INTRODUCTION

GE 8 – ETHICS
Instructor
Rinovic C. Repollo
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KEY CONCEPTS IN
ETHICS
Importance of Rules to Social Beings
Moral vs. Non-moral Standards
Dilemma and Moral Dilemma
Three levels of Moral Dilemmas
‘Only human beings can be ethical’
Freedom-Responsibility as a Foundation of Morality
Minimum Requirement for Morality: Reason and Impartiality

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of this Module,
you should be able to:
•
• Explain the importance of following various rules
(home, community, school rules and regulations)
• Differentiate between moral and non-moral
standards
• Differentiate between dilemma and moral dilemma
• Identify a moral dilemma in a given situation
• Classify moral dilemmas according to the three
levels of moral dilemmas
• Explain why only human beings can be ethical
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 INTRODUCTION:
KEY CONCEPTS IN ETHICS
Ethics “ethicos” (Greek) is the branch of
philosophy that systematically studies
morality or the rightness or wrongness of
human conduct.
Morality “mores” (Latin) speaks of a code or
system of behavior (customs/traditions) in
regards to standards of right or wrong.
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 1. The Importance of Rules to Social Beings

Rules refer to explicit or understood

regulations or principles governing conduct
within a specific activity or sphere.
Rules tell us what is or is not allowed in a
particular context or situation.

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 Rules benefit social beings in various manners:
Rules protect social beings by regulating behavior.
Rules help to guarantee each person certain
rights and freedom.
Rules produce a sense of justice among social
beings.
Rules are essential for a healthy economic system

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 2. Moral vs. Non-moral Standards
 Not all rules are moral rules. That is, not all standards
are moral standards.
 Morality refer to the standards that a person or a group
has about what is right and wrong, or good or evil.
 Accordingly, moral standards are those concerned with or
relating to human behavior/actions/activities, especially
the distinction between good and bad (or right or wrong)
behavior.

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 2. Moral vs. Non-moral Standards
 Non-moral standards refer to rules that are unrelated to
moral or ethical considerations. Either these standards
are not necessarily linked to morality or by nature lack
ethical sense.
i.e. rules of etiquette
fashion standards
rules in games

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 Characteristics of Moral Standards
 Moral standards involve serious wrongs or significant
benefits.
 Moral standards ought to be preferred to other values.
 Moral standards are not established by authority figures.
 Moral standards have trait of universalizability.
 Moral standards are based on impartial conditions
 Moral standards are associated with special emotions
and vocabulary.
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 3. Dilemmas and Moral Dilemmas
 Dilemma refers to a situation in which a tough/difficult
choice has to be made between two or more options,
specially more or less equally undesirable ones. Not all
dilemmas are moral dilemmas.

 Moral dilemmas are situations involving serious and

difficult choice/s has/have to be made between two or
more courses of action, among which, entails transgressing
a moral principle.
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 4 Features/Characteristics of
Moral/Ethical Dilemma
 1. One is obligated/mandated/required to act each of two
(2) (or more) behaviors
 2. The two (2) (or more) acts/behaviors are based on moral
standards
 3. One can act each of the two (2) (or more) behaviors, but
one cannot act both (or all) simultaneously
 4. One seems to be condemned to choose even the
wrong/bad/evil or fail for doing what one ought to do
(choosing the lesser evil)
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4. Three Levels of Moral Dilemmas

Personal Dilemma – individual / personal/

subjective level
Organizational Dilemma –
unit/department/college
Structural Dilemma – national/international

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 5. ‘Only human beings can be ethical’
Only human beings are rational, autonomous, and
self-conscious.
Only human beings can act morally or immorally.
Only human beings are part of the moral
community.

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6. Freedom as a Foundation of Morality
Basically, morality is a question of choice.
Morality practically, is choosing ethical codes,
values, or standards to guide us in our daily lives.
Philosophically, choosing is not possible without
freedom.
Practically, the sum of our choices can be said to
define our specific ‘morality’.

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7. Minimum Requirement for Morality:
Reason and Impartiality

Reason/Intelligence
Good and Right Reason
Good/Beautiful/Best thing to do given the
situation
Involves the idea that each individual’s
interests and point of view are equally
important.
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Thank You!
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CLASS DISCUSSION
Recall some rules you have to
follow in school and community. Place your screenshot here

What rules do you find constricting?

Explain why people have to follow rules.

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Quotations are commonly printed
as a means of inspiration and to
invoke philosophical thoughts
from the reader.

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 Human Act

3 Elements of Human Act

1. Knowledge/Reason/Intellect/Awareness
2. Freedom/Liberty
3. Voluntariness/Willingness/Consent

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