Ethics

^^Introduction^^

  • Greek word “Ethos”, meaning “customs or behavior”
  • The term “ethos” has an equivalent meaning in Latin word “moris”, which means “morals”.
  • Defined as: As a science, it deals with the morality (rightness and wrongness) on the human act.

( When we talk about ethics we talk about morals)

( Ethics is focused on behavior of human beings)

Importance of ethics

  • If there i no ethics, society might fall into chaos if we accept that each of us could pick and choose what the right thing to do is.
  • It plays a critical role in shaping the individuals behavior within the a society.

Fundamental concepts in Ethics

The Human Act

  • Act of man is something that is beyond your control. ( This are involuntary actions that you do)conscious and free actions that you do base on your capacity.
  • Morality or ethics is more concerned with human acts rather than acts of man.

Constituents of Human Act:

  • Knowledge (kaalaman) - resides in the intellect and is the mindfulness of what the moral agent is doing.

  • Freedom (kalayaan) - quality of the free will which one is able to choose between one or more alternatives.

  • Voluntariness (kakayahan) - quality of human act whereby any commission or ommission of an act is a result of the knowledge which an agent has of the end.

Sources/ Determinant of Morality

(This determinants of morality will aid you whether an action is immoral or moral)

  • The object of the act (what is the action being done) - the very substance of the act.

  • Motive of the Agent ( Bakit ginawa ang action na iyon) - Purpose for which a human agent does the act.

  • The Circumstances - this are the surrounding events that led to the attuation of certain action. (kung bakit nangyari ang isang action)

Standard/Norms of Morality

  • Natural Law and Conscience
  • A law should be an ordinance of reason promulgated by a duly constituted authority for the common good of the society. (When we say a law this should be an ordinance.)(when we say ordinance this is a regulation.)(regulation should be reasonable.) (Promulgated means ipinatutupad consistently.) ( Your laws should be always aimed for the common good of the society.)
  • Law is necessary to regulate acts of the freewill. ( If there are no laws or ethics, our society would be in chaos because all of us will exercise what is right for us and we will only do our preferences (we have diff perspective))

Kinds of Law

  • Natural Law/Divine Law/Human Positive Law

(Natural Law is observable in how nature works. E.g. How the trees grow/How you are born/ How are there two different sexes)(In terms of Natural Law, Abortion is immoral.)

(Divine Law a natural law that is subscribe into particular religion.(For Catholics, Divine Law is the Ten Commandments.)

(Human Positive Laws are Laws created by man to guide positive behavior among people.)

  • CONSCIENCE
  • The practical judgement that determines that an act is good, therefore to be done, and evil, therefore to be avoided.

Stages of Moral Development

Kolhberg's Stages of Moral Development

Pre-conventional Stage

  • Usually common among children
  • Judge morality of action based on direct consequences.

-Stage 1 (Obedience vs Punishment) - an action is perceived as wrong because the perpetrator is punished.

-Stage 2 (self-interest driven)

Conventional Stage

  • Common among adolescent
  • Judge morality of action based on societal views and expectations.

Stage 3(good intention as determined by social consensus)

Post Conventional Stage

  • Principled level;marked by going realization of individual perspective may differ from society