LEARNING MODULE

ETHICS

Module 1

Lesson 2: Areas of Ethical Study

Learning Outcome:

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

 Identify the different types of ethics; and
 Explain and cite examples of each type of ethics.

Time Frame: 3 hours

Introduction

In this lesson we will tackle the three different types of Ethics: the normative ethics,
meta-ethics and applied ethics.

Activity

Activity 1.2

In your home, try to talk to your parents/guardian, ask them the following questions:
1. What are your parents’ concept of good and bad?
Answer: My parent’s concept of good and bad is when they feel pleasure and
peace in such thing means it is good. On the other hand, when they feel
uncomfortable and pain means it is bad.
2. How did they impose their concepts of good and bad?
Answer: They impose their concept of good and bad by deciding your action
wisely. Also, they think first before doing something.

Then ask yourself, is it similar to how they (your parents) impose their concepts of good
and bad on you. Answer: Yes, it is similar because they teach me good manners. The
learnings they learned when they were young were also taught to me.
 Analysis

The activity, primarily, aims to generate a concept of what is good and bad as perceived
by you grandparents, and is this being emulated by your parents in guiding you. This
perceptions or ideas of good and bad and the real actions will be a good example in our next
lesson which is the three types of ethics.

Abstraction

Ethics is classified into three types. These are normative ethics, meta-ethics and
applied ethics.

ETHICS

Normative Meta Applied

Ethics Ethics Ethics

1. Meta-Ethics

This type of ethics is focused on the meaning of ethical terms themselves. This tries
to answer questions which are not tangible and physical, such as ‘what is goodness?’ and on
questions of how ethical knowledge is obtained, such as ‘how can I distinguish what is good
from what is bad?’ rather than on the more applied question of ‘what should I do in a
particular situation?’ The latter begs for a concrete action to be performed, while the
former begs for a conceptual meaning which can only be think of. Further, it is concerned
with the nature of ethical properties, statements, attitudes and judgments.
Meta-ethics examines themes like what moral questions mean, and on what basis
people can know what is ‘true’ or ‘false’. Thus, it is something that is beyond what is
tangible.

Example: Pedro asked Juan what is his greatest virtue? In reply, Pedro said generosity.
 The answer of Pedro gave is not a tangible nor physical answer. It is a concept that is
being understood as being able to share what one possesses without thinking of something
in return. This means that it is beyond physical action.
Using our activity as an example, may be your parents’ answer to the first question
may be “Kindness or Faithfulness.” This two are example of meta-ethics.

2. Normative Ethics

The term normative generally means "action guiding." So, a normative Ethics is a
kind of ethical theory which tells us what we ought to do or what we should/must do.
This type of ethics focuses on the action or the ethical act. It asks questions like
‘what is the right thing to do?’ with this, it implies that this type of ethics creates a norm or
a standard of what is good and bad. Meaning, it offers a standard action in a given situation.
Further, it is concerned with how people can decide what the ‘correct’ moral actions to take
in one’s life. Simply, it concerns the formulation of moral rules that have direct implications
for what human actions, institutions, and ways of life should be like.

Example: Maria and Jose went for a date in a park. Suddenly, a beggar appeared in
front of them to ask for money to buy food.

In the situation given above, we ask “what should Maria and Jose do?” Following the
norm or standard of goodness, they should give money to the beggar as they are in need.
Giving to the poor is an example of normative ethics which is considered to be good.
Using our activity as an example, if your parents answered that ‘kissing the hands of
elders or saying po or opo.” These answers would fall under normative ethics as these are
prescribed actions or norms.

3. Applied Ethics

This type of ethics is concerned with how people can achieve moral outcomes in
specific situations. It is concerned with the philosophical examination of particular – and
often complex – issues that involve moral judgments. Areas such as bioethics,
environmental ethics, development ethics and business/corporate ethics may be regarded
as areas of applied ethics. The distinction between normative and applied ethics, however,
is becoming increasingly blurred. However, to simply put it, when ethics is applied to
another field then it is an applied ethics.
Examples are when ethics is applied in nursing – it is commonly referred as nursing
ethics or ethics in the nursing profession. This talks about ethical theories and principles in
the nursing practice. There is also ethics for teachers, ethics for information technologists
and others.

Application

Let’s do it!
In your neighborhood, ask two individuals this questions:
 1. What is your profession?
2. What are the norms or standards of goodness or badness in your profession?
Answer: > Teacher – Be patient, understanding, be sensitive and behave in a way
which enhances the status of their profession.
> Nurse – Wear uniform for them to identify, be active and be careful
within your action.

Make an analysis paper on their answers to the questions. You may answer this
questions as your guide:
1. What are their norms or standards of goodness and badness?
2. How they are able to apply it in their profession?
3. Is it similar to your own perception of goodness and badness?
4. Comment on their answers.

Analysis Paper

Every society has expectations about how its members should and should not
behave. A norm is a guideline for behaviour. It differ widely among group to group with
the same society (Peter, 2019).
I’ve interviewed two professionals and they have different norms or standards in
their profession. According to Ma’am Grace, the teacher must be patient, understanding,
and sensitive and behave in a way which enhances the status of their profession.
Moreover, Ms. Veoly answered that nurse should wear a uniform for them to be
recognized, be active and be careful within their actions. And, their perception of
goodness and badness is similar to my own perception.
As stated by Mcledd (2008), norms provide order. It is difficult to see how human
society could operate with social norms. So, we must follow the norms of our society for
us to shape our behaviour. Their answers are brief and concise. I can notice that they are
well practiced through on how they act and talk.

Closure

Congratulations! You have finished lesson 2. It is now assumed that you learn the
types of ethics. You can now proceed to lesson 3.