ETHICS

Its meaning, Nature and

Scope
ETYMOLOGICAL
MEANING OF
ETHICS
The word “ethics” is derived from the greek word “ethos”
which can be roughly translated in English as custom or a
particularly way and manner of acting and behaving.

The Latin equivalent for custom is “mos” or “mores”. It is

from this root word that the term “moral” or “morality” is
derived
 Ethics: A Definition

Philosophically: The practical science of the morality of human act or conduct and
the good of life.
Science: Body of knowledge systematically arranged and presented in such
manner that it arrives at its conclusions coherently and logically.
Moral Philosophy: Branch of philosophy that deals with how we ought to live with
the idea of the Good and with concepts as ‘right’ and ‘wrong’
Philosophical Discipline: Deals with ultimate principles and truth concerning the
morality of human conduct and truth concerning the morality of human conduct
through the use of human reason and experience alone, without the aid of
supernatural reason or divine revelation.
Ethics and Morality distinguished

Ethics Morality

Gives ethics a
particular
Goodness or badness perspective of what
and Rightness or to study about- that is
wrongness of the the rectitude of
human conduct whether an act is
good or bad, right
and wrong
Ethics: A Philosophy of Action
• While ethics provides certain principles and guidelines
as to what is good and bad, right and wrong in human
conduct, it is morality which actualizes the theory.

• Ethics is the WORD while morality is the FLESH

• Morality, therefore ,is here to aptly understood as the

application (praxis) of ethics (theory)
Ethics: A Practical Discipline
• While ethics is a subject that can be approached only
academically, the learner may be tempted to study is
simply for the sake of obtaining a high grade.

• Ethical theories and principles may, if taught correctly

and truthfully, uplift the student mentally, but may not
transform them concretely into better persons or human
beings, in the truest and finest sense of the term.
The Importance of Studying Ethics

• It enable us to reason out our moral beliefs and why we hold them.
• It will aid us to widen our horizon as to what is good and bad.
• Can deepen our reflection on the ultimate questions of life
• Without ethics, people and society in general would naturally and
expectedly deteriorate. When the moral foundation of a nation is
shaken, and at the brink of collapse, society itself, as its very core,
is also threatened- as to its very existence
• Ethics is the study of choices. Big and small the choice and decision
that we make in our individual and collective lives effect also the
kind of life we live to a considerable extent. Hence we become
good and bad persons through the choices we make.
• Moral decisions is oftentimes difficult. In here, there is a need for
us to pause and reflect as to what particular course of action to
take. Ethics can provide us with certain moral paradigms or
perspectives that will, in a way, guide us in determining what’s
right and wrong under such condition.
The Difference between Ethics and Law
• Ethical rules are necessary even if we have the laws that are
implemented by civil authorities since legality is not identical with
morality. At other times, what is moral is not always legal
• Laws are only concerned with actions that are usually public,
actions that in a way often harmed those around us while ethics
goes beyond the concern and parameters of law, for it includes
human motivations in its investigation.
• Laws are usually the product of a collective agreement of some
sort- a kind of a social contract where people come together and
decide among themselves what’s good and bad. Ethics talks about
what is right is right even though no one is doing it. Wrong is wrong
if even if everyone is doing it
The Distinction Between Ethics and Religion
Ethics
Branch of philosophy that involves
systematizing, defending, and
recommending concepts of right and
wrong conduct
Ground itself on reason and the
wisdom of human experience
Relies on natural reason, logic and
experiences, especially in the
justification and validation of certain
theories and principles concerning
good and bad.
Religion
An organized collection of beliefs,
cultural systems, and world views that
relate humanity to an order of
existence.
Supposed authority of any holy book
and sacred writings
Relies primarily and mainly on
supernatural reason, that is- divine
revelation or diving authority.
Division of Ethics
General Ethics Applied Ethics

Branch of Ethics which deals about the Branch of Ethics which deals with a
general principles of ethics. “General” specific case or a specific scenario. It is
means applicable to a lot of cases not “general”. Instead, it is “applied”.
without much exemption.

Deals with the morality of human acts Applies the specific and fundamental
and the specific determinants of norms and principles of General Ethics
morality in various specific areas of human life
and acitivity
TYPES OF NORMS
Technical Norm
This refers mainly to man’s needs which come from his bodily space-time
limitations. This norm has to do with survival, health, and well being

Examples:

“That’s not the proper way to wash the dishes”

“Your manner of dribbling the ball is bad”

“Your way of fixing that broken door knob is not good”

“You ought to do the PowerPoint presentation this way”

“Her approach in solving that math problem is wrong”

Societal Norm
This has something to do with the need for group cohesion and for straightening
the bonds that keep the community together.

Examples:

“You ought to knock first before you open the door”

“You should not pick one’s nose in public

“It’s not right to talk that way in presence of visitors”

“One must not talk while one’s mouth is full”

“One ought to follow the rituals set forth by her fraternity when it comes to accepting new
members
Aesthetic Norm
This refers to typical perceptual forms regarding color, shape, space, movement,
sound, feeling and emotion, touch and texture, taste, scent and odor.
Examples:

“Country music is good”

“The latest Star Wars movie is bad”

“The food sold at the school cafeteria is terrible”

“Leonardo da Vinci’s painting is admirable”

“The color of my ethics teacher’s hair is disgraceful”

“Vice Ganda’s fashion sense is simply outrageous”

Ethical or Moral Norm
Refers to some ideal vision of an ideal stage or perfection of his/her being, which
state as the ultimate goal and norm

(All the other norms- technical, societal, aesthetic- are to be subordinated to this moral or ethical
norm)
Characteristics of
Moral Principles
Reasonability

This means that primarily, moral judgments must be

backed by good reasons. If we want to discover the truth,
we must let our feelings be guided as much as possible by
reason
Impartiality

This means that an ethical or moral rule should be neutral

when it comes to the question as to who are its recipients
 Prescriptivity
This refers to the practical, or action guiding nature of morality. This
is also “the commanding aspect of morality.
Examples:
“Do not kill”
“Do no harm to your fellowmen”
“Love your neighbor”
“Do not steal”
Tell the truth”
Overridingness
Moral standards must have hegemony. This means that
they should reign supreme over all the other standards or
norms of valuation, whatever they may be.
Autonomous from Arbitrary Authority

Moral standards should stand on their own logic

independent of the arbitraries of the majority. We can
always challenge on logical grounds the tyranny of
numbers and the tide of public opinion on matters of right
and wrong.
Publicity

This means that moral rules and principles must be made

public if they are to serve as clear guidelines to our
actions. The obvious reason for this is that principles are
made and promulgated to render advice as well as assign
praise or blame to certain behaviors.
Practicability

Moral rules should not be impossible to achieve or else

they are not for men but for angels. They must be
“workable”, and not “too idealistic”
Universalizability

A moral rule or principle must be applicable to everyone,

without exception, provided of course that all people are
in a relevantly similar situation or context