LESSON 1

Introduction to
Ethics

Mr. Andy Pascual M. Libiran

Instructor 1
 Learning
Objectives:
1. define Ethics,
2. differentiate ethics from
morality; and
3. state the three approaches
to Ethics.

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Introduction

In science, humans belong

to the animal kingdom,
what makes us the
highest form of animals?
Human beings are judged and
measured based on his words and
actions. His character and personality
are described in how he deals with
other people. As human beings, we are
gifted with the power of reason and
intellect. This is why, we are considered
the
supreme creation of God. Given this
intellect, we act based on what is right
and avoid doing what is wrong as much
as possible. This is Ethics.
 What is Ethics?
the word “ethics” is derived from the Greek word
“ethos” which means “characteristic way of
acting”, “habit”, or “custom”. The study of Ethics
were founded to the Greek Philosophers namely,
Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato. Socrates is
regarded as the Father of moral philosophy.
However, it
is Aristotle who has greatly influenced ethical
thinking with three treaties -the Nicomachean
Ethics, Eudemian Ethics, and the Magna Moralia
(GreatEthics).
 What is Ethics?
-is the science of the morality of human acts. Ethics is
the study of man as a moral being, one who is
rationally able to distinguish what is right and wrong.

“- is a moral principle or set of moral values an

individual or group holds.

-philosophical discipline concerned with what is

morally good and bad and morally right and wrong.
It is the Well-founded standards of
right and wrong prescribe what
humans ought to do, usually
regarding rights, obligations,
fairness, or specific virtues. Ethics
is the reasonable obligation for us to
refrain from hurting others, and
sometimes the obligation to help
others.
 Ethics is an art, “the art of
correct living”, because it
teaches how we may put order and
harmony in our personal lives and
how we affect the lives of other
people. Thus, Ethics is beneficial
only when its truth are put into
practice as rules of conduct.
 Human acts and acts of man

When an
individual acts intentionally and freely,
these are called Human acts.

actions that are instinctive such as

physiological and psychological
movements, sense of faculties, natural acts
are called acts of man.
 Human Acts are
characterized as:
the free and voluntary acts of man
 acts done with knowledge and
consent
 acts which are proper to man as
rational being
 acts which are conscious and
under our control and for which we
are responsible
Essential Qualities of
Human Acts

 Knowledge of the Act

 Freedom
 Voluntary
Modifiers of Human Acts

If one of these are present then

it is considered as Acts of Man:

 ignorance
 passion
 fear
 violence
 Habits
Essential Qualities of
Acts of Man

 Done without knowledge

 Without consent
 Involuntariness
 Two categories of Acts of
Man
1. Natural Involuntary Actions
-these are actions of man that are
performed intuitively or involuntary
 blinking of the eyes
 Digestion
 Perspiration
 beating of the heart
2. Natural Voluntary Actions
-are actions that are within the
control of man's will but only for
some period
of time
 eating
 sleeping
 Walking
Ethics and Religion
Ethics and religion are both concerned
with moral education, but they
differ from each other. Ethics teaches
the value of religion, presenting it as a
duty of man
towards the Supreme Being. Religion,
on the other hand, as an organized
church or institution, contributes to the
development of ethical thought.
Ethics Norms and Law

The laws of society

sometimes
legalizes immoral acts, like
gambling,
abortion, euthanasia, and
divorce. Hence,
what is legal is not necessary
moral.
Ethics Norms and Law
human laws regulate external actions, but
not thoughts and
feelings. Ethics norms, however, cover
thoughts and feelings so that a person
could sin because of what he thinks or
desires. Thus, St. Paul says a man
who lusts after a woman is committing
adultery. We call this act as
concupiscence.
 Ethical Approaches

The theistic approach

vs
The atheistic approach
The atheistic approach
assumes that the only matter that exists is
man and that there is no
God who created everything. Morality is an
invention of man to suit his
requirements and to preserve society. Moral
truths are temporary and
changeable depending on the situation.
Some rules of this approach are the
following:

a) Matter is the only reality.

b) Man is matter and does not have spiritual
c) Man is free and must exercise his
freedom to promote the welfare of
society.
d) There is no life after death.
e) Man is accountable on the State.
 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.
Some rules of this approach are the
following:
a) God is the Supreme Creator and
Lawgiver.
b) Man is free and must use his freedom to
promote his interest
along with that of others.
c) Man has an immortal soul.
d) Man is accountable for his actions, both
good and evil.
ETHICS AND MORALITY
 Morality vs Ethics
refers to the quality of goodness or badness
in a human act. Good is described as moral
and bad as immoral. It means conformity to
the rules of right conduct. It implies
judgment and refers to what we would call
moral standards and moral conduct while
ethics is used to refer to the formal study of
those standards and conduct. For this
reason, the study of ethics is also often
called “moral philosophy.”
 Approaches to Ethics

1. Meta-ethics deals with the nature of moral judgment. It looks

at the origins and meaning of ethical principles. Metaethics is
concerned with the analysis or meaning of words and the logic
of moral reasoning, e.g., it analyzes moral terms, like, “good”,
“bad”, “moral”, “immoral”, “moral obligation”, and others.
Metaethics does not describe people’s moral beliefs, does not
evaluate the process of moral reasoning, but analyzes the
usage and meaning of words.
 Approaches to Ethics

2. Normative ethics is concerned with the content of moral

judgment and the criteria for what is right or wrong. involves moral
judgment based on ethical norm or theory. This consists of both the
basic moral principles and values and the particular moral rules that
govern people’s behavior, which is right or moral and wrong or
immoral
 Approaches to Ethics

3. Applied ethics tackles at controversial topics like war, animal

rights and capital punishment.
salamat
po!