ETHICS MIDTERM EXAM

Ethics as a Subject

Study of underlying principles of morality

Greek word “ethos”

meaning character

Aletheia

Absence of truth

Highest Level of Reality

Knowing where our knowledge comes from

Philosophy

philos means love and sophia means wisdom; translates love of wisdom

2 Key Deities Attributed to Wisdom

1. Apollo

2. Athena

Apollo

god of truth and divine wisdom as the personification of sunlight

Athena

goddess of practical wisdom, evident in her art of warfare

Philosophy’s goal

look for underlying explanations

Branches of Philosophy

1. Logic

2. Metaphysics

3. Epistemology

4. Axiology

5. Aesthetics 

6. Ethics

Logic

Using your mind to see or understand a specific manner

Metaphysics

What does it mean to exist?

meta

beyond

Epistemology

How we are able to know

Axiology

Assigning value

Aesthetics

Perception (what is art and not)

Ethics

Morality & goodness

Three Approaches of ethics

Meta-Ethics, Normative Ethics, Applied Ethics

Meta-Ethics

study of basic ethics

Normative Ethics

Guide to upright life

Applied Ethics

Practical ethics

Ethical

Something within the scope of ethics

Moral

Concern with amoral things

Good or Bad

Can have in between

Right or Wrong

Nothing in between

Normal and Abnormal

coincide with ethical and unethical

Primary Specimen in Ethics

morality, folkways, mores, law

Morality

discuss, examine, and question

folkways

Way of the people

mores

Bases for moral aspect of human conduct

law

Protect people under it and punish those who disobey

Plato’s Reiteration of Philosophy

Instead of relying on mere perception, reason alone is sufficient to live a good life

Socrates’ Teachings

Know thyself is the true way in gaining wisdom and living in an ethical life

2 types of Reasoning

Theoretical and Practical reasoning

Theoretical reasoning

Abstract

Practical reasoning

Course of actions

Aristotle’s Definitions

theoretical and practical wisdom

Theoretical Wisdom

intellectual aspect

Practical Wisdom

moral aspect

Human Beings

Primary agents of concern in ethics due to their capacity to reason

Moral Patients

Entities incapable of making their own decisions

Moral Agent

Possess the freedom and ability to choose and make rational decisions

Obligation

Duty to oneself to exercise freedom in planning for one’s future

2 Basic Models of Reasoning

Deductive Model of Moral Reasoning (DMMR) and Reflective Equilibrium Model (REM)

Deductive Model of Moral Reasoning (DMMR)

Following ethical rules that dictate what is ethical or not; General rule

Reflective Equilibrium Model (REM)

Evaluated alongside relevant pre-existing beliefs, eventually arriving at one’s judgment of a particular conduct; Conflicting Rules

Challenges in Studying Ethics

1. Is-Ought Fallacy (Naturalistic Fallacy)

2. Moral Subjectivism

3. Moral Relativism

4. Moral Objectivism

5. Moral Absolutism

6. Morality & Religion

7. Morality & Law

8. Morality & Biology

Is-Ought Fallacy (Naturalistic Fallacy)

Problematic derivation of the prescription of an action

Moral Subjectivism

Individuals have their own ethical point of view

Moral Relativism

Societal level (relate to factors/others)

Moral Objectivism

Basis of morality

Moral Absolutism

Good throughout entirety

Morality & Religion

Morality depends on religion

Morality and Law

questions whether laws should be the basis of morality

Morality & Biology

Moral decisions are indeed crafted by free will or they are just accidental causes of biological

Applied or Practical Ethics

application of ethical frameworks to specific concerns

Environmental Ethics

welfare of the environment

Biomedical Ethics

distribution of medical aid and prioritization of patients

Business Ethics

corporate duties

Media Ethics

Delivery of truth void of any bias

Pantayong Pananaw

Upang makahanap ng salaysay(narrative) na nagmumula mismo sa mga Pilipino

Kausap na Taga-Loob

There is understanding

Kausap na Taga-Labas

Foreign concepts

Ang isang Pilipino ay maaaring maihalintulad sa isang?

Banga

Labas ng banga

ating hayag na pag-uugali

Labas ng banga

kubling pag-uugali

Lalim ng banga

buong pagkatao

Sikolohiyang Pilipino

Layuning pag aralan ang psyche nating mga Pilipino

Pakikipagkapwa

Nahahati ayon sa kung ang kasama ba natin ay taga loob o taga labas

Daoism

the way; going with the flow

Taijitu

harmony between yin and yang

De

Virtue

Dao

Absolute path/way

Yin and Yang

Light in darkness and darkness in light

Wei-Wu-Wei

Act by not acting

Confucianism

Don’t base ethics on a grand scale

Shui

chinese character for water; importance of river system in societies

Tian

heaven above us

Di

earth around us

Ren

man; also referred to as consciousness of human others

Altruism

how to deal with others around you; Acting to adjust

The Principle of Measuring Square

zhong and shu

Zhong

Positive duty; do

Shu

Negative duty; do not do

5 Virtues of Confucianism to be a Moral Gentleman

1. Ren (altruism)

2. Yi (duty)

3. Li (propriety)

4. Zhi (knowledge/wisdom)

5. Xin (faithfulness)

Yi (duty)

Roles based on names/labels

Li (propriety)

Specific customs and habits given occasion

Zhi (knowledge/wisdom)

Through generation

Xin (faithfulness)

Alignment of thoughts & intentions

Hinduism

Oldest religion; Having the most numbers of deities (polytheistic)

Symbol of Om/Aum

Symbolizing the sound of the universe

Nis-Kama-Karma

No-pleasure-action

4 Varnas of Classes

1. Brahmin

2. Kshatriya

3. Vaishya

4. Shudra

Brahmin

leader

Kshatriya

retains order

Vaishya

Nourish

Shudra

Support society

Samsara

Goes around until done right

Moksha

Spiritual liberation; Doesn’t go backwards

Buddhism

Believes in the cycle of rebirth