Introduction to Ethics

Ethics Defined

• Rooted in Greek "ethos," signifying customs, mirroring Latin's "moral."
• Examines moral behavior, defining obligatory acts and personal accountability.

Customs and Morals

• Customs are inherited societal norms.
• Morals are right and wrong principles guiding decisions.
• Ethics examines human behavior.

Ethical Theories: Deontology

• Some actions are inherently wrong, moral rules should be followed no matter what.
• Kant developed this theory.
• Emphasizes following moral duties, such as "Do not lie" and "Do not steal”.

Ethical Theories: Utilitarianism

• Bentham and Stuart Mill developed this theory.
• Focuses on the consequences of actions, not moral rules.
• An action is moral is it creates the greatest happiness for the greatest number, even if a moral rule is broken.

Metaethics

• Metaethics explores the meanings of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ in Ethics.

Kantian Ethics

• Kantian Ethics follows moral rules that must apply to everyone in all situations.
• Known as “Universality”

Ethical Conflicts in Medicine

• Deontology justifies painful medical procedures if they are acting out of goodwill to cure and help their patients.

Kant’s Categorical Imperative, Violations

• Enslaving humans is wrong because it uses people is an immoral act.

Consequentialism

• The ethical theory that deems the rightness or wrongness of an action based on its outcome.

Ethical Egoism

• Focuses on action that brings the person the most benefit.

Scott Rae's Ethical Decision-Making

• Involves using logic, structure and ethical principles, rather than purely personal or emotional influences.

Non-consequentialist Ethics

• Focuses on moral duties and intent, rather than outcomes.
• Actions are judged by moral principles, regardless of outcome.

Utilitarianism Proponents

• Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, were major figures of this theory.

Rule Utilitarianism Displayed

• Jona displayed this, and chooses to follow the speed limit based on the best outcomes for society.

Ethical Egoism Defined

• The best action brings you the most benefit.

What Are Ethics

• Rules or principles define conduct.

Ethical Monism

• It uses one ethical approach to questions.

Relativism

• The belief that there is no absolute truth.
• It argues that morality depends on beliefs.

Virtue Ethics

• Focuses on the development of good character traits.

Ethical Decision-Making

• The cognitive process of considering ethical rules when making decisions.

Moral Dilemma

• A situation with difficult ethical choices to be made.

Felicific Calculus

• A utilitarian method created by Jeremy Bentham to calculate pain or pleasure of an action.

Ethical Theories: Which Applies

• Deontology and Rule Utilitarianism applies to needing to steal to feed someone’s family

Pleasure Source: Aristippus

• It Advocates sensory pleasures.
• Advocates seeking immediate pleasure and avoiding pain.

Pleasure Source: Plato

• Emphasized rationality and knowledge as the path to happiness.
• Advocates rational pleasure being the key to happiness.

Figures in Liberal Tradition

• John Stuart Mill is considered a major figure.

Displaying Virtue: Prudence Definition

• Prudence helps you choose the best long-term outcomes.
• Thinking carefully before making decisions.

Acts of Man

• Actions occurring without awareness of the mind.
• Breathing and blinking are an act of man.

Human Act

• Reading a book is voluntary.
• Being able to do or not do as one pleases.

Moral Dilemma Definition

• Facing complicated options that undermine dignity.

What Makes an Individual’s Action a Human Act?

• Knowledge, consent and free will.

What is Ethics

• It entails proposing principles of good and bad actions.

The Need for Unity

• The diversity of Philippine languages shows the necessity.

Non-material Culture Definition

• Beliefs, values, languages and traditions are not physical objects.

Material Culture Definition

• Physical objects
• E.g. Houses, clothing and tools

Classification of Actions

• Consuming vegetables with awareness, informs a human act.
• Also called the Angelic Doctor, st. Thomas Aquinas was a Italian philosopher and a theologian who ranks among the most important thinkers of the medieval period.
• The principle of moderation by Aristotle means that everything is harmful in excess or deficiency

Moderation in a Moral Sense

• Everything is harmful in excess or deficiency.

Human Value Goals: Aristotle

• Universal is the living experience.
• He thought the universal good was linked to well-being - Eudaimonia.

Philosophers of the West: The Ultimate Good?

• God is the ultimate good.

Universal Moral Values, Normative Obligations

• Universal Moral Values is to have a sense of responsibility
• Self-sacrifice is one of these values.
• But not abstinence

Addressing War Conflict

• Peace conciliation helps with good conflict of values.

Historical Change In Religion

• Challenged the papal authority.
• This occurred by way of the 16th century reformation.

Supreme Good: Sacrificial Savior

• Christianity proposes that eternal salvation is achieved by sacrificial Saviors

Supreme Good,

• Buddhism proposes nirvana or bliss.

Moshka Defined

• Freedom through knowledge, devotion and meditation are key to finding freedom.

What is Society

• Society is the process by we acquire modes of acting to work effectively in the community.

Philosophical vs Sociology

• Unlike philosophical questions that seek self-answers, sociology answers “How does the self develop?”

Identity Defined

• It refers to who the person is in the sense of the qualities and traits that make up an individual.

William James

• Renowned psychologist and pioneer of American sociology.

Belief of Philosopher

• Maurice feels the physical body is important.

Methodical Doubt Defined

• Question everything to find absolute truth.

Looking Glass Self Theory

• We learn to view ourselves based on how we think other's view us.

Four Temperaments

• An extrovert that is enthusiastic, active and social displays a sanguine temperament.

Four Temperaments

• An independent and decisive leader displays a choleric temperament.
• Choleric- is independent, goal-oriented, decisive
  • A natural leader

How Self-Interest Deemed

• An egoist is the belief in self-interest as a moral principle.

Chronic Regard

• Having a chronic a regard for oneself is called being egomaniacal.
• Egomaniac- Has one’s own desires and doesn’t allow people to interfere.

Self-Foundations

• The being and becoming is all embracing to self.

Knowledge Defined

• Knowing one’s own mental abilities, values and skills is metacognition