Ethics HUM 102 PDF

ETHICS HUM 102 ETHICS AS A BRANCH OF PHILOSOPHY WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? The term "philosophy" means, "love of wisdom." In a broad sense, philosophy is an activity people undertake when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which they live, and their relationshi...

ETHICS HUM 102 ETHICS AS A BRANCH OF PHILOSOPHY WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? The term "philosophy" means, "love of wisdom." In a broad sense, philosophy is an activity people undertake when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which they live, and their relationships to the world and to each other. As an academic discipline philosophy is much the same. Those who study philosophy are perpetually engaged in asking, answering, and arguing for their answers to life’s most basic questions (Department of Philosophy, n.d.). Are humans Is it important obligated to to be respected Do acts of better or liked? What is the kindness have themselves? meaning of a a motive? good life?  To make such a pursuit more systematic academic philosophy is traditionally divided into major areas of study. Metaphysics - the study of the nature of reality, of what exists in the world, BRANCHES what it is like, and how it is ordered. OF Epistemology - the study of PHILOSOP knowledge. It is primarily concerned with what we can know about the world and HY how we can know it. Logic - To this end philosophers employ logic to study the nature and structure of arguments. ETHICS ETHICS AS A BRANCH OF PHILOSOPHY Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct. The term ethics derives from the Ancient Greek word ethikos, which is derived from the word ethos (habit, “custom”). As a branch of philosophy, ethics investigates the questions “What is the best way for people to live?” and “What actions are right or wrong in particular circumstances?” In practice, ethics seeks to resolve questions of human morality, by defining concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime. ETHICS The word “ethics” is derived from the Greek “ethos” which means “characteristic way of acting”, “habit”, or “custom”. The Latin equivalent is mos, mores, from which come the word moral and morality. Ethics studies the characteristics behavior of man as endowed with reason and freewill. The study of Ethics started with the Greek philosophers, notably Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates is regarded as the father of moral philosophy. However, it is Aristotle who has greatly influenced ethical thinking with three important treatises – the Nicomachean Ethics, the Eudemian Ethics, and the Magna Moralia (Great Ethics).  ETHICS Ethics is the science of the morality of human acts. Human acts are actions done intentionally and freely, like walking, reading, working, playing, shopping, joining a contest, or signing a contract. Human acts are differentiated from acts of man which are instinctive, such as the physiological and psychological movements like breathing, feeling happy, or falling in love. Ethics does not study the acts of man in themselves but as factors affecting man’s judgement and violation. Ethics is the study of man as moral being, one who is rationally able to distinguish between right and wrong. It examines how man is accountable for his actions and its consequences. It proposes how man ought to live his life – meaningfully.  ETHICS Ethics is concerned with morality, the quality which makes an act good or evil, correct or wrong. Ethics examines and explains the rational basis why actions are moral or immoral. In other words, Ethics is concerned with the norms of human behavior.  ETHICAL APPROACHES There are two approaches – the atheistic and theistic ethics. 1. The atheistic approach assumes that only matter exists and man is responsible only to the State since there is no God who rules the universe. Morality is an invention of man to suit his requirement and to preserve society. Moral truths are temporary and changeable depending on the situation. Accordingly, the concept of good and evil is relative Some of its tenets are the following: a. Matter is the only reality. b. Man is matter and does not have spiritual soul. c. Man is free and must exercise his freedom to promote the welfare of society. d. There is no life after death.  ETHICAL APPROACHES 2. The theistic approach, to which we adhere, assumes that God is the Supreme Lawgiver. Everything must conform to God’s Eternal plan of creation. Man must exercise his freedom in accordance with God’s will. There are absolute principles of morality which are not changeable. Man is accountable for his actions and deserves either a reward or punishment in this life or in the next. Its tenets are: a. God is the Supreme Creator and Lawgiver. b. Man is free and must use his freedom to promote his personal interest along with that of others. c. Man has an immortal soul.  The Science of Ethics is greatly THE concerned with the study of the human conduct and how man RELATION OF behaves or acts in accordance ETHICS TO with morality. For this reason, it is evident that the Ethical science PSYCHOLOGY is also related to some other sciences that also deal with the , SOCIOLOGY study of the human nature as well as in human living. Among AND of these sciences Psychology, Sociology, and are ECONOMICS Economics.  The relation between these two sciences is based upon the comparison on their basic aim that is to study man, its nature ETHICS AND and its behavior. However, there is a basic difference between PSYCHOLOG Ethics and Psychology. The Y science of Psychology is not concerned with the morality of man’s action; this science is only concern of how man ought to behave.  ETHICS AND SOCIOLOGY They are related as Ethics is concerned in dealing with the moral order that eventually includes the social order of society. It was being said that society depends upon the science of Ethics for its principles. Sociology as a science is concerned with the relationship of humans to his/her fellow individuals and to his/her society upon the observance on the moral laws and principles that will eventually regulate man’s action in his/her community. ETHICS AND ECONOMICS As economics deals with labor, wages, production, as well as distribution of wealth, Ethics as a science somehow acts in the different relations in the business processes. This would be based on justice, charity as well as moral principles that would eventually create a prevailing harmony in the community. Man can also be considered as an economic being. This consideration involves man in different economic activities which should be guided with the norms and principles of Ethics. HUMAN ACTS AND ACTS OF MAN HUMAN ACTS AND ACTS OF MAN 1. Human Acts – the actions man does knowingly, freely and voluntarily. 2. Acts of Man – acts done by man without deliberation or volition, and simple acts of sensation and appetition. THE HUMAN ACT Actions, since they are products of our thoughts and desires, reveal our moral character. What we are and what becomes of us as persons depends on our choices and actuations. Attributes of Human Act An act is considered a human act, when it is done knowingly, freely and willfully. 1. An act is done knowingly when the doer is conscious and aware of the reason and the consequences of his actions. Every normal person of age is presumed to act knowingly. However, children below the age of reason, the senile and the insane – are considered incapable of moral judgment. THE HUMAN ACT 2. An act is done freely when the doer acts by his own initiative and choice without being forced to do so by another person or situation. An action done under duress and against one’s freewill is not a voluntary action. A person is not acting freely when he gives up his money to a robber who threatens him with a knife. 3. An act is done willfully when the doer consents to the act, accepting it as his own, and assumes accountability for its consequences. An act which lacks of any of the above mentioned attributes is either imperfectly voluntary or involuntary. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HUMAN ACTS Because human acts come from the intellect and the will, they express the thoughts and desires of a person, revealing his moral character. Hence, people are judged by their actions like trees by their fruits. We condemn a person for his evil deed or praise him for doing what is good. We often hear people say that they “condemn the sin but not the person” or suspect. The statement is probably acceptable if it means we should not rush to judge the guilt of a suspect. But the statement is wrong if it means we should not blame people for their evil deeds, no matter how unfortunate are these acts. This is to condone evil. Parents, for example, are inclined to be soft towards children. Instead of being horrified, they are amused that their kids are so smart.  REFERENCE/S: Agapay, R. (July 2008). Ethics and the Filipino 2nd Edition. Philippines Department of Philosophy. What is Philosophy?. https://philosophy.fsu.edu/undergraduate-study/why-philosophy/What- is-Philosophy Experts Column. (2016, July 30). The Relation Of Ethics To Psychology, Logic, Sociology And Economics. http://varron.expertscolumn.com/article/relation-ethics-psychology-logic-so ciology-and-economics L.A. (2017, March 6). Ethics Defined. https://medium.com/the-ethical-world/ethics-defined-33a1a6cc3064 Nery, M. I. (2003). Ethics. Katha Publishing Co., Inc.