COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Introduction to Ethics

ANNA MARIE T. DEL ROSARIO

August 2023
 Introduction to Ethics

What is Morality?
▪ is the behavior and beliefs that a society
deems acceptable
▪ it refers to the set of standards that enable
people to live cooperatively in groups. It’s
what societies determine to be right and
acceptable.
▪ Acting in a moral manner means individuals
must sacrifice their own short-term interests
to benefit society. Individuals who go
against these standards may be considered
immoral.
 Introduction to Ethics

Let us differentiate …

▪ Describes someone who ▪ Describes someone who

acknowledges the difference purposely commits an offensive
between right and wrong, act, even though they know the
but who is not concerned difference between what is right
with morality. and wrong.
 Introduction to Ethics

Let us differentiate …
 Introduction to Ethics

How Morals are Established?

▪ Morality is not FIXED.

▪ What is considered acceptable in your

culture might not be acceptable in other
culture. Geographical regions, religion,
family and life experiences all influence
morals.
 Introduction to Ethics

How Morals are Established?

There are several theories that have gained
attention over the years.
▪ FREUD’s morality and the superego
Moral development occurred when setting aside their selfish needs
and replaced by values.

▪ PIAGET’s theory of moral development

Focused on social-cognitive and social-emotional perspective.
Children learn to adopt moral behaviors for their own sake.

▪ B.F SKINNER’s behavioral theory

Focused on the power of external force that shaped an individual’s
development.
 Introduction to Ethics

How Morals are Established?

▪ KOHLBERG’s moral reasoning
Focused on the six stages of moral development:
 Introduction to Ethics

What is Ethics?
ETHICS is that branch of philosophy
that deals with how we ought to live,
with the idea of the GOOD, and with
concepts such as “RIGHT” and
“WRONG.”
LOUIS P. POJMAN and JAMES FIESER
- authors of the book Ethics, Discovering Right and Wrong
 Introduction to Ethics

What is Ethics?
ETHICS is a set of beliefs on understanding of what is
morally right philosophy DICTATING behaviors that are
encouraged or discouraged.
▪ There is a common belief.
▪ More defined and coded.
▪ “ethos” means custom
 Introduction to Ethics

What is Ethics for others?

▪ is a highly personal thing, a matter of private
opinion.
▪ others claim that our values come from family
upbringing
▪ others think that ethics is a set of social principles,
the codes of one’s society or particular groups
within it.
▪ others think that many people get their ethical
beliefs from their religion.
 Introduction to Ethics

is concerned with
VALUES – Moral Values
 Introduction to Ethics

Through WEIGHING our

we DETERMINE what is the MOST
IMPORTANT thing in our
 Introduction to Ethics

We DECIDE what is the:

▪ greatest good
▪ what goals we should
pursue in life
▪ what virtues we should
cultivate
▪ what duties we should or
should not fulfill
▪ what values we should put
on human life
▪ what pain and perils we
should be willing
TO ENDURE FOR NOTIONS SUCH AS THE
COMMON GOOD, JUSTICE, AND RIGHTS.