Ethics and Morality

Lesson 01
Ethics and Morality
refer to rules provided by an external

Ethics source, e.g., codes of conduct in

workplaces or principles in religions

relate to “right” and

“wrong” conduct

Morals refer to an individual’s own

principles regarding right and
wrong.
What are they?
Ethics
The rules of conduct
recognized in respect to a
particular class of human
actions or a particular group
or culture.
Morals
Principles or habits with
respect to right or wrong
conduct. While morals also
prescribe dos and don'ts,
morality is ultimately a
personal compass of right
and wrong.
Where do they come from?
Ethics Morals
Social system - External Individual - Internal
Why we do it?
Ethics Morals

Because society says Because we believe in

it is the right thing to something being right
do. or wrong.
Flexibility

Ethics Morals
Ethics are dependent Usually consistent,
on others for although can change if
definition. They tend to an individual’s beliefs
be consistent within a change.
certain context, but can
vary between contexts.
The "Gray"
Ethics
A person strictly following
Ethical Principles may not
have any Morals at all.
Likewise, one could violate
Ethical Principles within a
given system of rules in order
to maintain Moral integrity.
Morals
A Moral Person although
perhaps bound by a higher
covenant, may choose to
follow a code of ethics as it
would apply to a system.
"Make it fit"
Origin

Ethics Morals
Greek word Latin word "mores"
"ethos" meaning meaning "custom"
"character"
Both terms translate roughly into notions affecting
“custom,” ”habit,” and “behavior.”
Acceptability

Ethics Morals
Ethics are governed by Morality transcends
professional and legal cultural norms
guidelines within a
particular time and
place
Activity
Directions:
1. Log in to Blackboard.
2. Answer the Question provided in the “Discussion” forum.
Why stealing is wrong?
Why stealing is wrong?
Come up with three different answers/reasons as to “Why stealing is wrong?”

Answer 1:
______________________________________________
______________________________________________

Answer 2:
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Answer 3:
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Discussion
Grounds for Justifying Moral Principles
Grounding Moral Principles in a Religious System
Consider the following rationale for why stealing is morally wrong:

Stealing is wrong because it offends God or because

it violates one of God's (Ten) Commandments.

From the point of view of institutionalized

religion, stealing is wrong because it
offends God or because it violates the
commands of a supreme authority.
 Grounding Moral Principles in a Legal System
An alternative rationale would be:

Stealing is wrong because it violates the law.

 Here the grounds for determining why stealing is

wrong are not tied to religion.
 If stealing violates a law in a particular nation or
jurisdiction, then the act of stealing can be declared
to be wrong independent of any religious beliefs
that one may or may not happen to have.
Grounding Moral Principles in a Philosophical System of Ethics
A third way of approaching the question is:

Stealing is wrong because it is wrong

(independent of any form of external authority or any external sanctions).

On this view, the moral "rightness" or

"wrongness" of stealing is not grounded in
some external authoritative source.
It does not appeal to an external authority,
either theological or legal, for justification.
Grounding Moral Principles in a Philosophical System of Ethics

Many philosophers and ethicists have argued

that, independent of either supernatural or
legal authorities, reason alone is sufficient to
show that stealing is wrong.
They argue that reason can inform us that
there is something either in the act of stealing
itself, or in the consequences that result from
this kind of act, that makes stealing morally
wrong.
Grounding Moral Principles in a Philosophical System of Ethics

• In the case of both law and religion, specific sanctions

against stealing exist in the form of punishment.
• In the case of (philosophical) ethics, the only sanction
would be in the form of social disapproval, and
possibly social ostracism.

Exclusion from a society or group