Ethics: Meaning, Nature, and Scope PDF

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...

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 Religion Branch of philosophy that involves An organized collection of beliefs, systematizing, defending, and cultural systems, and world views that recommending concepts of right and relate humanity to an order of wrong conduct existence. Ground itself on reason and the Supposed authority of any holy book wisdom of human experience and sacred writings Relies on natural reason, logic and Relies primarily and mainly on experiences, especially in the supernatural reason, that is- divine justification and validation of certain revelation or diving authority. theories and principles concerning good and bad. 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