ethics

• ETHICS


  The branch of Philosophy that studies morality or the rightness or wrongness of human conduct
• MORALITY


  A code or system of behavior in regards to standards of right or wrong behavior
• ethos


  character
• ethos


  manners
• The terms ethics and morality, especially their adjective form (ethical and moral), are used interchangeably
• Montemayor (1994): 'The importance of the study of ethics follows immediately from the importance of ethics itself. Ethics means right living and good moral character, and it is in good moral character that man finds his true worth and perfection. All the great teachers of the ages maintain that the supreme purpose of human living lies not in the acquisition of material good or bodily pleasures, nor in the attainment of bodily perfections such as health and strength; nor even in the development of intellectual skills but in the development of the moral qualities which lift man far above brute creation. Education is the harmonious development of the whole man-of all man’s faculties: the moral, intellectual, and physical powers in man. Now then highest of man’s power are his reason and will. Hence, the primary objective of education is the moral development of the will'
• Example questions that are ethical in nature

  • What is good?
  • Who is a moral person?
  • What are the virtues of a human being?
  • What makes an act right?
  • What duties do we have to each other?
• RULES


  Explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct within a specific activity or sphere
• Rules tell us what is or is not allowed in a particular context or situation. In many ways, rules serve as a foundation for any healthy society. Without rules, society would fall into anarchy. Not all rules are moral
• Rules can benefit social beings by

  • Regulating behavior
  • Guaranteeing each person certain rights and freedom
  • Producing a sense of justice among social beings
  • Being essential for a healthy economic system
• Society could not soundly function without rules and regulations. Rules are necessary to protect the greater good. Even the freest societies ought to have rules in order to avoid exploitations and tyranny
• NON-MORAL STANDARDS


  Rules that are unrelated to moral or ethical considerations. They can include table etiquette, fashion standards, rules in games, various house rules, some religious rules, traditions, and legal statuses (i.e. laws and ordinances)
• MORAL STANDARDS


  Rules people have about the kinds of actions they believe are morally right and wrong, as well as values they place on the kinds of objects they believe are morally good and morally bad. Moral standards promote “the good”, that is, the welfare and well-being of humans as well as animals and the environment. Moral standards prescribe what humans ought to do in terms of rights and obligations
• Moral standards


  Equated with moral values and moral principles, promote "the good" which is the welfare and well-being of humans, animals, and the environment, prescribe what humans ought to do in terms of rights and obligations
• Moral standards


  • Deal with matters that can seriously injure or benefit humans, animals, and the environment; Are overriding, taking precedence over other standards and considerations, especially of self-interest; Ought to be preferred to other values; Have the trait of universalizability; Not established or changed by the decisions of authoritative individuals or bodies; Based on impartial considerations; Associated with special emotions (such as guilt and shame) and vocabulary (such as right, wrong, good, and bad)
• Dilemma refers to a situation in which a tough choice has to be made between 2 or more options, especially more or less equally undesirable ones
• Not all dilemmas are moral dilemmas
• Moral dilemma (ethical dilemma) refers to situations in which a difficult choice has to be made between 2 courses of action, either of which entails transgressing a moral principle
• Moral Dilemma


  • The agent is required to do each of 2 or more actions; The agent can do each of the actions but cannot do both (or all) of the actions; In a moral dilemma, the agent seems condemned to moral failure as no matter what he does, he will do something wrong or fail to do something that he ought to do
• 3 levels of Moral Dilemma

  • Personal Dilemmas
  • Organizational Dilemmas
  • Structural Dilemmas
• Personal Dilemmas


  • A husband choosing between the life of his child who is about to be delivered by his wife
• Organizational Dilemmas


  • A doctor having to administer euthanasia (mercy killing)
• Structural Dilemmas


  • The President of a country choosing between allowing businesses to operate for economic recovery or continuing the lockdown for safety
• De Guzman, 2017: 'Only human beings can be ethical; Only human beings are rational, autonomous, and self-conscious; Only human beings can act morally or immorally; Only human beings are part of the moral community; Freedom as a foundation of Morality'
• Ethics


  The branch of Philosophy that studies morality or the rightness or wrongness of human conduct
• Ethos


  The Greek word meaning 'character' or in plural, 'manners'
• Morality


  A code or system of behavior in regard to standards of right or wrong behavior
• The terms 'ethics' and 'morality', especially their adjective form (ethical and moral) are used interchangeably
• Importance of the study of ethics

  • Ethics means right living and good moral character
  • Ethics is where man finds his true worth and perfection
  • The supreme purpose of human living lies in the development of the moral qualities which lift man far above brute creation
  • The primary objective of education is the moral development of the will
• Example questions that are ethical in nature

  • What is good?
  • Who is a moral person?
  • What are the virtues of human being?
  • What makes an act right?
  • What duties do we have to each other?
• Rules


  Explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct within a specific activity or sphere
• How rules can benefit social beings

  • Rules protect social beings by regulating behavior
  • Rules help to guarantee each person certain rights and freedom
  • Rules produce a sense of justice among social beings
  • Rules are essential for a healthy economic system
• Non-moral standards


  Rules that are unrelated to moral or ethical considerations
• Moral standards


  Rules about the kinds of actions people believe are morally right and wrong, as well as values they place on the kinds of objects they believe are morally good and morally bad
• Characteristics of moral standards

  • Moral standards deal with matters that can seriously injure or benefit humans, animals, and the environment
  • Moral standards are overriding, they take precedence over other standards and considerations
  • Moral standards have the trait of universalizability
  • Moral standards are not established or changed by the decisions of authoritative individuals or bodies
  • Moral standards are based on impartial considerations
  • Moral standards are associated with special emotions and vocabulary
• Dilemma


  A situation in which a tough choice has to be made between 2 or more options, especially more or less equally undesirable ones
• Moral dilemma (ethical dilemma)

  Situations in which a difficult choice has to be made between 2 courses of action, either of which entails transgressing a moral principle
• Key features of moral dilemma

  • The agent is required to do each of 2 or more actions
  • The agent can do each of the actions; but the agent cannot do both (or all) of the actions
• Levels of moral dilemma

  • Personal dilemmas
  • Organizational dilemmas
  • Structural dilemmas
• Only human beings can be ethical