INTRODUCTION

GE 8 – ETHICS
Instructor
Rinovic C. Repollo
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KEY CONCEPTS IN
ETHICS
Importance of Rules to Social Beings
Moral vs. Non-moral Standards
Dilemma and Moral Dilemma
Three levels of Moral Dilemmas
‘Only human beings can be ethical’
Freedom-Responsibility as a Foundation of Morality
Minimum Requirement for Morality: Reason and Impartiality

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of this Module,
you should be able to:
•
• Explain the importance of following various rules
(home, community, school rules and regulations)
• Differentiate between moral and non-moral
standards
• Differentiate between dilemma and moral dilemma
• Identify a moral dilemma in a given situation
• Classify moral dilemmas according to the three
levels of moral dilemmas
• Explain why only human beings can be ethical
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 INTRODUCTION:
KEY CONCEPTS IN ETHICS

 Ethics “ethicos” is the branch of philosophy that systematically

studies morality or the rightness or wrongness of human
conduct.
 Morality “mores” speaks of a code or system of behavior in
regards to standards of right or wrong.

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1. The Importance of Rules to Social
Beings
 Rules refer to explicit or understood regulations or principles
governing conduct within a specific activity or sphere.
 Rules tell us what is or is not allowed in a particular context or
situation.

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Rules benefit social beings in various
manners:
 Rules protect social beings by regulating behavior.
 Rules help to guarantee each person certain rights and freedom.
 Rules produce a sense of justice among social beings.
 Rules are essential for a healthy economic system

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 2. Moral vs. Non-moral Standards

 Not all rules are moral rules. That is, not all standards are moral
standards.
 Morality refer to the standards that a person or a group has about what is
right and wrong, or good or evil.
 Accordingly, moral standards are those concerned with or relating to
human behavior, especially the distinction between good and bad (or right
or wrong) behavior.

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2. Moral vs. Non-moral Standards
 Non-moral standards refer to rules that are unrelated to moral or
ethical considerations. Either these standards are not necessarily
linked to morality or by nature lack ethical sense.
i.e. rules of etiquette
fashion standards
rules in games

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Characteristics of Moral Standards
 Moral standards involve serious wrongs or significant benefits.
 Moral standards ought to be preferred to other values.
 Moral standards are not established by authority figures.
 Moral standards have trait of universalizability.
 Moral standards are based on impartial conditions
 Moral standards are associated with special emotions and vocabulary.

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3. Dilemmas and Moral Dilemmas
 Dilemma refers to a situation in which a tough/difficult choice has to be
made between two or more options, specially more or less equally
undesirable ones. Not all dilemmas are moral dilemmas.
 Moral dilemmas are situations involving serious and difficult choice/s
has/have to be made between two courses of action, either which entails
transgressing a moral principle.

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 4 - Features/Characteristics of Moral/Ethical
Dilemma

 1. One is obligated/mandated/required to act each of two (2) (or more)

behaviors
 2. The two (2) (or more) behaviors are based on moral standards
 3. One can act each of the two (2) (or more) behaviors but one cannot
act both (or all) simultaneously
 4. One seems condemned to choose even the wrong/bad/evil or fail for
doing what one ought to do (choosing the lesser evil)

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4. Three Levels of Moral Dilemmas
 Personal Dilemma – individual / personal/ subjective level
 Organizational Dilemma – unit/department/college
 Structural Dilemma – national/international

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5. ‘Only human beings can be ethical’
 Only human beings are rational, autonomous, and self-conscious.
 Only human beings can act morally or immorally.
 Only human beings are part of the moral community.

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6. Freedom as a Foundation of Morality

 Basically, morality is a question of choice. Morality practically, is

choosing ethical codes, values, or standards to guide us in our daily
lives.
 Philosophically, choosing is not possible without freedom.
 Practically, the sum of our choices can be said to define our specific
‘morality’.

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7. Minimum Requirement for Morality:
Reason and Impartiality

 Reason/Intelligence
 Good reason
 Good/Beautiful/Best thing to do given the situation
 Involves the idea that each individual’s interests and point of view
are equally important.

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Thank You!

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CLASS DISCUSSION
Recall some rules you have to follow in school and
community. What rules do you find constricting?
Explain why people have to follow rules.

Place your screenshot here

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Quotations are commonly printed
as a means of inspiration and to
invoke philosophical thoughts
from the reader.

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