Chapter 1: Ethics: An Overview PDF

# Chapter 1: Ethics: An Overview ## Overview This chapter discusses both the nominal and real definitions of ethics, allowing students to understand the subject and its importance. This section exposes some ethical dilemmas to see the moral import of the issues involved in given situations. ## Ob...

# Chapter 1: Ethics: An Overview ## Overview This chapter discusses both the nominal and real definitions of ethics, allowing students to understand the subject and its importance. This section exposes some ethical dilemmas to see the moral import of the issues involved in given situations. ## Objectives At the end of the chapter, students should be able to: 1. Define ethics and explain its importance; 2. Explain the characteristics of moral issues and the nature of ethical dilemmas; 3. Identify some moral issues and dilemmas. ## The Human Person The human person is the only being in the world endowed with intellect and free will. His reason makes him distinct and higher than any other animal. As a rational being, he is capable of seeking and finding the truth, the good, and the beautiful. As a free being, he can decide to know the truth, do the good, and appreciate the beautiful. The dream of every human person to live a good life motivates him to develop his capabilities. The development of science and technology is a clear manifestation of his rationality. However, it cannot be denied that such has alienated him from his nature. ## Ethics Ethics plays an important role in bringing the human person back to his nature and eventually attain his dream of a good life. Since it is one of the disciplines in philosophy, a brief discussion of the meaning of philosophy is needed. **Etymologically**, the word philosophy comes from the Greek words *philia* meaning "love" and *sophia*, "wisdom." Thus, philosophy is love of wisdom. In its Thomistic-Aristotelian definition, philosophy is defined as the science of the ultimate reasons, causes, and principles of being as acquired by the aid of the human intellect alone. Karl Jaspers, an existentialist, describes philosophy as the search for the meaning of life. **From the Greek word *ethos* meaning "a way of life."** Its Latin equivalent is *mos* (plural, *mores*) meaning "custom," from where the words morality and morals are derived. Thus, ethics is a study of the human custom. However, only those customs that have ethical import are considered in this study of ethics, referring to actions that are knowingly, freely, and voluntarily done by the actor. **Broadly speaking**, ethics can be defined as a philosophical study that deals with the rightness and wrongness of the human act. It inquires into the ultimate principles of human conduct by the use of reason alone. It deals with the oughtness of human actions. ## The Importance of Ethics Ethics is deemed an important study for the following reasons: 1. It helps us to live or actualize our nature as a rational being. Without moral perception, we may become selfish and live our lives like beasts or irrational animals. 2. It enlightens us to live life with moral integrity, which is the true measure of what we ought to be. Indeed, to be human is to be ethical or moral. 3. It directs us to do our tasks rightly as workers or professionals. Without ethics, we may produce good engineers, lawyers, doctors, professors, and other professionals, but they hardly become good people. 4. It helps us build a strong foundation for our society. Morality as a standard of behavior is necessary to make a good citizen. With good citizens come a good society. 5. It enables us to confront moral problems and dilemmas and make a sound moral decision. It provides us different moral frameworks as guide for ethical decisions as we endeavor to live a good life. ## Moral Issues and Dilemmas Faced with a moral problem, the agent is confused about the right decision to make in a moral dilemma. This arises because there are competing values of seemingly equal importance and urgency. ### Story 1: An Affair Neil and Yera have been close friends since childhood. Neil has a caring and faithful wife, and together they have three children. On the other hand, Yera is married to a good-looking and successful businessman with whom she has four children. Both friends seem to have a perfect and happy family. At a mall, Neil happens to see Yera's husband strolling with a beautiful, sexy, young woman. The two appear to have a very close relationship as they manifest intimacy in their actions, such as holding hands and other ways of displaying. Many times Neil has seen them in other places. With his observations, he is certain that the man has been having an illicit affair for some time now. One day, Yera invites Neil and his wife to dinner. While eating, Yera shares with the couple that she is very happy with her family. She is very proud of her husband, knowing him to be faithful and responsible. Upon hearing those words, Neil is confused whether to divulge what he knows about the man. If he does, it will probably result in a quarrel between the couple; worse, they may end up filing for an annulment, which will surely affect their children and their future. Also, Neil has been warned by his wife not to say anything as they do not want to be involved in another couple's marital troubles. Nevertheless, Neil is pondering about what to do. If he does not tell his friend the truth, it will be tantamount to betrayal of their long-time friendship. Also, Yera as the legal wife deserves to know the truth; hence, it will be unjust for her not to know about her husband's secret. If Neil does not reveal it to her soon, he may aggravate the situation; and her husband may not return home anymore. In addition, Neil is greatly troubled by the situation. He feels that by not telling Yera, he is indirectly helping her husband commit adultery. **Question:** If you were Neil, what would be your moral decision or action? ### Story 2: The Cure Stephen's mother is dying from a rare disease. Luckily a cure has recently been invented by a pharmacist who is actually his neighbor. He is selling the medicine ten times the amount it cost him to make it. Stephen tries to borrow money from his friends and to get a loan from the bank. Yet, he has only raised half of the money needed. He then goes to the pharmacist and offers to pay half now and the other half later. Determined to make money on the cure, the pharmacist refuses. Stephen humbly begs him to sell the medicine cheaper as his mother will die before he gets the full amount, but the pharmacist still says no. Stephen decides to steal the cure. Fortunately, he gets the medicine uncaught and saves the life of his mother. **Questions:** 1. Is Stephen's decision moral or immoral? Why? 2. If you were Stephen, would you do to what he did? **References** Fagothey, Austin. *Right and Reason: Ethics in Theory and Practice*. London: The C. V. Mosby Company, 1963. Hyde, Cerys. "25 Moral Dilemmas.” *Pixi's Blog*. Accessed February 28, 2018. http://psychopixi.com/uncategorized/25-moral-dilemmas/.