LESSON 1: NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS

Nature of Ethics
I. Etymology
 Greek word Ethos meaning “characteristic way of acting”
 Latin word mos or mores meaning “tradition or custom”
II. Meaning
 Ethics is defines as the science of morality of human acts. And because actions
reflect the motives of the doer, Ethics is said to be the study of human motivation,
and ultimately, of human rational behavior.
 Ethics reviews the morality of our human acts.
III. Kinds of acts
 Human acts-actions performed knowingly, freely, with intention, or voluntary.
 Human acts reveal the thoughts and inclinations of the person doing them. They
are then manifestation of one’s character or moral conduct. A person who has
the habit or inclination to do good is virtuous and a person who has the habit to
do bad is called vicious.
 Acts of man-actions which are instinctive or involuntary.
IV. Morality- the standard by which an act is deemed:
 Good=moral;
 Bad=immoral; or
 Indifferent=amoral

Importance of Ethics
Without our knowledge of ethics and moral perception, man is only an animal. Without
morality, man as a rational being is a failure.

Two Ethical Systems

Ethical theories may be classified under two general categories:
1. Atheistic approach-it assumes that only matter exists and that man is responsible only
to himself since there is no God who creates and rules the universe. Moral truths
therefore are temporary and mutable depending on the situation. Accordingly, the
concept of good and evil is always relative and changeable. Accordingly, the concept of
good and evil is always relative and changeable. Atheistic theories propose the following
principles:
2. Theistic approach begins with the assumption that God is the Supreme Lawgiver.
Everything must conform to God’s eternal plan of creation. Man must exercise his
freedom In accordance with God’s will. Man is accountable for his actions and deserves
either a reward or punishment in this life or the next.

Ethics in other fields

Ethics vs. Moral Thelogy
Ethics, also known as Moral Philosophy, relies on human reason to investigate
truths. Ethics goes deeper into the reasons why we must choose certain values. Ethics
explains human values in relation to the ultimate purpose of human existence. Moral
Theology employs reason insofar as it is enlightened by faith or divine revelation.
Ethics and Aesthetics (Art)
Aesthetics or Art is the appreciation of beauty. It implies how order and harmony
of parts in a given whole. Aesthetics does not only pertain to artworks but also how to
bring the general order (kaayusan) of our human life. In this sense, Ethics is an art. It is
the breathe of life, pulsating with the desire for growth and development. It is a master
plan indicating where man must go and what he ought to do in order to live well. In a
sense, man is an artist, creating something of beauty out of his self.

Ethics and Religion

Ethics is a sciene