Engada, Mardion P

MAS70 B2
What Does Being Ethical Mean To You?
According to Wikipedia, ethics is a branch of philosophy that focuses on the concepts of
right and wrong conduct, and moral diversity. It seeks to answer questions dealing with
concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime.
With this definition, we can assume that ethics is simply the science of ideal human
character and/or moral duty (Kidder, 2003). But how do ethics actually affect our day-to-day
activities, our culture, and our society? Where did it originate and what does being ethical mean
to us? Some people say that morality cannot exist without religion and ethics would be
impossible without God (LaFave, 2005). Others say that ethics has nothing to do with the
presence or absence of religious beliefs but it is a result of human evolution as social animals
(Zindler, Atheists.org).
Ancient literatures such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, Iliad, and Eddas portray a set of values
that governed ancient civilization (Cahill, 1998) while religious scriptures such as the Bible
portrays God as the ruler of mankind and commands obedience to moral rules (Deuteronomy
6:5). However, a philosopher named Thomas Aquinas developed the natural law theory in the
Middle Ages that states that the nature of humans determines what is right and wrong such as
how murder is wrong because life is important to humans so depriving someone of its right to
live is naturally evil (Finnis, 1983).
Whatever the origin of ethical culture is, we cannot deny that it is an important part of the
human culture. People act based on the standards set by their leaders and peers and even good
people do bad things when they are put in an environment that doesnt value values (Ethical
Research Center, 2009) which is why ethical culture must be implied in any form of social group
or organization.
Personally, I see ethics to have a different meaning depending on someones culture
since; theoretically, our interpretations of ethical and moral behaviour are based on cultural
influences (Boundless.com). During my younger years, I tend to follow ethical standards purely
based on what my parents and the society have taught me but as I grow older, I gradually
changed my views on what being ethical is especially in morals, religion, and sexuality. Now I
have completely changed my views and believe that being ethical is respecting a persons
personal belief, right, and sexual preference and that anyone can has the right to follow their
cultural standards as long as they dont harass someone elses right and freedom. I also believe
that being ethical, like my marketing professor used to say, is doing the right thing even when no
one is watching. Sadly, the government and a lot of business companies are not doing this.
For years, a lot of alternative sources of energy have been discovered and invented but
the government and oil companies doesnt support this because of fear that they will not gain
profit from it. Even the medical industry has a lot of flaws when it comes to being ethical. So far,
there is still no known cure for cancer and AIDS despite of a number of studies being conducted
over the years. Is it because that these studies lack evidence or because they refuse support them?
I believe that the answer is the latter. They are using diseases as a form of business which for me
is very wrong and unethical.
In conclusion, being ethical for me is doing the right thing wherever you are, whoever
you are, and whatever you do even if it means sacrificing properties or any other important
things in life. It also means accepting other peoples ethical and moral view and their rights.















References:
Culture and Ethics. (n.d.). Retrieved , from https://www.boundless.com/definition/culture/
Ethics. (n.d.) . Retrieved , from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ethics
History of ethics. (n.d.). . Retrieved , from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ethics
J. Finnis, Fundamentals of Ethics (Oxford, 1983).
Kidder, Rushworth (2003). How Good People Make Tough Choices: Resolving the Dilemmass
of Ethical Living. New York: Harper. p. 63. ISBN 0-688-17590-2.
LaFave, S. (2005). Ethics and Religion.
T. Cahill, The Gifts of the Jews (New York, 1998), ch. 1; A. W. H. Adkins, Merit and
Responsibility: A Study in Greek Values (Oxford, 1960).
The Importance of Ethical Culture: Increasing Trust and Driving Down Risks. (2009). : Ethics
Resource Center .
Zindler, F. (n.d.). ETHICS WITHOUT GODS. Retrieved , from http://www.atheists.org/
activism/resources/ethics