ETHICS Branches of Philosophy

Introduction Metaphysics or Ontology – the philosophical study for

what reality is in the final analysis and the principles of
To do philisophy is to reason about the ultimate questions of life being or the reality of things in general.
questions such as these: Epistemology – the philosophical quest on th principles
of human knowledge, it’s extent and limitations.
Is there a God?
Theodicy or Special Metaphysics – the philosophical
Are our actions free or determined?
inquiry on the essence and existence of God, his nature
Are humans completely explainable in material terms?
and relations to man based mainly on reason.
How and what can we know?
Rational/Philosophical Psychology – the philosophical
What is the nature and methodology in moral
inquiry on living beings and the ultimate principles of life.
judgements?
Cosmology or Philosophy of Nature – the
What principles ought we to live by?
philosophical quest for a profound understanding of the
Philosophy literally comes from Greek word (philosophia) means material universe.
philo “to love” sophia “wisdom” Social and Political Philosphy – the philosophical
exploration on knowledge of human person on the
It could mean a guiding principle. For example, when
ultimate foundation of the state, its ideal form, and man’s
someone says, “My philosophy in life is, ‘What is
place in society.
important is doing my best, not really being the best.”
Aesthetics or Philosophy of Art – the philosophy
I could also mean reason, rationale or basis of
exploration for a profound apprehension of knowledge of
something. For example “What is the philosophy behin
beauty, its nature and appreciation. The philosophical
such project or activity?”
study of art and value judgements about art, and beauty
Philosophy therefore is an integrative activity of inquiry
in general.
and an exploration for the meaning of life.
Philosophy of the Human Person – the philosophical
It serves as values not only as ideals to guide the
study of man/human person; and attempt to understand
individual’s life, but also as ends to direct the actions of
himself/herself and the world he/she live in, his/her
all mankind.
relations with others and with God.
It is a deeper way of thinkin or understanding the things
Logic – the philosophical exploration on social and art of
that happen all around us or the things we do.
correct critical thinking.
Philosophy is the science of thingd (or being in a more
Ethics or Moral Philosophy – the philosophical study of
technical sense) in their ultimate principles and causes as
moral valuation of the philosophical analysis of the
known by natral reason alone.
morality of human acts and the ultimate foundation of
what is good and evil.
Important Note The Roman language expressed the same concept in
word “mores” from which the word “morality” is derived.
In general, they mean the traditional manners,
“Sa larangan ng moral lahat tayo’y pantay-pantay, lahat tayo’y customs, habits, or character of a community or
nagsisikap na magpakamoral at magpakatao.” group, which pertain to group’s standards of norms or
group’s “system of values” which determines what is
What is Ethics? considered “good”, “right”, or th “proper” way of living, of
acting, of doing.
Nature and Concepts of Ethics
Nature and Concepts of Ethics

Branch of
Greek GENERAL ETHICS
word
Philosophy ETHICS “ethos”

Descriptive MetaEthics
Ethics
Latin word
“mores” Normative
Ethics

Descriptive Ethics
Ethics is a Branch of Philosophy
Consist of studying and describing the morality of a
Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the fundamental
people, culture, or society. It also makes comparison and
questions concerning a good life.
contrasts on the different values, principles, code of
As a branch of Philosophy, in inquiries into the nature ethics, beliefs and practices of people.
of a good life.
Meta-Ethics
It is a study of what are good and bad ends to pursue in
life and what is right and wrong to do in the conduct of Studies the nature and methodology of moral
life. judgements. It asks questions like: Waht do “good” and
“ought” meand? Are there moral truths? How can e justify
Ethics is the subject that attempts to provide for conduct.
or rationally defend beliefs about right and wrong?
It determines how one ought to live and what actions one
Normative Ethics
ought to do in the conduct of life.
Studies principles about how we ought to live. It ass
Etymology of Ethics questions like: What are the basic principles of right and
Ethics is derived from the Greek word “ethos” meaning wrong? What makes someone a good (virtuous) person?
customs, habits, character. Is abortion right or wrong?
Key Concepts: Ethics Vs. Morality
Ethics
A code of moral standards of conduct for what is good
and right as opposed to what is bad or wrong
The philosophical study of the moral value of human
conduct and of the rules and principles that ought to
govern it.
Derived from the Greek word “ethos”, (wchic means
‘character’, ‘nature,’ or ‘disposition’) deals with the
question as to what human beings should live for, or as
to what could be the ideal end for man’s life.
Morality
A particular system of values and principles of conduct
especially one held by a specified person or society.
The extent to which an action is right or wrong.
A body of standard or principles derived a code of
conduct from a particular philosophy, religion or culture,
or it can derived from a standard that a person believes
should be universal.
Derived from the Latin term (mos or mores, which widely
means as character, behaviour, morals, customs, habit or
even manners) which refers to what people live in
fellowship or do in pursuit of what they consider as the
ideal end or purpose of their existence.
In other words...
Morality means the customs, the special dos and dont’s
taht are shared and widely accepted as standard in a society
or community of people---accepted as a basis of life that
doesn’t have to be rationally questioned.
Ethics on the other hand is the philosophical reflection
upon these ruules and ways of living together, the customs
and habits of individuals, groups or mankind as such.
Ethical Behaviour
That which is right or good in the context of governing
moral principle.
It is values driven.
What is considered ethical can vary across cultures.
Ethical dilemmas arise as tests of personal ethics and
values.
People have tendancies to rationalize unethical
beahviours.
Values
Broad beliefs about what is approriate behavior
Moral Reasoning
Reasons for various ethical practices
Individualism view – does a decision or behaviour
promotes one’s long term self-interests.
Moral-rights view – does a decision or behaviour
maintains the fundamental rughts of all human beings.
Utilitarian view – does a decision or a behaviour do the
greatest good for the most people.
Justice view – does a decision or behaviour shows
fairness and impartiality.
Moral Issues
It refers to those particualr situations that are often the
source of considerable and inconclusive debates.
It is a situation that calls for moral valuation
Moral Decision
It is the choice of what to act or perform in a certain
situation or issue. (For instances, I choose not to take
something I did not pay for.)
Moral Judgement
 it happens when a person is an observer who makes
assessment on the actions or behaviour of someone.
(For instance, a friend of mine chooses to steal from a
store, and I make assessment that is wrong.)
Moral Dilemma
A ituation that, although offering potentials benefits, is
unethical.
A more complicated situation wherein one is torn
between choosing one of two goods or choosing between
the lesser of two evils.
One of the most common ethnical dilemmas occurs when
a company’s culture conflicts with an employess’s
personla ethics.
Moral Development
A measure of independence from otside influences.
Guides to Ethical Behavior
Sources of Authority:
Several common ways of thinking about ethics are based on the
idea that the standards of valuation are imposed by a higher
authority that commands our obedience.
Law
Religion
Culture
Ethics and Culture
Culture Relativism – suggests that there is no one right way to
behave; cultural context determines ethical behavior
(no culture’s ethics are superior). The values and practices of
the local setting determine what is right and wrong. (When in
Rome, do as the Romans do).
Moral Absolutism – maintains that certain absolute truths apply
everywhere.
Universal values transcend cultures in determining what is right
and wrong. (Don’t do anything you wouldn’t do at home).
Norms or Standards within the Ethos or Mores of a
Community
(1) Technical Valuation
Refers mainly to human needs which come from
bodily space-time limitations
Has to do with survival, health and well-being
Because of survival and well being, every
community prescribes certain proper ways of
working and doing things. (example: right things to
eat, rigth way to clean the floor, proper way to file
a record, right way to plant rice, etc.)
(2) Societal Norm or Etiquette
The need for group cohesion and for strengthening
the bonds that keep the community together.
Examples: certain manners or attire, ways of
speaking or conducting oneself are considered
proper and fitting
Other ways of behaviour are proscribed or
frowned upon because they are unmindful or
destructive of social relations
(3) Aesthetics Norm
Refers to typical perceptual forms, regarding color,
shape, movement, sound, feeling and emotion,
touch and texture, taste, scent and odor, both in
the natural and in the man-made environment,
which are considered by the community as
ennobling, cathartic, heightening human’s
existence, or beautiful.
(4) Ethnical or Moral Norm
 Refers to some ideal vision of human, an ideal
stage or perfection, which serves as the ultimate
goal and norm.
In relation to moral norm, human action is judged
to be right or wrong, good or bad.
Because of this ideal vision of human, a
community has what is sometimes called the “non-
negotiables,” those things which the community
cherishes and considers of ultimate orth, which
give ultimate worth, which give ultimate sense and
direction to human existence.
Three Main Ethnical Theories
(1) Deontological (Greek deon means duty obligation)
Duty theories locate the basis of morality on
specific, foundational principles of duty and
obligation. Thses principles are binding regardless
of the consequences that actiong on their basis
might bring.
(2) Teological (Greek telos means end, purpose or
fulfillment)
Morality as the attainment of human’s end,
fulfillment and hapiness.
(3) Consequentialist
Theories that determine the value of an action on
the grounds of a cost-benefit analysis of its
consequences. If the positive consequences
outweight the negative ones then the action is
morally proper.
Centrality of Ethics in Human Life
Ethics or morality refers to that dimension of
human existence whereby human confronts or
finds him or herself, an ideal vision or an ideal
state and goal of his/her existence which he/she
finds him/herself oriented toward.
The ideal vision thus constitutes for him/her an
exigency, a demand to action in accord with the
ideal vision and goal. By the same token, this ideal
vision of human constitutes a fundamental norm in
relation to which his/her life and actions are judged
to be either right or wrong, good or bad.
The Moral Agent: Ethics of Being and Ethics of
Doing
Ethics is concerned with two questions:
What sort of person should I become? (being and becoming)
What sort of action should I perform to becme the person I
aspire to be? (doing)
Ethics of Doing focuses on right actions
Good intention is not enough. Interiority gets expressed
in behavior. “The good tree bear good fruit.”
The interest of the ethics of doing is with making a
decision to resolve conflicts of moral values so that we
might do the right action.
From this perspective, moral reflection attends not only to
the duties and obligations of the person acting but also to
the circumstances which make up the moral situation.
The Moral Agent and His/her Actions
Human act or human conduct – is an act which the human
person consciously performs, under the control of his/her will
and for which he/she responsible.; these actions classified as
moral or immoral.
Constituents of Moral Action
Knowledge – refers to the faculty of the human person,
his/her intellect which acquaints the will with the types of
conduct that are desirable adn are therefore approved.
Freedom – the ability to choose between alternative
courses of action, of acting and not acting of doing this or
doing that.
Valuntariness – an act which proceeds from both
knowledge and the will is a volitional or voluntary act. A
voluntary act is one which, when everything is ready for
action, the will still hs a choise to do one thing rather than
another.
Kohlberg’s Moral Development of the Human
Person
Pre-Conventional
Stage 1: Punishment and Obedience Orientation
(It’s Okay to do it if you don’t get caught)
Stage 2: Intrumental Relativist
(If it fels good do it)
Conventional
Stage 3: Good boy/Nice girl Image
(Do it for me: She/he should do it because he/she loves me)
Stage 4: Law and Order
(Do your duty: Saaving a human life is more important than
saving property)
Post Conventional
Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation
(It is concensus of thoughtful people: Society has a right to
insure its own survival)
Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principl
(What if everybdy did that?)
Fundamental Moral Principles Based on the Dignity
of the Human Person
(1) The human person is a subject
Freedom is so fundamental to this dimension
The human person is called to be conscious, to act
according to his conscience, in freedom and in a
responsible manner
A person is responsible not only for what he or she
does, but also far more profoundly for who he or
she is
It does not mean simply freedom to choose. It
means fredom to be accepted onself and to
become oneself
Morality is about our responsibility for what we do
and the kind of person we choose to become
Implicaions for medical ethics, political ethics
(2) The human person is an embodied subject
The denial of embodiment has distorted our
understanding of human freedom
In reality our freedom is embodied fredom. It is
precisely through our bodies that we are able to be
free
What we refer as our “limiations” are in fact simply
the current boundaries of our present abilities
“I am my body.” Unity of the soul and body vs.
Dualism
➢ Implications for work, fortune, sexual ethics
(3) As an embodied subject the human person is part of
the material world
 As human persons we depend on the rest of
material creation. We cannot live without air to
breathe, water to drink, food to eat. We need warm
and shelter
We have not only been able to appreciate the
beauty of the natural world; we have also been
able to use material things to create new forms of
beauty in art and architecture, in music and
literature
This relationship is not just one of our dependence
on the rest of the material world. Increasingly the
rest of the materail world id becoming dependence
on us for its survival
Our relationship with the rest of creation is one of
interdependence.
➢ Implication for ecological ethics
(4) The human person is essentially interrelation with
other huma persons
We can only develop as human persons who are
embodied subjects through relationship with other
embodied human subjects
Personal growth and maturation involves coming
to experience and accept myself as a distinct
person (recognizing my differentation from others)
and also recognizing that other persons really are
other and not just extensions of myself
I am able to relate to the other without losing
myself or without devouring the other
Sexuality is not primarily biological but relational
The “design concept” of marriage is not
procreation but friendship
(5) Human persons are interdependent social beings
The whole human family is a complex network of
interdependent groupings, whether at the level of
nations, economic communities, multinational
companies, trading partnerships, political
affiliations, etc.
The socialized individual always remains in a dual
relationship with society: he is incorporated within
it and yet stands against it.
Structures, institutions and laws should not be
thought of as a necessary evil we have to endure.
They are essential features of our embodiment.
They are related to the “common good.”
The common good refers to the state of affairs
which is needed in any particular society if the
individual goods of its members are to be
safeguarded and promoted.
(6) The human person is a historical being
We are people of our time and culture.
The human person not only exists in history but
also exists as history.
As autonomous subjects, our lives are not simply a
whole series of disconnected choices. The choices
or decisions we make are the very stuff out of
which we fashion the person we choose to
become.
Our very capacity to make such choices has its
own history of development.
Accepting our essential historicity implies being
prepared to accept the challenge of building the
future.
(7) Human persons are fundamentally equal, but each
person is unique.
The basis of equality is the gift or intelligence or
beauty but the fact that we are all members of the
human species. Human persons are individuals
belonging to the species humankind.
 We are persons who, in one sense, are self-
creating and, in another sense, are the creations
of our social, cultural, and familial history.
Our originality is a very deep dimension of our
being a human person. I am who am.
This dimension of personal uniqueness raises
questions with regard to new possibilities opening
out to humankind.
(8) The human person is called to know and worship
God
“To know and worship God” means to be open to
the experience of transcendence. This refers to
our capacity to be lost in wonder before the
mystery of reality.
It is recognizing that, although our “eye” can see
something quite clearly, there is nevertheless
more to it than meets the eye.
Reverence for life is an attitude of wonder before
the ultimate mystery of life.
The dimension of transcendence is not restricted
to “religious experience.” a person’s capacity to
see “deep down things” often seems to be active
in a special way in “crisis” or ‘limit” experiences in
life. Crisis experience puts the person in touch with
a deeper level of his or her being.