Ethics Module II

MODULE II
1.
2.
3.
•
•
•
•
•
•
CLARIFICATIONS AND TERMINOLOGY
Recognize that there are

instances when we make
value judgments that are
not considered to be part
of ethics
These are valuations that fall under the domain of aesthetics. The word
“aesthetics” is derived from the Greek word aisthesis (“sense” or
“feeling”) and refers to the judgments of personal approval or disapproval
that we make about what we see, hear, smell, or taste. In fact, we often use
the word “taste” to refer to the personal aesthetic preferences that we
have on these matters, such as “his taste in music” or “ her taste in
clothes”.
Concerned with right and

wrong actions, but those which
might be considered not quite
grave enough to belong to a
discussion on ethics.
The Greek word techne the

English words of “technique” and
“technical” are often used to
refer to a proper way(or right
way) of doing things, but a
technical valuation (or right and
wrong technique of doing things)
may not necessarily be an ethical
one
Recognizing the characteristics of aesthetic
and technical valuation allows us to have a
rough guide as to what belongs to a
discussion of ethics. They involve
valuations that we make in a sphere of
human actions, characterized by certain
gravity and concern the human well-being
or human life itself. Therefore, matters
that concern human well-being such as
poverty, inequality, or sexual identity are
http://www.industriuscfo.com/fundamentals-business-
valuation/ often included in discussion of ethics.
Our second clarification is on the

use of the words “ethics” and
“morals”. This discussion of ethics
and morals would include cognates
such as ethical, unethical, immoral,
amoral, morality, and so on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAL2uzuxbTo
ETHICS AS A BRANCH OF PHILOSPHY
The term “ethics” can be spoken of as the

discipline of studying and understanding ideal
behavior and ideal ways of thinking.
Ethics is acknowledged as an intellectual

discipline belonging to philosophy.
ETHICS AS A BRANCH OF PHILOSPHY
ACCEPTABLE = ETHICAL/MORAL
UNACCEPTABLE – UNETHICAL/IMMORAL
“professional ethics” (e.g., legal ethics for the proper

comportment of lawyers and other people in the legal
profession; medical ethics for doctors and nurses; media ethics
for writers and reporters.
Therefore, various thinkers and writers posit a distinction

between the terms “moral” and “ethics” and they may have
good reasons for doing so, but there is no consensus as to
how to make that distinction. Ordinary conversation presents
a such less rigid distinction between these terms, and in our
discussions, we will lean in that direction as we do not need to
occupy ourselves here with the question of how different
thinkers and writers construe that distinction. So, we will be
using the terms “ethical” and “moral” (likewise, “ethics” and
“morality”) interchangeably.
Our third point of clarification

is to distinguish between a a
descriptive and a normative
study of ethics.
A descriptive study of ethics reports how people,

particularly groups, make their moral valuations without
making any judgment either for or against these valuations.
A normative study of ethics, as is often done in philosophy or

moral theology, engages the question: What could or should be
considered as the right way of acting? In other words, a normative
discussion prescribes what we ought to maintain as our standards
or bases for moral valuation.
As the final point of

clarification, it may be helpful
to distinguish a situation that
calls for moral valuation. It can
be called a moral issue.
It refer(s) to those particular situations that are often the

source of considerable and inclusive debate
When one is placed in a situation and confronted by the choice

of what act to perform
When a person is an observer who makes an assessment on the

actions or behavior of someone
going beyond the matter of choosing right over wrong, or good

over bad, and considering instead the more complicated
situation wherein one is torn between choosing one of two
goods or choosing between lesser of two evils
THE MORAL DILEMMA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfF5N1MaIxA
https://www.teachingideas.co.uk/problem-solving/the-reasoning-pack
The study of ethics is interested in questions like
these: Why do we decide to consider this way of
acting as acceptable while that way of acting, its
opposite, is unacceptable? To put it in another way,
what reasons do we give to decide or to judge that a
certain way of acting is either right or wrong?
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS2Lcw-
suhqePlX64qWI7q89YuxO6RJ02utnw&usqp=CAU
MOTIVATION
FEAR OF PUNISHMENT
REASON
FOR
ACTING IN
CERTAIN
DESIRE FOR REWARD WAY
NOT DETERMINANTS OF
RIGHTNESS OR
https://images.hrtechnologist.com/images/uploads/content_
images/recognition_5bfffd996fc7f.jpg WRONGNESS
A COMMON FAULT IN REASONING
https://www.instituteofclinicalhypnosis.com/wp-
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMn-HawatAs/Vl802G7z3AI/AAAAAAAABNU/ZJ646iyHbqI/s1600/Rationalizing.jpg
content/uploads/2014/11/Rationalization.png
A COMMON FAULT IN REASONING
A rationalization occurs when

we use what at first glance
seem to be rational or credible
motives to cover up our true
(and perhaps unconscious)
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/rationaliza
motives.
tion-human-mind-pictured-as-word-inside-
head-to-symbolize-relation-psyche-d-
illustration-172326596.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/65/bf/1c/65bf1c9c13a781caa03e4cdf5d5dedd3.png
-are rationally
established grounds by
which one justifies and
maintains moral
decisions and
judgments.
https://summitbhc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/12-step-principles.jpg
https://images.slideplayer.com/25/8249198/slides/slide_4.jpg
https://7esl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Inductive-vs-Deductive-Reasoning-1.jpg
https://7esl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Inductive-vs-Deductive-Reasoning-1.jpg
https://slideplayer.com/slide/14149538/86/images/5/What+is+a+Moral+Theory+The+primary+form+that+philosophical+reflection+on+
morality+had+taken+is+what+is+known+as+moral+theory..jpg
A moral theory is a systematic attempt to
establish the validity of maintaining
certain moral principles.
as a theory of interconnected ideas,

and at the same time
through which we can evaluate

our reasons for valuing certain
decision or judgment.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-e38Uz3-6Xw/hqdefault.jpg
https://huntnewsnu.com/wp-
content/uploads/2019/10/Culture-900x450.png
https://www.icta.mu/images/laws.png
https://facts.net/history/religion/religion-facts
Law is an ordinance of reason promulgated for the common good by one who has charge of society (St.
Thomas Aquinas). It is supposed that law is one’s guide to ethical behavior.
Laws are “ordinance of reason” because they are rational deliberations intended to guide men
towards what is good for them and for society. They direct men to perform certain activities as good
for them and for society. The main objective or purpose of the laws is the attainment of the common
good.
Laws are “promulgated” – that they are made known to the people who are bound to observe them.
Laws are passed by “one who has charge of society” – because they can only be valid if they are only
be valid if they are the legitimate exercise of authority. Accordingly, only those who have the power and
responsibility to govern have the power to enact the law.
Laws are necessary to man. They regulate human activity. Without laws, there will be anarchy and chaos,
because each one will act according to his wishes without regard for the common good. Without laws, Man
will not realized his ultimate purpose in life.
The Law in General (Aquinas 101)
https://image.slidesharecdn.com/law-110919055246-phpapp02/95/law-10-728.jpg?cb=1316411694
https://slideplayer.com/slide/8912768/27/images/13/Eternal+Law+Divine+Law.+Natural+Law.+Human+Law..jpg
https://cdn.britannica.com/33/212033-050-
https://image.slidesharecdn.com/naturallawnewversionpmbppt2-151013110106-lva1- 91EBF6C3/St-Thomas-Aquinas-poplar-tempera-
app6892/95/natural-law-new-version-pmb-ppt-2-12-638.jpg?cb=1444734134\ Demidoff-Altarpiece.jpg
https://slideplayer.com/slide/7042790/24/images/11/Properties+of+Natural+Law.jpg
Application: That every sane
adult must know that good is to
be done and evil avoided, and
must recognize the obviously
good things as good and
evident evils as evil.
https://image.slidesharecdn.com/law-110919055246-phpapp02/95/law-26-
728.jpg?cb=1316411694
Human Positive Law, when
it is truly law, binds the
conscience of its subjects,
for it is rooted in the natural
law, and remotely in the
Eternal Law of God Himself.
The idea that one is obliged to obey her
God in all things, expresses a claim that
many people of a religious sensibility
find appealing and immediately valid. As
a foundation to ethical values, this is
referred to as the divine command
theory. The divinity called God, Allah, or
Supreme Being commands and one is
obliged to obey her Creator.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/INbDHSqtH1McqAKd1ejvTGOSSPkwLlT
5OrosYVaRji_kDCA0yPeDrozlG2BSb9zVvtKa0dGMD8pKqgQ-
QEtmX_KylBjyKqP3oZTE5chI6BH62Kry_Scs8ZIyIg
Many of us had been brought up with one form of religious upbringing or another,
so it is very possible that there is a strong inclination in us to refer to our religious
background to back up our moral valuations.
However, one concern on this matter is the presence of a multiplicity of religions in our
society. Each faith demands differently from its adherents, which would apparently result
in conflicting ethical standards.
Our exposure to different societies and their
cultures makes us aware that there are ways of
thinking and valuing that are different from our
own, that there is in fact a wide diversity in
how different people believe it is proper to act.
Therefore, what is ethically acceptable or
unacceptable is relative to, or that is to say,
dependent on one’s culture.
https://img.haikudeck.com/mg/AF91173C-C6A5-476F-BBC8-E18E4B68BC86.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8c/7d/47/8c7d47af08a3a0b082174d128e8c9e0e.jpg
Our own culture’s moral code is neither superior to nor inferior to any
other, but they would provide us the standards that are appropriate and
applicable to us.
Be tolerant of others from different cultures, as we realize that we are in no

position to judge whether the ethical thought or practice of another culture is
acceptable or unacceptable.
Understand a culture on its own terms and not to make judgments using the
standards of one’s own culture.
There is no absolute standard of good or evil, therefore every decision and
judgment of what is right and wrong is individually decided in each society.
Overall, there is NO right
or wrong ethical system.
https://image.slidesharecdn.com/communicationppt-181108184819/95/ethnocentrism-cultural-relativism-8-638.jpg?cb=1544702262
SENSES OF THE SELF
https://image1.slideserve.com/1837258/ethical-subjectivism-l.jpg
https://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/of-
course-im-entitled-to-my-own-opinion-my-opinion-is-the-truth-
12062.png
https://theorchardchurch.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/No-one-
Can-Tell-Me-What-is-Right-or-Wrong-Sermon.jpg
https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/0*hPWBhlt1IDKaG3xD.png
https://slideplayer.com/slide/5078006/16/images/3/Psychological+Egoism+Human+bei
ngs+always+act+in+pursuit+of+%28what+they+see+as%29+their+self-interest..jpg
https://www.thephilosophysite.com/uploads/6/3/4/0/63404685/7289281_orig.jpeg
https://slideplayer.com/slide/3776754/13/images/28/ETHICAL+EGOISM+Ethical+egoism
+is+the+doctrine+that+all+persons+should+%28ought%29+to..jpg
https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/1*w2EPEVAHXL9uUsLaGir_8Q.jpeg
Psychological Egoism - All People are Selfish in Everything They Do
: a conclusion to be made based on presented
facts or information : a main point or key
message to be learned or understood from
something experienced or observed

Ethics Module II

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ethics Module II

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MODULE II

Recognize that there are

Concerned with right and

The Greek word techne the

Our second clarification is on the

ETHICS AS A BRANCH OF PHILOSPHY

The term “ethics” can be spoken of as the

Ethics is acknowledged as an intellectual

ETHICS AS A BRANCH OF PHILOSPHY

“professional ethics” (e.g., legal ethics for the proper

Therefore, various thinkers and writers posit a distinction

Our third point of clarification

A descriptive study of ethics reports how people,

A normative study of ethics, as is often done in philosophy or

As the final point of

It refer(s) to those particular situations that are often the

When one is placed in a situation and confronted by the choice

When a person is an observer who makes an assessment on the

going beyond the matter of choosing right over wrong, or good

A rationalization occurs when

as a theory of interconnected ideas,

through which we can evaluate

Be tolerant of others from different cultures, as we realize that we are in no

You might also like