Ethics

HUM102
Lorenell E. Umbreit
Instructor
 Preliminary
Learning Outcomes Topics
LO 1.1 ability to discuss the  Meaning and Importance of
general knowledge in ethics Philosophy
 Branches of Philosophy
LO 1.2 Ability to apply ethics in  Moral Philosophy and Its
different life disciplines Elements
 Importance of Ethics
LO 1.3 Ability to evaluate  Moral Dilemmas and their
moral principles in every local Levels
and global perspectives  Foundation of Ethics
 Relation between Ethics and
LO 1.4 Ability to identify the Beliefs
determinants of morality
 Midterm
Learning Outcomes Topics
 Meaning of Moral Agent
 Role of Culture in Moral
LO 2.1 Ability to apply western Behavior
and eastern philosophical  Determinants of Values
thoughts to local and global Filipino Understanding of
ethical issues Right and Wrong
 Cultural Relativism and its
Strength and Weaknesses
LO 2.2 Ability to evaluate the  Filipino Moral Identity
different Filipino moral  Universal Value
characters  Development of Moral
Character and Its Stages
 Semifinal
Learning Outcomes
LO 3.2 Ability to identify moral
challenges of globalization
LO 3.3 Ability to differentiate
ethics from religion
Topics
 Feelings and their
Significance in Moral
Behavior
 Feelings and Reasons
 Ethical Requirements of
Reason and Impartiality
 The 7 Steps in Moral
Reasoning
 Differences between Reason
and Will
 Frames in Moral Experience
 Developing the Will
 Finals
Learning Outcomes Topics
 Framework in Making Decision
LO 4.1 Ability to  Virtue Ethics according to Some
Philosophers
analyze and 
Justice and Fairness
participate in different  Taxation
local and global moral  Moral Challenges of Globalization
issues  Millennials and Filennials
 Role of Religion in Globalized World
LO 4.2 ability to apply  Moral Issues
Abortion
the previous school of Death Penalty
thoughts and moral Age of criminal liability
principle into moral Same Sex Marriage
Surrogacy and Invitro Fertilization
challenges in Legalization of Marijuana
contemporary time.
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
• Define philosophy, moral philosophy, ethics, moral
and non-moral standards;
• Analyze the importance of philosophy and ethics;
• Describe the importance of rules and examples; and
• Distinguish moral standards, non-moral standards
and instinctive outcome.
 Introduction
 In most schools, if not all, Logic is offered as a first course in
philosophy. In such a case, most of the students in Logic may
have not have adequate background in Introductory
Philosophy.

 Therefore, to help the students gain insight on the nature or

the general notion about what philosophy is, it is deemed
necessary to orient them on this topic before they go to the
study of Ethics.
 Meaning of Philosophy
Etymological Definition of Philosophy

 The term philosophy is derived from the Greek words “philos” or

“philein” (to love, to desire) and “sophia” (wisdom).

 Putting them together, we have “philo” + “sophia" or philosophy

which literally means love of wisdom.

 Thus, a philosopher is a “lover of wisdom” just like Socrates, Plato

and Aristotle.
 Meaning of Philosophy
 Wisdom, in this broadest sense, connotes knowledge – knowledge
directed to the fundamental and pervasive concerns of existence.

 Wisdom in philosophy consists of participation in life – the way

you change things, to solve human problems or how you
discover the meaning of life.

 In short, the wisdom in philosophy is in how you help yourself

think more clearly, precisely and systematically.
 Meaning of Philosophy
 a Greek mathematician and
philosopher
 coined the word “love of wisdom”.
 founded the Pythagorean school
known as Metempsychosis.
 Pythagorean Theorem is also
attributed to him.
Pythagoras (580 – 500 B.C.)
 Meaning of Philosophy
 Metempsychosis which stressed that the soul of
man imprisoned in his body could be purified
through self-examination and strict discipline.
 Pythagorean Theorem stressed that the
hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is equal to
the sum of the squares on the other sides.
 In one of his travels in an ancient Greek
kingdom, he was asked by the king if he was a
Sophos (a wise man), he said that he was not,
but only a “lover of wisdom.”
 Meaning of Philosophy
 a Greek orator and famous sophists
(Greek word, sophistes).

 forerunner of the Aristotelian logic and

Socratic dialectic.

 first to systematize the laws of thought

but later, they emphasized material
success and the ability to argue any case
irrespective of its truth. Gorgias (485 – 380 B.C.)
 Meaning of Philosophy
 a Greek mathematician

 He is also a forerunner of the

Aristotelian logic and Socratic dialectic
like Gorgias.

 With Gorgias, they systematize the laws

of thought but later, they emphasized
material success and the ability to argue Protagoras (580 – 500 B.C.)
any case irrespective of its truth.
 Meaning of Philosophy
 a Greek historian known as the “Father
of History”.
 Originally, he gave the literal meaning
of philosophy.
 With Gorgias, they used the term
philosophy as theoretical knowledge,
that is, knowledge studied for its own
sake. Herodotus (485 – 425 B.C.)
 Meaning of Philosophy

Real Definition of Philosophy

 Since philosophy is too comprehensive and to various

authors define philosophy according to what they think, what
they believe, and what they ought to be done in the subject.
 Meaning of Philosophy
Real Definition of Philosophy
 Philosophy is a process by which men ponder, discuss or argue over the
use, application, limits or meaning of important ideas (Bresman and
Gould, 1977).

 Philosophy is quest for wisdom; an attempt to provide a vision of the

world that is systematic and clear, in which the connection between
significant facts are made manifest. It is the search for first thing (first
principles) and last things (ultimate implications) (Minton and Shipka,
1982).
 Meaning of Philosophy
Real Definition of Philosophy
 Philosophy is asking the right question that initiates philosophical
thinking and direction (Barry, 1983).

 Philosophy is the sum of all man’s beliefs and views about the world
which guide his actions (Ariola, 1989).

 Philosophy is the art of questioning everything; the goal of philosophy is

wisdom and the wisdom requires questioning what is questionable
(Kolak and Martin, 1990)
 Meaning of Philosophy
Real Definition of Philosophy
 Philosophy focuses on conceptual clarity and understanding from
ignorance to knowledge (Earle, 1992).

 Philosophy is the love or pursuit of wisdom; the search for the basic
principles (The New Webster’s Dictionary of the English language,
1995).

 Philosophy is the science of the things by their ultimate principles and

causes, as known by natural reason alone (Pinon, 1995).
 Meaning of Philosophy
Real Definition of Philosophy
 Philosophy is an attempt to see the wonders at our existence
and at our place in the scheme of things (Melchert, 1999).

 Philosophy is a systematic, reflective, critical, primarily

reason-bound inquiring into the basic assumptions and guiding
beliefs that people use to make sense of any dimension of their
live (Christensen, 1999).
 Meaning of Philosophy
Real Definition of Philosophy
 Philosophy is a human search for meaning; an intellectual quest that
goes beyond the boundaries of concrete knowledge, towards the realm
of the abstract where the inquisitive mind finds some satisfaction and
wonder (Gualdo, 2000).

 Philosophy is the never-ending search for the total human meaning of

our experiences. It is a discipline that attempts to look for answers to
man’s inquisitive mind that begins in wonder and ends in awe (Bauzon,
2002).
 Meaning of Philosophy
Real Definition of Philosophy
 Philosophy is a rational critical thinking of a more or less systematic
kind about the conduct of life, the general nature of the world, and the
justification of belief (Encyclopaedia Americana, 2003).

 Thus, philosophy may be viewed as an activity undertake by men who

are deeply concerned about who they are and what everything is all
about in this world. The essence of philosophy is asking the right
question that gives the right direction.
 Importance of Philosophy
Philosophy as a subject:

 Enables the student to study, learn, and master the various

branches and divisions of philosophy and the theories and
beliefs of philosophers.

 Helps the student to develop the ability to form opinions and

beliefs.
 Importance of Philosophy

Philosophy as a subject:

 Helps the student to be resilient and philosophically calm in

the face of disorder and doubts, uncertainty, indefiniteness and
chaos.

 Deepens the student’s self-awareness.

 Importance of Philosophy
Philosophy as a subject:

 Increases the student’s self-awareness and awareness of the

world.

 Helps student to be creative.

 Helps the student to be imaginative.

 Importance of Philosophy

Philosophy as a subject:

 Provides the student with better intellectual perspective and

outlook.

 Gives the student personal freedom.

 Helps the student to refine his power of analysis.

 Reasons to Study Philosophy
1. Philosophy is a fascinating subject matter.
Those who study philosophy are engaged in asking, answering, evaluating
and reasoning about some of life’s most basic, meaningful, and difficult
questions, such as:
• What is to be human?
• Is there a God?
• What is truth? Is anything true? How can we tell it is true?
• How do words come to have meaning?
• Do mathematical objects exists?
• What is time? Is time really real?
 Reasons to Study Philosophy
2. A wide variety of interesting courses taught by outstanding
professors.

 There are philosophy courses that address moral issues, others that focus
on the nature of science and technology, and many that explore some of
the most important philosophical works written across the history.

 Some of the courses are broad survey courses, others are in-depth studies
of particular issues, texts, or philosophers.
 Reasons to Study Philosophy
3. Skill development of students
 The study of philosophy will enable student to think, carefully,
critically, and with clarity, take a logical approach to addressing
challenging questions and examining hard issues, reason well and
evaluate the reasoning of others, discuss sensibly and write
effectively.

 Philosophy enhances analytical, critical, and interpretative

capacities that are applicable to any subject matter and in any
human context.
 Reasons to Study Philosophy
4. Great preparation for any career or graduate study
 Most students of philosophy don’t go on to become philosophy
professors.
 But they do go on to get good jobs in a wide range of fields,
including law, medicine, business, education, journalism, public
policy, government, religion, communication fields, public
relations, retail management, social service and many more.
 Reasons to Study Philosophy
5. For personal development
 The study of philosophy can be truly enriching and highly
gratifying and it is excellent preparation for lifelong
learning and an enhanced intellectual, political and social
existence.

 Philosophy’s critical skills also provide the best defense

against popular foolishness and falsehoods.
 Branches of Philosophy
Division Focus Questions

Study of existence; the fundamental Why am I here?

Metaphysics questions of reality Where will I go later in life?

Study of knowledge; how we know about How do I know that I know?

Epistemology reality and existence Why do I know about it?

Why is it valid?
Logic Study of reasoning and argument How do you argue correctly?

Ethics/ Study of action How should you act?

Moral Philosophy Is it morally right?

Aesthetics/ Study of art and beauty What is beauty?

Axiology Is it an art or pornography?
 Moral Philosophy
Moral philosophy is the branch of philosophy that contemplates
what is right and wrong. It explores the nature of morality and examines
how people should live their lives in relation to others.

Branches of Moral Philosophy (Areas of Study in Ethics)

• Meta-ethics, concerning the theoretical meaning and reference of
moral propositions, and how their values (if any) can be determined.
Meta-ethics answers the questions: What is morality? What is justice?
Is there truth? How can I justify my belief as better than the beliefs
held by others?
 Moral Philosophy
Branches of Moral Philosophy (Areas of Study in Ethics)

Normative ethics, concerning the practical means of determining a moral

course of action. Normative ethics answers the question: What we ought to
do?

Applied ethics, concerning what a person is obligated (or permitted) to do

in special situation or a particular domain of action. Applied Ethics answers
the question: Should we lie to help a friend or co-worker?
 Schools of Philosophy
 The schools may be classified according to eastern and
western philosophy.

Eastern philosophy includes Taoism, Confucianism,

Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, among others.

Western philosophy may be divided into Ancient,

Medieval and Modern Schools.
 Schools of Philosophy
1. Ancient and Medieval School of Philosophy
 Aristotelianism (derived from Aristotle) – is the excessive use of
discursive reason and abstract aspects in proving scheme of things.
 Atomism (Greek word atoma, “cannot be divide”) - rational
explanation of the general aspects of phenomena.
 Eleaticism - deals with existence, thought and expression
coalesced into one
 Epicureanism (derived from the philosophy taught by Epicurus)
or Hedonism - means that happiness is the chief good.
 Schools of Philosophy
Ancient and Medieval School of Philosophy
 Monasticism - moral and physical disciplines based on worldly
renunciations
 Platonism (derived from the teaching of Plato) - deals with the doctrine
of forms and numbers.
 Pythagoreanism (derived from the teaching of Pythagoras) - deals with
the metaphysics of numbers and reality – that reality is mathematical in
nature.
 Scholasticism – an intellectual discipline which shows the doctrines of
the church are constant with reasons.
 Schools of Philosophy
Ancient and Medieval School of Philosophy
 Skepticism - raising doubts about any knowledge beyond the control of
directly felt experience about the world so that one still looks for truth.

 Sophism - deals on a whole series of questions in order to seek ample

solutions along clearly defined lines.

 Stoicism - deals on the conduct of man characterized by peace of mind

and certainty of moral truth.
 Schools of Philosophy
2. Modern Schools of Philosophy
 Analytical and Linguistic are concerned with the close and careful
examinations of concepts.
 Developmentalism is a child-centered point of view based on a careful
study of the child.
 Disciplinism refers education of the whole man through appropriate
discipline.
 Empiricism (from Greek word emperia, “experience”) means that what
is true and real are those that are confirmed by actual experience.
 Schools of Philosophy
2. Modern Schools of Philosophy
 Existentialism deals on the interpretation of human existence in the
world that stresses concreteness and its problematic character.

 Humanism stresses personal culture, individual freedom and

development as the best way toward full and rich lives.

 Idealism deals with reality as spirit or consciousness and whatever

that exists are chiefly mental or ideas and abstraction and laws are
fundamental in reality, not sensory things
 Schools of Philosophy
2. Modern Schools of Philosophy
 Naturalism is concerned with the natural goodness of man and the
formation of society based upon the recognition of natural rights.
 Phenomenology concerned with phenomena or events that are
common experienced.
 Positivism deals with knowledge of the matter that is based on
positive data of experience and is beyond pure logic and mathematics.
 Pragmatism is concerned with what is true and real that are useful,
workable and practical.
 Schools of Philosophy
2. Modern Schools of Philosophy
 Rationalism deals with reason as the chief source and test of
knowledge.

 Realism refers to the philosophy that is concerned with the activities of

life and understanding of the individual in the society which he lives.

 Utilitarianism deals with the philosophy that an action is right if it

provides happiness of individual and everyone affected, it is wrong if it
promotes dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
 Sub-fields of Philosophy
Philosophy can be sub-divided into several sub-fields; each has its own
particular doctrine in answering key questions. These sub-fields are
described briefly in this section:

 Philosophy of Arts deals on aesthetic value, expression, and other

concepts that critic employs.

 Philosophy of Education deals with speculation and application of

philosophical method in the study of its issues and problems.
 Sub-fields of Philosophy
 Philosophy of History deals with description of events and actions of
man’s past happenings and those that are to happen in man.

 Philosophy of Language deals with languages their meanings and how

to use and manage the language to man’s existence.

 Philosophy of Law deals with the formulation of theories and concepts

to help man, understand the its nature, its sources of authority an role in
society.
 Sub-fields of Philosophy
 Philosophy of Logic deals with the laws of thought, rules of right
reasoning, principles of valid argumentation and truth based solely on
the meaning of the term they contain.

 Philosophy of Mathematics is concerned on the critical examination of

basic mathematical entities, mathematical theories and number system.

 Philosophy of Mind deals with the nature of the mind, desire, emotion,
pleasure, and pain and how they enter into the explanation of human
action.
 Sub-fields of Philosophy
 Philosophy of Nature deals with whatever issues regarding
the actual features of nature as reality and is divided into
philosophy of physics and biology.

 Philosophy of Politics deals with the questions of the origin of

the state and authority and the law of the land.

 Philosophy of Psychology deals on the actual theories and

research efforts of contemporary psychologists.
 Sub-fields of Philosophy
 Philosophy of Reading deals on a set of beliefs on how reading should
be taught based on research and current thinking about reading.

 Philosophy of Religion deals on situations, experiences, issues and

problems relating to religion and its methodology.

 Philosophy of Science provides intellectually and accurately satisfying

explanations of a broad range of natural phenomena.

 Philosophy of Society deals with questions about personal morality in

relation to man’s existence as member of society.