Ethics

Prepared by:
Sir Albert Avila LPT, MA.
 Ethics
What
What is
is the
the good
good life?
life?
 Nature of ethics
a.
a. Ethics
Ethics is
is the
the philosophical
philosophical study
study of
of
the
the morality
morality of
of human
human acts.
acts.
b.
b. Only
Only human
human acts
acts are
are subjects
subjects of
of
morality
morality and
and moral
moral responsibility.
responsibility.
c.
c. Human
Human acts
acts are
are acts
acts done
done with
with
knowledge,
knowledge, freedom
freedom and
and
voluntariness.
voluntariness.
Nature of ethics

d. Acts with no knowledge,

and/or freedom, and/or
voluntariness, are called acts
of man and are not subject to
morality.

e. The determinants of morality

are the
acts itself, the
circumstances, and
the end of the doer.
Classical ethical theories
 1. Platonism
• If a man knows what the good
life is, he will not act
immorally. Thus, evil is due
to lack of knowledge.

• Absolutism – there is
fundamentally one and only
one good life for all men to
lead – the objectivity of
Moral principle.
 2. Aristotle
nicomachean ethics

• The Doctrine of the

mean – in order to
achieve happiness,
men must act
moderately, they
must act so as to be
striving for the mean
between two
extreme.
 Aristotle
nicomachean ethics

• The good life is a life of

happiness.

• Happiness is an activity
not a goal.

• Men ought to behave so as

to achieve happiness.
 3. Epicurus –
hedonism
Pleasure
Pleasure is
is the
the sole
sole good
good –– to
to live
live
pleasantly
pleasantly without
without suffering
suffering from
from anyany of
of
the
the undesirable
undesirable effects
effects of
of such
such living.
living.
Dynamic
Dynamic pleasure
pleasure –– pleasure
pleasure
accompanied
accompanied by
by pain.
pain.
Epicurus – hedonism
• Passive pleasure – pleasure
not accompanied by pain.

a. Psychological Hedonism – a
doctrine that states that men
pursue pleasure and only
pleasures in their lives.

b. Ethical Hedonism – the

view that men not only seek
pleasure but that they ought
to do so since it is the only
good.
4. Cynicism – Diogenes
Holds that all fruits of civilization are worthless.
If salvation is to be found , it is in the rejection of society and a return to simple
life, to a life of ascetic living.
 Cynicism – Diogenes
• The world was fundamentally
evil, in order to live properly
a man must withdraw from
participation in it.

• Man must find it, within

itself. This is what virtue
consists of.
5. Stoicism – zeno
• Learn to be indifferent to
external influences

• Epictitus – good or evil

depends upon oneself.

• Virtue resides in the will, that

only the will is good or bad.
 Stoicism – zeno
Man
Man who
who is
is indifferent
indifferent is
is aa free
free man
man
–– he
he becomes
becomes independent
independent of of the
the
world.
world.
Predestination
Predestination –– all
all happenings
happenings in
in
the
the world
world are
are fixed
fixed by
by God
God
according
according to
to some
some preconceived
preconceived
plan.
plan.

Virtue
Virtue consists
consists of
of aa will
will which
which is
is in
in
agreement
agreement with
with the
the happenings
happenings of of
nature.
nature
 6. Christian Ethics
• The view that there is divine
being who has laid
down certain rules for
moral behavior and that correct
conduct consist in acting
accordance with these rules and
incorrect conduct consists in
violating them.

• Authoritarianism – the church

regards the moral code as an
objective and infallible guide to
correct behavior.
 7. Baruch Spinoza
• All things come to pass,
according to the eternal order
and fixed laws of nature –
stoics point of view.

• Nothing is good or bad in

itself but it is only in relation
to someone relativist.

• One should look at events as

part of a larger system.

• RELATIVISM
 8. Utilitarianism:
J. Bentham and J.S Mill

• An action is right in so far as

it tends to produce the
greatest happiness for
the greatest number.
• The consequences of a
given action determines the
rightness or the
wrongness of an act not the
motive for which it was done.
 PROJECT:

• INSPIRATION VIDEO:
• Maximum of 3 min
• Something that you can contribute to the society in a real
world situation

Example:
• Topic:
• Ethical Message:
• Objective/Impact:
 Criteria

Message (30 points)

Relevance and Timely

Originality (30 points)

Creativity and unique

Presentation (30 points)

Clarity, realistic, technicalities
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