Foundations of

the Principles of Business Ethics

CHAPTER 2
Classical Ethical
Philosophies
LESSON 5
CHAPTER 2
Lesson Objectives:

1. Define Philosophy
2. Distinguish between Ethics and Philosophy
3. Identify the various branches of Philosophy
Share your Philosophy

1. Think of a statement that primarily represents the

way you live your own life.
2. Share it before the class.
3. Explain why did you say so.
Famous Philosopher Quotes

The unexamined life

is not worth living.
– Socrates
Famous Philosopher Quotes

He who has never learned to obey

cannot be a good commander.
- Aristotle
 Famous Philosopher Quotes

Life is really simple, but we insist

on making it complicated.
- Confucius
 Philosophy

Originates from two Greek words:

1. philia – which means love
2. sophia – which means wisdom

The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge,

reality and existence.
(New Oxford Dictionary, 2005)
 The 3 Branches of Philosophy

1. Metaphysics - the study of the nature of reality.

The Philosophy of being.
Ontology – deals with the nature of existence
Cosmology – inspects the origin & organization of the
universe
 The 3 Branches of Philosophy

2. Epistemology – the study of the nature of

knowledge --- where Logic is the key dimension.

deductive logic – an investigation moving from general

to specific facts
inductive logic – an investigation moving from specific
facts to general
 The 3 Branches of Philosophy

3. Axiology – the study of the nature of values

ethics – studies human conduct and moral values.

- involves a discipline that examines good or bad
practices within the context of a moral duty.
aesthetics – appreciates beauty, nature, and aesthetic
experience
Ethics vs. Philosophy
Ethics – the principles of conduct governing an
individual or a group

Personal ethics
- rules by which one lives his/her personal life.
Accounting ethics
- code that guides professional conduct of accountants
Ethics vs. Philosophy
Ethics
(1) the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group
(2) the study of morality

Personal ethics
- rules by which one lives his/her personal life.
Accounting ethics
- code that guides professional conduct of accountants
Is Ethics the same as Morality?
Ethics includes the investigation activity and results of
investigation.

Morality is the subject matter it investigates.

Answer: No.
Strands of Classical
Philosophy
 3 Strands of Philosophy

1. Idealism
Refers to the worlds of minds and ideas, where
reason is primary
Proponents:
Plato (the Father of Idealism)
Socrates (Greek Philosopher)
Augustine (4th & 5th Theologian)
 3 Strands of Philosophy

2. Realism
Belief that “The Universe” exist whether the mind
perceives it or not.
(the antithesis of idealism)
Proponents:
Aristotle (Father of Realism)
Francis Bacon
John Locke
Comenius
 3 Strands of Philosophy

3. Neo-theism
Belief that “God exists and can be known through
faith and reason.”
Also known as Theistic Realism

Proponent: Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Contemporary Philosophies
 Contemporary Philosophies
1. Pragmatism

an approach that evaluates the truth of theories or beliefs in

terms of the success of their practical application.
Experiences of things that work

Charles Darwin Auguste Comte Charles Pierce John Dewey

 Contemporary Philosophies
2. Existentialism

a philosophical theory which emphasizes the existence of

the individual person as a free and responsible agent
determining his own development through acts of the will.

Soren Kierkegaard Martin Buber Edmund Husserl

 Contemporary Philosophies
3. Analytic Philosophy
the practice of seeking better understanding through the
analysis of complex, obscure, or problematic linguistic
expressions
Focuses on political philosophy, ethics, and philosophy of
the human science.

Bertrand Russell George Edward Moore

Post Lesson Activity
Complete the mind map about Philosophy.

Branches

Classical
Philosophy Philosophies

Contemporary
Philosophies
Post Lesson Activity
Complete the mind map about Philosophy.
Ontology

Metaphysics Cosmology

Deductive Logic
Branches Epistemology
Inductive Logic

Axiology Ethics

idealism Aesthetics
Philosophy Classical
Philosophies Realism

Neo-theism
Contemporary
Philosophies Pragmatism

Existentialism

Analytic Philosophy
References
1. Racelis, A. Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, Rex
Publishing, Philippines (2017)
2. https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-
almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/analytic-philosophy