Republic of the Philippines

Bulacan State University

Sarmiento Campus

General Academics and Teacher Education Department

_____________________________________________________________

ETH 101: ETHICS

1ST Semester – A.Y. 2023 - 2024

Lesson 1 – Introduction to Ethics

Week 2: August 21, 2023
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this week, the students should be able to:

• Define Ethics, Morality, and Moral Philosophy

• Outline the historical development of Moral Philosophy.

• Identify and demonstrate an objective appreciation of the

concepts and basic perspectives in the study of ethics
 The 3-2-1 Activity
Get ½ sheet of paper. Write your name, section, and the date. Write “ONLINE
CLASS DUE TO ELECTRICITY SYSTEM FAILURE IN THE CAMPUS” in
the right upper corner of your paper.
Answer the following and mark it as PRE-TEST:
Write the question first before answering
1. Write about three (3) things that you know about ethics and morality;
2. Two (2) things that you still want to learn, and
3. One (1) question you have in your mind about ethics and morality.
Screenshot your paper and send it to our GC.
“JUST BE HONEST WITH YOUR ANSWERS, THIS WILL NOT BE
RECORDED BUT WILL SERVE AS YOUR ATTENDANCE”
 MORAL PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS
- Both disciplines deal with questions about
morality, values, and principles that guide
human behavior. However, there are some
subtle distinctions between the two.

- The aim of Ethics is to study morality

 MORALITY vs ETHICS
- Morality refers to knowing the difference between
right and wrong and making choices that align with
what is considered good and fair.

- Ethics is the study of what is right and wrong, and

how people should behave in different situations to
make good choices
 ETHICS VS MORALITY
BASIS OF MORALITY ETHICS
COMPARISON

Meaning Morality – is the beliefs of the individual or group as Ethics are the guiding principles that the individual or group
to what is right or wrong. to decide what is good or bad.
It is the subject matter. It is the discipline

What is it General principles set by group Response to a specific situation

Deal with what is ‘right or wrong’ Deals with what is ‘good or evil’

Root Word Mos which means custom Ethikos which means character

Governed by Social and cultural norms Individual or Legal and Professional norms
It does not have a reason or justification for doing It has reasons and justification, what are the alternatives
something

Deals with Principles of right and wrong Right and wrong conduct
Practice of conduct found and grounded in different It’s the discipline that grounds the reasons for activity, by
cultures, norms, and traditions over time. doing the right and avoiding the wrong based on principles

Consistency Differ from society to society and culture to culture. It Ethics are generally uniform based on disciplines
is the way of life of people in a community. Inherited
from parents, ancestors, community.
 EXAMPLES OF MORAL AND ETHICS
MORAL ETHICS
Honesty, Medical Ethics, Business Ethics,
Compassion, Environment Ethics, Research
Respect for Others, Ethics, Environment Ethics,
Gratitude, Research Ethics, Journalistic
Forgiveness, Ethics, Legal Ethics, Educational
Responsibility Ethics
There are moral actions that are not
ethical,
and
there are ethical actions that are not
moral.
 Moral Actions that are not Ethical
• Cultural Sensitivity - believe that their cultural beliefs are morally
superior and justify mistreating or disrespecting individuals from
other cultures.
 Moral Actions that are not Ethical
• Vigilantism - taking the law into their own hands and deliver
punishment to those they perceive as wrongdoers
 Moral Actions that are not Ethical
• Excessive Honesty - revealing certain truths might cause unnecessary
harm or distress to others
 Moral Actions that are not Ethical
• Overextending Kindness - Being overly kind to the point of enabling
negative behavior
 Moral Actions that are not Ethical
• Ignoring Privacy for a “Greater Good” - Someone might think it's morally
acceptable to invade someone's privacy if it's believed to prevent harm.
 Moral Actions that are not Ethical
• Selective Charity -
Donating to a specific
cause while
disregarding other
pressing needs might
be guided by personal
moral beliefs
 Moral Actions that are not Ethical
• Extreme Asceticism – belief that self-inflicted suffering is morally
noble
 Ethical Actions that are not Moral
• Following Company Policy – adhering to the company's policies
and practices, even if employee personally believe that some of
these policies are unfair or unjust
 Ethical Actions that are not Moral
• Legal Compliance – follow the law to avoid consequences or
penalties, even if you don't necessarily agree with the morality or
ethics behind certain laws.
 Ethical Actions that are not Moral
• Professional Confidentiality – Professionals, such as therapists or
lawyers, might maintain client confidentiality strictly due to
ethical obligations.
 Ethical Actions that are not Moral
• Impartiality in Decision-making – Judges might make decisions
based on legal precedent and established rules, even if they
personally feel that a different outcome would be more morally
just.
 Ethical Actions that are not Moral
• Business Contracts – Adhering to contractual agreements even if
it doesn't align with one's personal moral beliefs about fairness or
equity.
 Ethical Actions that are not Moral
• Academic Integrity – plagiarism and proper citation might be
seen as ethical in an academic setting, even if personal beliefs
differ regarding the value of original work.
 Ethical Actions that are not Moral
• Professional Loyalty – An employee might choose to support
their organization's interests over other considerations, even if
they personally believe that some of the organization's actions
are morally questionable.
 I. Moral philosophy and ethics
MORAL PHILOSOPHY
 Encompasses the systematic and theoretical study of morality.

 Explore fundamental questions about the nature of morality, the origins of

moral principles, and the justification for ethical beliefs.

 Attempting to understand the fundamental nature of right and wrong and

the basis of moral judgments.
 I. Moral philosophy and ethics
Ethics guides your decision-making in a specific situation, while
moral philosophy prompts you to reflect on the broader ethical
principles, theories, and philosophical considerations that
underpin your choice.

Ethics is the "hands-on" aspect of applying moral principles

Moral philosophy is the academic exploration of those principles
and their foundations.
 Historical development of Moral
Philosophy
1. Ancient Moral Philosophy:
a. Pre-Socratic Philosophers (6th - 5th century BCE): Early Greek thinkers like
Thales, Pythagoras, and Heraclitus explored ethical questions concerning the
nature of reality and the good life.
Historical development of Moral
Philosophy
Ancient Moral Philosophy:

b. Socrates (469-399 BCE):

Socrates' teachings emphasized
the importance of self-
examination and the pursuit of
knowledge, which he believed
would lead to virtuous behavior.
 Historical development of Moral
Philosophy
Ancient Moral Philosophy:
c. Plato (428/427-348/347 BCE):
Plato, a student of Socrates,
discussed moral virtue in his
dialogues, particularly in "The
Republic," where he introduced the
concept of the "Philosopher-King"
and the idea of an ideal state.
 Historical development of Moral
Philosophy
Ancient Moral Philosophy:
d. Aristotle (384-322 BCE):
Aristotle's ethical
philosophy, found in works
like "Nicomachean Ethics,"
emphasized the cultivation
of virtues and the attainment
of eudaimonia (flourishing or
well-being) as the ultimate
goal of human life.
Historical development of Moral
Philosophy
2. Medieval Moral
Philosophy
a. Early Christian Ethics
(1st - 6th century CE):
Early Christian thinkers
like Augustine of Hippo
and Thomas Aquinas
incorporated Christian
teachings into their
ethical frameworks,
merging faith with
reason.
Historical development of Moral
Philosophy
Medieval Moral
Philosophy
b. Scholasticism (12th - 17th
century CE): Scholastic
philosophers, including
Aquinas, sought to reconcile
faith and reason through
systematic approaches to
moral dilemmas.
 Historical development of Moral
Philosophy
3. Early Modern Moral Philosophy
a. Enlightenment Thinkers (17th - 18th century CE): Philosophers like John Locke,
Immanuel Kant, and David Hume explored moral questions from secular and rational
perspectives. Kant, in particular, emphasized the importance of moral duty and the
categorical imperative.
 Historical development of Moral
Philosophy
3. Early Modern Moral
Philosophy
b. Utilitarianism (19th century
CE): Jeremy Bentham and John
Stuart Mill developed the
utilitarian ethical theory,
focusing on maximizing overall
happiness or pleasure as the
basis for morality.
 Historical development of Moral
Philosophy
4. 19th and 20th Century Moral
Philosophy
a. Existentialism (19th - 20th
century CE): Thinkers like
Søren Kierkegaard and
Friedrich Nietzsche
questioned traditional moral
frameworks, emphasizing
individual responsibility and
subjective truth.
 Historical development of Moral
Philosophy
4. 19th and 20th Century Moral Philosophy
b. Postmodern Ethics (20th century CE): Philosophers such as Michel
Foucault and Jean-François Lyotard critiqued traditional moral systems,
challenging the idea of universal moral truths.
 Historical development of Moral
Philosophy
4. 19th and 20th Century Moral
Philosophy
c. Analytic Ethics (20th
century CE): Philosophers like
G.E. Moore and W.D. Ross
focused on analyzing moral
language and concepts,
attempting to provide a clearer
understanding of moral
reasoning.
Historical development of Moral
Philosophy
5. Contemporary Moral Philosophy
a.Contemporary ethical theories include various
perspectives, such as deontology, consequentialism,
virtue ethics, feminist ethics, and care ethics.
Philosophers continue to explore complex moral
issues related to technology, the environment, social
justice, and more
 Historical Development of Moral
Philosophy
1. Ancient Moral Philosophy
a. Pre-Socratic Philosophers (6th - 5th century BCE)
b. Socrates (469-399 BCE)
c. Plato (428/427-348/347 BCE)
2. Medieval Moral Philosophy
a. Early Christian Ethics (1st - 6th century CE): Early Christian thinkers like Augustine of Hippo and
Thomas Aquinas incorporated Christ
b. Scholasticism (12th - 17th century CE):
3. Early Modern Moral Philosophy
a. Enlightenment Thinkers (17th - 18th century CE)
b. Utilitarianism (19th century CE)
4. 19th and 20th Century Moral Philosophy
a. Existentialism (19th - 20th century CE)
b. Postmodern Ethics (20th century CE)
c. Analytic Ethics (20th century CE)
5. Contemporary Moral Philosophy
 ASSIGNMENT NO.1
Read one (1) classic and one (1) contemporary ethical text
written by philosophers to understand their theories and
insights on morality.

Provide the following on a yellow pad:

1. Title of the text
2. Salient Points
3. Give your reflections on your readings