ETHICS-PPT
ETHICS-PPT
An Introduction
Definition, Object,
Importance, and Division
Ethics: The practical science of the morality of human conduct.
Ethics as a Science
• A science is a systematically arranged body of connected data with reasons
that show these data to be true.
• Ethics is a complete and systematically arranged body of data relating to
human morality.
• Conclusion: Ethics is a science.
Ethics as a Practical Science
• Practical Science: Directly implies rules or directions for thought or action.
• Speculative Science: Enriches the mind without directly implying actions.
• Ethics presents truths to be acted upon, not just known.
Ethics as a Science of Human Conduct
• Human Conduct: Only includes deliberate and free human activities.
• Human Act:
• Performed with advertence and motive.
• Chosen and given existence by free will.
• Acts of Man:
• Actions without advertence or free choice (e.g., reflex actions).
• Not human acts in the ethical sense.
• Ethics focuses on human acts, which make up human conduct.
Ethics as the Science of Morality
• Morality: The agreement or disagreement of human activity with the dictates of
reason.
• Purpose of Ethics:
• Study human activity to determine harmony with reason.
• Deal with the morality of human conduct.
Origin of the Term "Ethics"
• Derived from the Greek word "ethos":
• Means “a characteristic way of living.”
Material and Formal Objects of Ethics
• Ethics is the science of human acts or human conduct.Derived from the Latin
"mos" (mor-) and Greek "ethos."Often called Moral Science or Moral
Philosophy.
The Objects of Science
Material Object: Refers to the subject matter. For Ethics: Human acts or
conduct.
Formal Object: Refers to the special aim or point of view. For Ethics: The
rectitude or right morality of human acts.
Importance of Ethics. Ethics applies human reason to explore the rectitude of
human acts.
The Division of Ethics
General Ethics: Deduces general principles of morality from truths about
human acts.
Special Ethics: Applies general principles to specific human activities
Individual Ethics:
As regards God
As regards self.
As regards fellow men.
Social Ethics:In the family.In the state.In the world (International Ethics).