Ethics

The Relation of Ethics to Other

Studies
Philosophy (An Operational Definition)
• Philosophy is the study of the nature of the
experience as a whole.
• The particular sciences investigate
particular portions of the content of our
experience.
• Philosophy seeks to understand the whole
in the light of its central principles
Epistemology (the theory of knowledge)
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• Philosophy seeks to understand the whole

in the light of its central principles.
• In order to do this, philosophy endeavours
to analyze the various elements that enter
into the constitution of the world as we
know it.
• This part of the investigation is perhaps that
which is most properly described as
Epistemology.
Psychology
• Psychology examines the process by which
experience grows up in the consciousness
of individuals and races.
Experience (Its Kinds)
• When we examine our experience and trace
its growth, it is found that the content which
is thus brought to light and presented in
various ways before our consciousness
consists:
I. Partly of facts
II. Partly of ideals
Study of Facts
• The study of the particular facts that come
before our consciousness has to be handed
over to the particular sciences;
• Or, so far as philosophy is able to deal with
them, they form the content of what is
called the philosophy of nature.
Study of Ideals
• The ideals, which emerge in our experience,
are found to be three in number:
I. Truth
II. Beauty
III. Goodness
• corresponding, it would seem, to
I. the Knowing side of our conscious nature
II. the Feeling side of our conscious nature
III. the Willing sides of our conscious nature
Study of Ideals
• The study of these ideals forms the subject-
matter of the three philosophical sciences
I. Logic
II. Aesthetics
III. Ethics
Study of Ideals
No. The side of our Corresponding Corresponding
nature Ideal Science

I Knowing Truth Logic

II Feeling Beauty Aesthetics

III Willing Goodness Ethics

Ethics and Other Studies
• From this it will be seen that Ethics stands,
along with Logic and Aesthetics, midway
between Psychology and Metaphysics;
• it is generally recognized that there is a very
close connection between Ethics and each
of these two other philosophical sciences.
• On some Ethics is dependent for materials,
to others it supplies assistance
Ethics and Physical Sciences
• The relation of Physical Science to Ethics is
but slight.
• Physical Science in short is chiefly useful to
Ethics in the way of helping us to
understand the environment within which
the moral life is passed, rather than the
nature of the moral life itself.
Ethics and Physical Sciences
• Example A wise man in modern times will
be less afraid of the sea and of the stars, and
more afraid of foul air and impure water,
than a man of similar wisdom in ancient
times ;
• but the general consideration of the
question, what kinds of things we ought to
fear, and what kinds we ought not to fear,
need not be affected by this difference
• The relation of Biology to
• Ethics is much closer than that of Physics or
Chemistry,
• but is essentially of the same indirect
character. Many
• of the most sacred of human obligations rest
on physiological
• considerations ; but the general principles
on
• The relation of Psychology
• to Ethics is much closer and more
important. The relation of Psychology
• to Ethics is much closer and more
important.
• At the same time, the dependence of the one
upon the
• other ought not to be exaggerated. As Logic
deals
• It is concerned with the validity of various
processes of thought. Aesthetics and Ethics,
again, may be said to be concerned with
value or worth. Aesthetics considers the
standard of Beauty, or as we may perhaps
say, worth for feeling. Ethics considers the
standard of goodness, i. e. value or worth
from the point of view of action—-valour,
as we might put it. Validity, Value, Valour,
might almost be said to be the subjects of
Metaphysics and Ethics
Ethics and Political
Philosophy