Lesson 1: Moral and Non-Moral Standards PDF

Lesson 1: Moral and Non-Moral Standards Intended Learning Outcomes Differentiate between moral and non-moral standards Develop respect and sense of duty towards rules, standards, laws and authority Ethymology and Meaning of Ethics The term "ethics" comes from the Greek word "ethos" means...

Lesson 1: Moral and Non-Moral Standards Intended Learning Outcomes Differentiate between moral and non-moral standards Develop respect and sense of duty towards rules, standards, laws and authority Ethymology and Meaning of Ethics The term "ethics" comes from the Greek word "ethos" means "custom" used in the works of Aristotle, while the term "moral" is the Latin equivalent. Based on the Greek and Latin etymology of the word "ethics," ethics deals with morality. Ethics or moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy which deals with moral standards, inquires about the rightness or wrongness of human behavior or the goodness or badness of personality, trait or character. Ethymology and Meaning of Ethics Ethics is a study of the morality of human acts and moral agents, what makes an act obligatory and what makes a person accountable. "Moral" is the adjective describing a human act as either right or wrong or qualifying a person, personality, character, as either ethically good or bad.  Moral Standards and Non-Moral Standards Since ethics is a study of moral standards, then the first question would be, what are moral standards? The following are supposed be examples of moral standards: "Stealing is wrong." "Killing is wrong." "Telling lies is wrong." "Adultery is wrong." "Environment preservation is the right thing to do." "Freedom with responsibility is the right way." "Giving what is due to others is justice."  Moral standards Hence, moral standards are norms or prescriptions that serve as the frameworks for determining what ought be done or what is right or wrong action, what is good or bad character. In the previous activity, the following can be classified as moral standards: Do not lie Don't steal Don't cheat others Don't kill  Moral standards Moral standards are either consequence standards (like Stuart Mill's utilitarianism) or non-consequence standards (like Aristotle's virtue, St Thomas' natural law or Immanuel Kant' good will or sense of duty). The consequence standards depend on results or outcome. An act that results in the general welfare, in the greatest good of the greatest number, is moral. To take part in a project that results in the improvement of the majority of people is, therefore, moral.  Moral standards The non-consequence standards are based on the natural law. Natural law is the law of God revealed through human reason. It is the "law of God written in the hearts of men." Preserving human life is in accordance with the natural law; therefore, it is moral. Likewise, the non-consequence standard may also be based on good will or intention and on a sense of duty. Respect for humanity refers to treating another person as a human being, which is a moral act. This originates from a sense of obligation—a sense of duty that you hope to see applied to all humans.  Non-Moral Standards On the other hand, non-moral standards are social rules, demands, non-moral of etiquette, and good manners. They guide our action which should be followed as expected by society. Sometimes they may not be followed or some people may not follow them. From time to time, changes are made regarding good manners or etiquette. In sociology, non-moral standards or rules are called folkways. Folkways are behaviors that are learned and shared by a social group that we often refer to as “customs”. In short, non-moral actions are those where moral categories cannot be applied.  Non-Moral Standards Examples of non-moral standards are rules of good manners and right conduct, etiquette, rules of behavior set by parents and teachers, and standards of grammar or language, standards of art, and standards of sports set by other authorities. Examples are "do not eat with your mouth open," "observe rules of grammar," and "do not wear socks that don't match." An indicator whether or not a standard is moral or non-moral lies in its compliance as distinguished from it's non-compliance. Non-compliance with moral standards causes a sense of guilt, while non-compliance with a non- moral standard may only cause shame and embarrassment.  The Origin of Moral Standards: Theist and Non-Theist The theistic line of thought states moral standards are of divine origin while 20th century thinkers claim state that they simply evolved. The issue is: are moral standards derived from God, communicated to man through signs of revelation, or did they arise in the course of man's evolution? With the Divine source concept, moral standards are derived from natural law, man's "participation" in the Divine law. The moral principle, Do good and avoid evil" is an expression of natural law.  The Origin of Moral Standards: Theist and Non-Theist Are these theist and non-theist (evolutionary) origin of moral standards reconcilable? The evolutionist claims that altruism, a sense of morality, can be observed from man's fellow primates-the apes and monkeys and, therefore it can be said that the altruism of human persons evolved from the primates.