Ethics 101 Introduction PDF

INTRODUCTION What is Ethics? Etymologically [ that is according to the origin of the word and its meaning] derived from the Greek word EOWO [Ethos] which means custom to mean the way of acting common to all men of all places of all times. The English term moral is taken from the Latin MOS or MORIS...

INTRODUCTION What is Ethics? Etymologically [ that is according to the origin of the word and its meaning] derived from the Greek word EOWO [Ethos] which means custom to mean the way of acting common to all men of all places of all times. The English term moral is taken from the Latin MOS or MORIS which also means custom. Thus, Ethics and Moral Philosophy or Moral Science are IDENTICAL/same. From a realistic point of view, Ethics is the practical and philosophical science of the morality of the human act or human conduct. Based on this definition there are three important points to consider. a. Ethics is a science - means Ethics is a body of knowledge together with its explanations arranged SYSTEMATICALLY b. Ethics is practical - means Ethics present principles and rules to be acted upon [ to be practice/done]. c. Ethics is Philosophical - means Ethics seeks to explain its subject matter in the light of its deepest principle by means of human reason alone. The Objects of Ethics. Every science has its own proper objects [ the focus of study/subject matter] a. Material object - Human Act/Human Conduct b. Formal Object - human reason which will give the moral rectitude of human act [good or bad/ right or wrong] Division of Ethics. There are Two main division of Ethics. a. General Ethics - which is the general principles of right or wrong/ good or bad. b. Special/Applied Ethics - which is the application of the general principles of good or bad to the particular or specific field/area. Under this division (Special Division) it has two kinds; a. Individual Ethics b. Social Ethics -- under this kind it has five types – a. in the family b. in the state c. in the church d. international society e. in the various profession. The Importance of Ethics. It has Four basic Importance. a. Only Ethics studies the morality of the human act by means of human reason alone b. It teaches man how to act in accordance with his/her rational nature by giving him/her the rules of human conduct. c. By providing rules of human conduct Ethics enables men to live together in harmony. Thus, Ethics makes life in society possible. d. The principles of Ethics are in unison with the principles of Christian morality. These principles are also used as a means of approach to the demonstration of many truths of the Catholic religion. Kinds of valuation and Types of Norms One of the most important elements by which human act is measured and determined in terms of its morality is in reference to a NORM. A norm is understood as a rule, standard or measure. It means that it is something by which a human act or conduct is judged/assessed as right or wrong, good or bad. So by norms of morality, we mean the STANDARD OF RIGHT AND WRONG in human action. a. technical norm - is concerned with the techniques of how certain things pertaining to survival be done or not; Because of these, every community prescribes certain proper ways of working and doing things. b. Societal norm - this norm has something to do with the need for group cohesion and for strengthening the bonds that keep the community together. Ex. certain manners of attire. c. Aesthetic norm - refers to a typical perceptual appreciation of something beautiful and criticizing something ugly in terms of color, shape, space, movement, sound, feeling and emotions, touch and texture, taste, scent and odor. d. Ethical and Moral norm - refers to some ideal vision of a human person; an ideal stage or perfection of his/her being which serves as the ultimate goal of norm. In this norm the human person and his/her actions are judged to be right or wrong, good or bad in relation to the ideal vision of what a human person should be. This is what the community sometimes as the " NON-NEGOTIABLES. " Because of this idea all other norms stated above are subordinated to Moral/Ethical norm. Characteristics of Moral Principles. Moral principles are guidelines that people live by to make sure they are doing The RIGHT thing. And so they are very important feature of morality. Moral philosophers are able to come up with a short list of specific characteristics that, taken as a whole can be a good description of the distinctiveness of moral principles in particular and of morality in general. Though there is no universal agreement on the characteristics of moral/ethical principles must have but there is a wide consensus that these are the traits. 1. Reasonability - means that when we judge right and wrong it must be backed up by good reason and do not let our emotions influenced our reason. 2. Impartiality - means moral rule should be applied to anyone regardless of one's status and situation in life. 3. Prescriptivity - it refers to the practical, or action - guiding principle of morality. It is a command intended to direct people on what to do and avoid. 4.Overridingness - it means that moral standard/rules are over and above other standard of valuation. 5. Autonomous from arbitrary authority - means moral rules must/should stand on their own independent of the desire of the majority. 6. Publicity - means moral rules or laws must be made public (known to everybody) if they are to serve as clear guidelines to our actions. 7. Practicability - means moral rules/laws should/must be doable or attainable can be done by anyone. 8. Universalizability - moral rules/laws must be applicable to everyone without exception, provided of course that all people are in relevantly same context or situation.