Orientation

Assessment in Learning 1
in Learning 1 August 18, 2023

OrientationLecture 2
Orientation
 Assessment in Learning 1

S
At the end of the learning session, YOU should be able to

The objective of this lesson is to introduce you to ‘ethics’ or moral

philosophy. Through the analysis of its various aspects we can learn
that:
• the nature and the different aspects of ethics
• how ethics developed as a systematic philosophical discipline in
the western philosophy
• the methods, different approaches and the division of ethics
• how ethics is related to other sciences
• the relationship between ethics and religion
• the importance of studying ethics in the context of today and the
need for being moral.

Basics of Assessment: Meaning of Related Terms

• Ethics is the
philosophical study
of morality.
Introduction
• What morality requires from us is often seen as the
core question that ethics has to answer.
• Why be moral? How moral can we be in a non-ideal
world?
• Are we moral by nature? Are moral judgments true?
• Such questions cannot be avoided when we confront
the problems of life particularly in a non-moral world.
• This unit makes an attempt to analyze ethics its
definition, nature and scope.
Ethical Question:
If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had
eight children already, three were deaf, two who
were blind, one physically disabled, and she had
syphilis, would you recommend that she have an
abortion.
Explain your answer.(Answer honestly).
Meaning of Ethics

Etymologically the term

“ethics” correspond to
the Greek word “ethos”
which means character or
conduct.
Ethics is also called “moral philosophy”, or
philosophical thinking about morality.

• The word “moral” comes from Latin

word “mores” which signifies
customs, character,
behavior, etc.
Thus,
Ethics may be defined as
the systematic study of
human actions from the
point of view of their
rightfulness or
wrongfulness, as means for
the attainment of the
ultimate happiness.
It is the reflective study of what is good
or bad in that part of human conduct for
which human has some personal
responsibility.
• In simple words ethics refers to what is good
and the way to get it,
and what is bad and how to avoid it.
Branches of Ethics

As a branch of
philosophy, ethics
is divided into
normative and
meta-ethics.
Branches of Ethics
1. Normative Ethics
• The purpose of the normative ethics, which
concerns human behavior in general, address the
questions about the essence of human behavior.
Branches of Ethics

Helping someone who is lost Finding a wallet and turning it

in to the lost and found
• If your actions to another person align with how you
want to be treated, they are moral.
Normative ethics lay the foundation of whether an action may
be morally correct or not, and are an attempt to live a decent,
principled life.
• From that perspective, it may be a wrong action; after all,
no one has the right to snuff the life out of another person,
comatose or not.
There are two fields of normative ethics: Moral Philosophy and
Applied Ethics or Practical Ethics
Moral Philosophy
• considers what is right and wrong.
• It explores the nature of morality and examines how
people should live their lives in relation to others.
Applied Ethics
• It addresses specific, practical issues of moral
importance such as war and capital punishment.
• Tackles specific moral challenges that people face
daily, such as whether they should lie to help a friend
or co-worker.
2. Meta-Ethics
• A discipline that relies on meaning.
• It is a science that is seeking to address non-moral
questions about morality.
• Those refer to questions about the nature of moral
statements, the purpose and significance of moral facts,
and concerns about the interpretation and justification of
moral statements.

• Deliberate Dishonesty
• Sex with another of the same sex
• Food choices
Nature of Ethics
1 Ethics is a normative science
• Ethics is concerned with determining what is
right and wrong, good and bad in human
conduct.
• As a science, ethics include data on morality
of human acts that are put together and
arranged in order.

• Logic and Aesthetics are also considered

as normative sciences.
Nature of Ethics
1 Ethics is a normative science
Aesthetic. Some things are considered good or
bad because of their appeal to the senses.
• one might consider a painting good because it is
pleasing to the eyes when looking at it.

Logic provides a set of rules, principles, and

standards that guide human reasoning.
• conclusions are logically valid given certain
premises
Nature of Ethics
2 Ethics as Philosophical Science
• As philosophical science, ethics deals with
the ultimacy of the cause and principle
concerning the morality of a human act by
means of human reason.
• It explore the truth by asking the question
“how” and “why”.
• Why is good, good? (What makes it good?)
• Why is evil, evil? (What makes it evil?)
• Mahal ko o Mahal Ako?
Nature of Ethics
2 Ethics as Philosophical Science
Situation: Should all students receive the same
resources (equality), or should resources be
distributed based on need (equity)?

Situation: What is the teacher’s moral responsibility

when personal beliefs conflict with professional
obligations, such as teaching topics like evolution or
controversial historical events?
Nature of Ethics
3 Ethics as Practical Science
• As practical science, ethics provides a body
of knowledge that is applicable in daily
human conduct and activity.
• Ethics is considered a practical science
because it directly informs human behavior,
addresses real-world challenges, integrates
with other disciplines, and aims to provide
actionable guidance for moral decision-
making.
Nature of Ethics
3 Ethics as Practical Science
Situation: A teacher discovers that a student plagiarized a
significant portion of an assignment. The student claims it
was due to personal struggles, such as family issues or
mental health challenges.
Situation: A teacher becomes aware of a student confiding
about issues at home that could be harmful but isn’t sure if
reporting it would violate the student’s trust.
Situation: A university must decide whether to implement
affirmative action in its admissions process, prioritizing
students from disadvantaged backgrounds over those with
higher academic scores.
Why Do We Need to Study Ethics?
Student of Ethics will find this subject both profitable and interesting to the highest degree.

1. Understanding of moral problems will be

widened.
Problem: A student is caught cheating during an
exam. The teacher must decide whether to report
the student, which could harm their academic
record, or handle the situation privately.
Problem: A teacher is accused of favoring certain
students over others in grading and classroom
attention.
Why Do We Need to Study Ethics?
Student of Ethics will find this subject both profitable and interesting to the highest degree.

2. Critical faculties will be trained.

Know the reasons for moral convictions, and
also the reasons for the moral convictions of
others

Problem: A teacher discovers a colleague

falsifying student grades to meet performance
targets. Reporting it could harm the
colleague's career but allow the school to
maintain integrity.
Why Do We Need to Study Ethics?
Student of Ethics will find this subject both profitable and interesting to the highest degree.

3. Enable a person to understand better

what his conscience is.
He will gain a clearer insight into his claims
upon society, and the duties that he owes to
society.
Why Do We Need to Study Ethics?
Student of Ethics will find this subject both profitable and interesting to the highest degree.

4. Give some considerations in helping

anyone in making decisions
Example: If a friend is deciding on a career path,
discuss what matters most—salary, passion, or
work-life balance.

Example: If a family member is choosing a medical

treatment, provide information but let them make the final
call.