etics

• Law is sometimes considered a guide to ethical behavior
• Filipinos are constrained to obey the laws of the land as stated in the country's criminal and civil codes
• Residents in provinces or cities are constrained to follow provincial laws or city ordinances
• Positive law refers to rules and regulations posited by an authority figure that require compliance
• The law works by constraining individuals from performing certain acts
• The law does not tell us what to pursue, only what to avoid
• One can make ethical valuations beyond what is required by the law
• The law cannot tell us what to pursue, only what to avoid
• There are ways of acting that may be ethically questionable even if not forbidden by the law
• The law does not oblige people to help others in need, but there may be ethical culpability in not doing so
• Religion is considered a foundation for ethical values through the divine command theory
• The divine command theory posits that individuals are obliged to obey their God in all things
• Religion provides a set of prohibitions and ideals to pursue
• Religion commands absolute obedience and provides a Supreme Authority to inspire and compel obedience
• Different religions may result in conflicting ethical standards
• Not everyone is devout or maintains a religious faith, raising questions about moral codes
• Differences in interpretation and practice within the same faith can lead to ethical dilemmas
• The problem of differences in moral codes remains a challenge
• The question of whether actions are wrong because God commands it, or if God commands it because it is wrong, is raised
• Two options to consider regarding the morality of killing:

  • Killing is wrong only because God commanded it
  • Killing is inherently wrong, and that is why God commanded it
• If the first option is true, then killing is only wrong because God said so, making it arbitrary

  • This could lead to the belief that God could change His commands, making killing acceptable
  • Historical examples like the Crusades show the dangers of believing killing is only wrong because God commanded it
• If the second option is true, then killing is inherently wrong, and there are objective standards of right and wrong independent of God

  • Following ethical standards does not necessarily require belief in God
  • This challenges the idea that ethics are solely based on divine commands
• Cultural relativism:

  • Different cultures have different moral codes, leading to the belief that there is no universal standard for ethics
  • Cultural relativism suggests that ethical values are relative to one's culture
  • It promotes tolerance towards other cultures and their moral codes
• Critiques of cultural relativism:

  • Disagreement does not necessarily mean there are no right or wrong answers
  • It may prevent judgment on harmful practices in other cultures
  • It may hinder criticism of problematic practices within one's own culture
  • Defining one's culture becomes increasingly complex in a globalized world
• Cultural relativism limits critical thought and discernment of shared human values

  • It discourages comparing and judging ethical valuations across different cultures
  • Presumes a clear definition of culture, which is challenging in a diverse world