined as a branch of philosophy that deals on the principles of man’s right
and moral actions as endowed by his reason and free will.

Ethics as a philosophical science is a normative philosophy, which means

that it is systematic established standards or norms of human conduct. In this
manner, ethics qualify human conduct as to whether good or bad and right or
wrong and moral or immoral. After this, it requires definitive human conduct.

 In other words, ethics requires you to act properly as a human being. So to
speak, ethics requires you to do what is good and what is right. Thus “ethics is
concerned with the questions such as; what makes my action right or wrong, moral
or immoral and good or bad? And how could I know it? How should I live my
 life? How should I treat other human beings and how should I be treated?”  And
why do I need to be moral? So on and so forth. 

Based on what we have discussed above, we can infer that ethics is not a
chance discipline/subject or topic, because it was born out of human experienced
and out of the necessity to know how a man should fashion his existence with the
existence of other human beings in a given situation or community or society and
the world of man in general.           

II – The importance of studying Moral Philosophy/Ethics

Reflecting those facts mentioned above about ethics, it is indeed enough to

say that ethics is of very significant in your life as human beings as you
continually search the beauty and meaning of your existence. 

However, you should also be practical, why? Because there are some cold
facts with regards to Ethics, practically speaking Ethics cannot makes you rich or
wealthy person. It cannot makes you handsome or beautiful. It cannot makes you
intelligent or geniuses. 
You know guys, I am citing these realities not to discourage you, but to
open your mind and widen your life perfectives for you not to become a selfish
person, but rather you will become a selfless person.
  
 Now, if this is the case, maybe one or some of you would like to say, what
is then the point of studying ethics? Why not devote our time to other practical and
timely endeavors? That assures us material gain toward the end. 
 Here I’m going to tell you, that if you expect to find earthly riches and
physical beauty in studying ethics, then there is nothing to find here, you’ll just
end up a failure. But, if you desire to know how to become a better person, a moral
person, a person who long for eternal and real happiness in the end, then Ethics
will dance to the tune of the wilderness for it can be your pot of gold. In other
words, living ethically will lead you to realize your dreams. 
 
The significance of ethics manifests in its offer to help man secure his
moral elevation and to make his world a better place to live in. So, explicitly the
reward of studying ethics is not material progress, but moral uprightness, the
discovery of the true value of life, and the inspiration to live morally with self-
respect and self-worth, deeper understanding, and appreciation of love, respect,
service, and a better life. In other words, ethics will guide you to rediscover your
humanity.  

Being a student you might wonder or ask about the value of Ethics as an
academic subject. In this regard, I would say, so simple! Ethics will make you a
better, logical, and moral student, and it also assures you to become rightful future
members in our society. BE THE HOPE of OUR NATION, THE SUCCESS OF
THE NEXT GENERATION DEPENDS IN YOUR DECISION.         

I – Definition of Ethics
I would like to repeat it here, that Ethics is a branch of philosophy that
deals with the principles of man’s right and moral actions as endowed by his
reason and free will. 

1. The term Morality as an element of its definition 

 Human acts are actions done intentionally, freely, knowingly, and
deliberately. Such activity is either in agreement or disagreement with the dictates
of reason. Now the relation of human activity with the dictates of reason is what
we called morality. This relationship pertains to the agreement or disagreement
through the dictate of reason. Ethics studies human activity to determine what it
must be to stand in harmony with the dictates of reason. Hence, human reason is
always in the quest, teaches, and stands to what is right.   

2. Human Act as an element of its definition

By Human act or human conduct, we mean only such human activity as
deliberate and free. A deliberate and free act is an act performed with advertence
(awareness, full knowledge) and motive, it is an act determined by the free will,
examples of these acts, like, working, reading, studying, shopping, playing,
praying, and signing a contract. 
However, an act performed by a human being without the advertence is
called Act of man. The act of man is referred to the instinctive activity of human
beings, such as the physiological and psychological movements like breathing,
feeling happy, falling in love. Ethics does not study the acts of man in themselves
but as factors affecting man’s judgment and volition 

II – Object of Ethics
There are two objects of ethics namely; the material and formal object. The
material object of ethical study is the human act; here we are going to discover
what this must be that would agree with the dictates of reasons. Hence, the special
aim and point of ethics is the right morality. Therefore, the formal object of ethics
is the rectitude of human acts. 
 The material object in ethical studies is the human acts, meaning an action
performed by you with full knowledge and motive, from here, the formal object
comes in, it is now the task of the formal object to determine or evaluate or
analyzed to whether the action performed by you is right or wrong, good or bad,
proper or improper, and if it is moral or immoral.
 
III – Importance of Ethics
Ethics employs the marvelous faculty of human reason upon the supremely
important question of what an upright life is and must be. It furnishes the norm by
which relations among men are regulated; such as juridical, political, professional,
social, and religious. It shows why such relations must be so. 

Hence, ethics is fundamental to the sciences of Law, Sociology, Political

Economy, Medicine, Teacher, Engineers, agriculturists, business, management,
and the like. It is in consequence of this fact that Ethics is very important science. 
Notably, the principles of Ethics, which had laid down by the Greek
Philosophers, are in perfect harmony with Christian Morality, meaning the Ethical
Teaching of Jesus Christ.   

Lastly, Ethics is the study of man as a moral being, one who is rationally
able to distinguish between right and wrong. It examines how man is accountable
for his actions and its consequences. Above all, Ethics proposes how man ought to
live his life meaningfully, happily and harmoniously with others.

NB: Faulty ethical theories, as well as the lack of definite ethical Principles, have been
and are still the cause of great disorder in the political, social, religious, and economic
world of man.