ETHICS Lesson 1.pptx

Ethics and Morality  Both deal with the goodness or badness, rightness or wrongness of the human act or human conduct  In Ethics we study specifically morality  Morality gives Ethics a particular perspective of what to study about  Morality provides with a quality that determines and dis...

Ethics and Morality  Both deal with the goodness or badness, rightness or wrongness of the human act or human conduct  In Ethics we study specifically morality  Morality gives Ethics a particular perspective of what to study about  Morality provides with a quality that determines and distinguishes right conduct from wrong conduct (Sambajon 2007:7) Ethics: a Philosophy of Action  The learning of Ethics does not actually guarantee morality on the part of the person’s concrete and practical conduct of behaviour  Ethics is the theory that 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.  Hence both Ethics and Morality complement each other – as Ethics outlines theories of right and wrong, morality translates these theories into real actions. Ethics: A Practical Discipline  Should be shown as a discipline which has an intimate connection with the daily lives of man  It must be something more than the presentation of exacting moral theories, a proper interaction between knowledge and practice.  It could become the most basic and fundamental motive behind one’s day to day conduct (Christian ethics) Importance of Studying Ethics  It is indispensable in the living of life which is “truly human” for without moral perception, man is only an animal – “without morality man as a rational being is a failure” (Agapay 1991:3)  Human faces several ethical choices in the course of their lives – big or small choices and decisions made affect the kind of life to a considerable extent  Making moral decisions is oftentimes difficult – Ethics can provide us with certain moral paradigms or perspective that will guide us in determining what is right and what is wrong under such condition.  Enables us to reason out our moral beliefs and why we hold them. – by critically examining the ground and foundation of our moral beliefs and claims, whether they are valid or not.  Aids us to widen our horizon as to what is good and bad – allow us to broaden our understanding and make us appreciate the richness and diversity of ethical views held by various thinkers  Not only of instrumental value but also valuable in its own right – knowing the good is good in itself though doing the good is even much better than “just knowing” the good.  Deepens our reflection on the ultimate questions of life. (What is life and what it means to be truly human?)  “ An unexamined life is not worth living”- Socrates  Ethics and Law  Ethical rules are necessary even if we have the laws since legality is not identical with morality – (sometimes what is legal is not always moral; what is moral is not always legal)  Laws are only concerned with actions that are usually “public” ( actions that often harmed those around us) It goes beyond the concern and parameters of law – it include human motivations in its investigation. (thoughts and feelings are included and subject them to moral analysis and evaluation) Laws are the product of a collective agreement decided by a majority vote (What is right is right although no one is doing it. Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it) Ethics serves as the very foundation of our laws  Ethics and Religion Ethics solely relies on natural reason, logic and experience Religion relies primarily and mainly on supernatural reason (divine revelation or divine authority)  What is Ethics Practical science of the morality of human act or conduct and of the good life. Body of knowledge systematically arranged and presented in a manner that it arrives at its conclusions coherently and logically A branch of Philosophy known as Moral Philosophy that deals with how we ought to live. A Philosophical discipline that deals with the ultimate principles and truth concerning the morality of human conduct using human reason and experience Material Objects of Ethics Human Act or Human conduct – refers to the act that is done by a human person which he/she is conscious of, which proceeds from one’s deliberation and freewill, and thus which one is held morally responsible. Formal Object of Ethics Morality of the moral rectitude of human act or human conduct – deals with the human person’s right conduct whether his/her actions conform to right reason which is the immediate norm of morality Division of Ethics General Ethics – considered as the basic course which mainly deals with the morality of human acts and the specific determinants of morality Special or Applied Ethics – essentially applies the specific and fundamental norms and principles of General Ethics in various specific areas of human life and activity Kinds of Valuation and types of Norms Technical norm – refers to man’s needs which come from his bodily space-time limitations Societal norm – something to do with the need for group cohesion and for strengthening the bonds that keep the community together. Aesthetic norm – refers to typical perceptual forms regarding colour, shape space, movement etc. Ethical or Moral norm – refers to some ideal vision of a human person which serves as the ultimate goal and norm. Characteristics of Moral Principles 1. Reasonability 2. Impartiality 3. Prescriptivity 4. Overridingness 5. Autonomous from arbitrary authority 6. Publicity 7. Practicability 8. Universalizability