Module 1: Lesson 1
THE STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS
Philosophy
The term philosophy is taken from two Greek
words, philos and sophia which literally mean love of
wisdom. It seeks to find out the true meaning of life
and the importance of it, the desire to understand the
existence of everything.
Philosophical methods may be used in the study
of any subject or the pursuit of any vocation.
Philosophical training enhances one’s problem-solving
capacities, one’s abilities to understand and express
ideas, and one’s persuasive powers.
Main Divisions of Philosophy
 Practical Philosophy
 Speculative Philosophy
Speculative Philosophy
It is the division of Philosophy that is primarily good for
contemplative understanding. It provides knowledge of
a subject or area for the sake of knowledge.
Practical Philosophy
It is the division of philosophy that is good for
real life application. It provides knowledge to be used or
applied in concrete actions or situations.
Practical Philosophy
It is the division of philosophy that is good for
real life application. It provides knowledge to be used or
applied in concrete actions or situations.
Branches of Speculative Philosophy
 Epistemology
 Metaphysics
 Cosmology
 Anthropology
 Aesthetics
 Theodicy
 Rational Philosophy
 Social Philosophy
 Political Philosophy
Epistemology
It is the branch of philosophy that deals with
the theory of knowledge – its sources, kinds, and
reliability. It is concerned with the definition, sources
kinds, and criteria of knowledge possible, and the
degree to which each is certain.
Metaphysics
It is a branch of philosophy that deals with the
nature of existence. It is customarily divided into
Ontology and Metaphysics proper.
Ontology deals with the question of how many
fundamentally distinct sorts of entities compose the
universe, and Metaphysics proper, which describes the
most general traits of reality.
Cosmology
It is the scientific study of the universe on the
largest scales of space and time, particularly the
propounding of theories concerning its origin, nature,
structure, and evolution.
Anthropology
It is the study of man and his destiny. It reflects
upon man in order to understand him in his entirety,
grasping the fundamental principles of his existence in
the world and his behavior.
Aesthetics
It is a philosophical inquiry about beauty in all
of its forms. It also deals with the question of whether
such qualities are objectively present in the things they
appear to qualify, or exist only in the mind of the
individual.
Theodicy
It is the branch of philosophy that deals with
the study of Supreme Being, defined as both
omnipotent and good in the light of evil in the world.
Rational Philosophy
 It is primarily concern with the principles of
living things, especially that of man, focusing mainly on
the relevance of the soul and self-knowledge which
arises from common sense and natural reason.
Social Philosophy
It is a branch of philosophy that deals with the
study of the nature of society, relation between the
individual, and social interaction that takes place in the
given community.
Political Philosophy
It is a branch of philosophy that deals with the
study of the ultimate foundation of the state, the
nature of legitimate authority, the form of government,
and the perfect form of society.
Branches of Practical Philosophy
 Logic
 Ethics
Logic
It is the formal and systematic study of the principles of
valid inference and correct reasoning. It is commonly
known as the art and science of correct thinking.
Ethics
It is a branch of philosophy that deals with the
concepts and principles or morality.
It is a normative science of the conduct of
human being living in societies; a science which judges
the conduct to be right or wrong, to be good or bad.
Difference between Ethics and Morality
Etymologically, there is no difference between
ethics and morality, because both Ethics and Morality
comes form the Latin word mos or moris, which means
custom.
However, there is a slight difference between
ethics and morality. Ethics provides man with
theoretical knowledge of the morality of human act
while morality actualizes the theory. Morality is nothing
else but doing of ethics.
Division of Ethics
 General Ethics
 Special Ethics
General Ethics
It presents truths about human acts, and from these
truths deduce the general principles of morality.
General ethics is applied to individual in relation to
himself, to God and to his fellow man.
Special Ethics
This one is applied ethics. It applies to the
principles of general ethics in different departments of
human activity, individual and social. It includes man’s
relation to the family, to the state and to the world.
Importance of Ethics
The importance of the study of ethics follows
immediately from the meaning of ethics itself.
Ethics means living in proper way and it is in the
development of a good moral character and virtues that
man finds perfection and understands his purpose of
existence.
The Greek triumvirate, the Christian teachings
and majority of Oriental Philosophers affirmed that the
ultimate purpose of human existences is not acquisition
of material possession, power and prestige but in the
development of moral qualities that make men unique
and supreme from all creation.
The Greek triumvirate, the Christian teachings
and majority of Oriental Philosophers affirmed that the
ultimate purpose of human existences is not acquisition
of material possession, power and prestige but in the
development of moral qualities that make men unique
and supreme from all creation.
Confucius laid great emphasis on the cultivation
of character, the purity of heart and conduct. He
extorted to the people a good character first, which is a
priceless jewel and which is the best of all virtues.
Relationship of Ethics to Other Sciences
Ethics and Logic
Logic is the science and art of correct reasoning.
Ethics is the science of good and proper living. But good
living presupposes correct thinking and reasoning
Doing follows thinking.
Ethics and Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior
and cognitive mental process. Both involve the study of
man, human nature, and human behavior.
Ethics and Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior
and cognitive mental process. Both involve the study of
man, human nature, and human behavior.
Ethics and Sociology
Sociology is the scientific study of society and
culture while Ethics is concerned with the moral order,
which also includes social order.
Society exists because of the observance of
moral laws that makes sociology dependent on ethics.
Both are complimentary, norms and cultures of the
people which are the basis of ethical standards of a
particular society.
Ethics and Economics
Economics is the proper allocation and efficient
use of available resources for the maximum satisfaction
of human needs.
His means of livelihood therefore must be
morally acceptable. He must observe justice and
fairness with his fellow being.
Ethics and Education
Education liberates men from ignorance not
only from ethical standards but also from laws that are
implemented by the society. Education is concerned
with the total human development.
Ethics and Law
Laws imposed by the society must be fair, just,
and humane. It must be for the welfare of the majority
of the people and not offensive to morality. There is a
difference between what is moral and what is legal.
The legal covers only the external acts of man;
the moral governs even the internal acts of man, such
as the volitional and intentional activities of the will and
mind.
Ethics and Art
Man’s artistic creation must have a noble
purpose, which should not be offensive to morality. A
piece of art should reflect beauty and must inspire
every person who sees it.
Ethics and Political Science
Political Science is the study of state and
government. Politics covers the administration and
management of out government.
Ethics and Political Science
Political Science is the study of state and
government. Politics covers the administration and
management of out government.
Politics is not bad at all, if it used properly; the
politicians must set aside their personal interest and
rather promote the general welfare of the citizens.
Module 1: Lesson 2
INTRODUCTION OF BASIC CONCEPTS
AND KEY ELEMENTS OF ETHICS
Looking closely, human actions ought to be
understood clearly in a very strict sense, because it has
something to do with human movements that are ruled
by one’s freedom.
Freedom figures closely into action and
inclination. Freedom here, means not only the ability
to act free from outside influences or independence
from the impediments to one’s wishes.
It is the willful act and decision that gives form
and shape to the actions and inclinations of the human
person.
The humn person himself/herself is significant
only in considering the result in matters of to poiein or
gawa.
The Key Elements of Ethics
 Character
 Moral Character
 Moral Courage
 Gawa and Gawi
 Reason
  Feelings
 Freedom
 Good Acts and Evil Acts
Character
It is an evaluation of an individual's
stable moral qualities. The concept of character can
imply a variety of attributes including the existence or
lack of virtues.
Moral Character
It primarily refers to the assemblage of qualities
that distinguish one individual from another.
Although on a cultural level, the set of moral
behaviors to which a social group adheres can be said to
unite and define it culturally as distinct from others.
Moral Courage
It is a result of morally developed will. It is the
capacity to initiate and sustain your resolve whenever
you are certain of doing the good.
Gawa
The term refers to the free action that is
oriented towards a particular end. For example, a
worker uses his/her free imagination and will to bring
about services and products that contribute to the well-
being of society.
As governed by free decisions making, the
creative workers embraces all the information he/she
can gather to effectively realize his.her purpose.
Gawi
The term refers to the free kind of work.
However, instead of focusing on a particular end like a
product or fulfillment.
Gawi refers to the kind of acts that human
beings are used to accomplishing. It does not only refer
to particular acts of a person. A person’s habitual action
or kagawian reveals truth about himself/herself.
Reason
It sets the course for making ethical and
impartial decions especially in moral situations although
it is not the sole determining factor in coming up with
such decision.
Feelings
It provides the individual with an initial
reckoning of a situation, but they should not be the
sole basis for one’s motives and actions.
Freedom
It is the willful act and decision that gives form
and shape to the actions and inclinations of the
individuals.
Freedom is oriented towards the wherefore,
the what for, and the whom for, of the doings of the
individuals.
Good Acts
A morally good act requires the goodness of the
object, of the intention of the agent, and of the
circumstances together.
Evil Acts
It is an act that corrupts the action even if the
object is good in itself.
Approaches to Normative Ethics
 Consequentialism
 Deontology
 Virtue Ethics
Consequentialism
At the heart of consequentialist theories is the idea that
the moral action is the one that produces the best
consequences.
Deontology
According to deontological theories, morality is
primarily a function of duties or obligations, regardless
of the consequences of acting in accordance with those
duties.
Virtue Ethics
It gives primacy of importance not to rules, but
to particular habits of character such as the virtue of
courage and other types of virtue that the person is
personally inclined to perform.
Moral Standards
It refers to the norms which we have about the
types of actions which we believe to be morally
acceptable and morally unacceptable.
Specifically, it involve sets of recognized and
permanently acceptable character or norms commonly
used as primary measure of quality, value, and extent.
Non-moral Standards
It refer to rules that we have about the types of
actions that are unrelated to moral or ethical
considerations.
These refers to the peoples customary, and
habitual ways of doing things. These customary ways
are accumulated and become repetitive patterns of
expected behavior, which tend to become permanent
traditions.
Derivation of Moral Standards
The foundations of evolving moral systems rest
on a complex cybernetic process that sustains and
preserves the human species.
This is a dynamic process that drives the
creation of moral and ethical standards, namely:
emotion, and rules.
Every human action inspires a corresponding
reaction whether subtle in nature or violent. Some
people are more emotionally reactive than others.
Emotions can get out of control if not regulated
by laws, customs, moral codes, professional codes and
even the rules of etiquette.
Rules are considered as an essential stabilizing
force that enhance the survivability of individuals,
families and nations.
Dilemma
It is a situation where a person is forced to
choose between two or more conflicting options,
neither of which is acceptable. As we can see, the key
here is that the person has choices to make that will all
have results she does not want.
Ethical Dilemma
It is a decision-making problem between two
possible moral imperatives, neither of which is
unambiguously acceptable or preferable.
In ethical dilemma, the complexity arises out of
the situational conflict in which obeying would result in
transgressing another.
There are three identified conditions that must
be present for situations to be considered moral
dilemmas:
First, the person or the agent of a moral action
is obliged to make a decision about which course of
action is best. Here, the moral agent must choose the
best option and act accordingly.
Second, there must be different courses of
action to choose from. Hence, as already pointed out
above, there must be two or more conflicting options to
choose from for moral dilemmas to occur.
Third, no matter what course of action is taken,
some moral principles are always compromised.
Types of Moral Dilemma
 Epistemic Dilemmas: Self-imposed
and world-imposed dilemmas
 Obligation Dilemmas and
Prohibition Dilemmas
 Single Agent and Multi-person
Dilemmas
Epistemic Dilemma
It involve situations wherein two or more moral
requirements conflicted with each other and that the
moral agent hardly knows which of the conflicting moral
requirements takes precedence over the other.
In other words, under the epistemic dilemma,
the moral agent in this situation does not know which
option is morally right or wrong.
Self-imposed Dilemma
 This is caused by the moral agent’s wrong
doings.

Obligation Dilemma

This pertains to a particular situations in which

there are more than one feasible actions is obligatory,

Single Agent Dilemma

The moral agent is compelled to act on two or

more equally the same moral options but he/she cannot
choose both.

The Sources of Morality

 The Object

 The Intention of the Agent

 The Circumstances

The Object

It is the aim or goal of a certain action.acquired. To

make an act morally good, it’s object or aim must
conform to the law of God or the conscience of the doer
of the action must attest it.

The Intention of the Agent

It refers to the means of attaining the object.

The Circumstances

These pertains to the types of environment,

situation, or condition prevailing when the action is
done.