ETHICS

PREPARED BY:
PROF. MARY RUTH V. DATARIO, JD,MPA,LPT
 ETHICS
Deals with principles of ethical behavior in modern
society at the level of the person, society and in
interaction with the environment and other shared
resources. (CMO 20 s 2013)
derived from the Greek word “ethos” which means
“characteristic way of acting”. In other words, it means
customs, a characteristic, or habitual way of doing
things, or action that is properly derived from one’s
character.
Branch of philosophy that
contemplates what is right and wrong. –
Also known as MORAL PHILOSOPHY
which is a branch of philosophy that
involves systematizing, defending and
recommending concepts of right and
wrong conduct.
It explores the nature of morality and
examines how people should live their
lives in relation to others. And moral
principles that govern a person’s
behavior or the conduct of an activity.
IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF ETHICS
1. Ethics helps us to evaluate our choices and actions.
2. Ethics help us to make better decisions towards our own
self and towards other people.
3. Ethics guides our principles in life.
4. Ethics satisfies basic human needs. Being fair, honest
and ethical is one of the basic human needs.
5. Ethics unites people and leader.
6. Ethics improves decision-making. A man’s destiny is the
sum total of all decisions that he takes in the course of
his life.
7. Ethics secures the society. Ethics succeeds because
there is a law in safeguarding the society.
Socrates (469-399
BCE)
First major philosopher of Ethics
The ethos of man as man is revealed in
the following:
1.He is able to distinguish between good
and evil, right and wrong, moral and
immoral;

2.He feels within himself an obligation

to do what is good and to avoid what is
evil;

3.He feels himself accountable for his

actions, expecting reward or
punishments for them.
MORALITY
• pertains to the standards of right and wrong
that an individual originally picks up from the
community.
“is the effort to guide one’s conduct by reason
– that is, to do what there are the best reasons
for doing – while giving equal weight to the
interests of each individual who will be
affected by what one does”.
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. In many
ways, rules serve as a foundation for any
healthy society.
Rules are not just sufficient but rather
necessary to social beings in the promotion
of the common good in every society.
Laws Guidelines
Policies Moral Principles
Principles Unwritten Rules
Norms Unspoken Rules
Regulations Promulgated Rules
Codes of Conduct
Rules and the relevance of following rules
•Rules as Effective Tools
•Rules as geared towards Happiness
•Rules as Standards
•Rules R-E-G-U-L-A-T-E behaviors
Rules REGULATE behaviors
Rules UNFOLD freedom
Rules as LOVE for Justice
Rules as EXERCISE of Authority
Rules as STANDARDS of Values
 Rules REGULATE behaviors
They are daily reminders that one’s existence is
always a co-existence with the others. One should
always make sure that his actions that supports the
rules do not compromise the lives and rights of
others.
Rules UNFOLD freedom
Rules are usually social contracts
or are agreed upon by the
majority, everybody should be
responsible in supporting the
government in its mandate to
implement only some rules so as
not suppress individual freedom
and other personal, unwritten or
unspoken rules.
Rules as LOVE for Justice
Rules are indeed born out of
love essentially for justice
because they are created for
the greater good and just
society.
 Rules as EXERCISE of
authority
Rules are the best
expressions of authority.
Everyone who follows rules
Overview
then is only upholding the
common welfare or
greatest good.
 Rules as STANDARDS
of values

Rules can be values

themselves that are
made as standards.
MORAL STANDARDS
are principles, norms or models an
individual or a group has about what
is right or wrong, what is good or bad.
It is an indication of how human
beings ought to exercise their
freedom.

Examples: “Take responsibility for

your actions”; “Always tell the truth”;
“Treat others as you want to be
treated”; “It is wrong to kill people”.
Moral Standards are oriented toward well-being.

Moral standards are practical.

Moral standards are binding.

are universalizable.
Moral standards

Moral standards are autonomous.

Moral standards are impartial

Moral standards are connected with emotions.

Moral standards are prescriptive.

 ORIGIN OF MORAL
STANDARDS
1. THEIST VIEW 2. NON-THEIST VIEW
Moral Standards are God is not the source
commandments of of morality
God. The origin of moral
God is the ultimate standards is the
source of what is moral frameworks
moral revealed to formulated by
human persons philosophers.
 MORAL STANDARDS
•Don't kill.
•Speak the truth.
•Be careful with what you say and do to others.
•Respect the property of others.
•Treat people in need or distress as we would want to be treated if our situation
were reversed.
•Ensure the physical and psychological well-being of the children.
•Carry out acts of kindness, regardless of whether they are of personal benefit.
•Don’t lie to other people.
•Be responsible with work.
•Do not steal or steal other people’s property.
•Do not mistreat people or animals.
•Do not reveal secrets.
•Help the elderly and children.
NON-MORAL
STANDARDS
These are social rules, demands of
etiquette and good manners.
They are guides of human action which
should be followed as expected by the
society.
sometimes they may not be followed or
some people they may not follow them.
EXAMPLES:

Rules of good manners and right conduct

Etiquette
Rules of behavior set by parents and teachers
Standards of grammar or language
Standards of Arts
Standards of Sports
MORAL/ETHICAL DILEMMA
•Dilemmas (from Greek words di – ‘having two of’
and lemma – ‘premise, proposition’) are difficult
situations in which one could not clearly or easily
make choices or answers.

 An ethical dilemma (ethical paradox

or moral dilemma) is a problem in the
decision-making process between
two possible options, neither of
which is absolutely acceptable from
an ethical perspective.

Ethical dilemmas are extremely

complicated challenges that cannot
be easily solved.
4 Crucial Features of Moral
Dilemma
1.One is required to do each of two (or more)
behaviors;

2. The two (or more) behaviors are based on moral

tandards;
3. One can do each of the two (or more) behaviors
but one cannot do both (or all) simultaneously.
4. One seems condemned to choose even the
wrong/bad or fail for doing what one ought to do.
LEVELS OF MORAL DILEMMA
1. INDIVIDUAL MORAL DILEMMA
This is a personal moral problem, dealt with and
solved by the same single person.
2.ORGANIZATIONAL DILEMMA
This is a common managerial ethical problem that exist
and are solved within an institution or organization.
3. STRUCTURAL DILEMMA
This is moral case on a macro level where
network of institutions and operative
theoretical paradigms are massively
involved.