Not acquired because of the environment (ex: profession)
Material Object
Human acts as the subject matter; whatever you do
Formal Object
Right conduct of man; question: is it right to conduct the action?
The ends justified the mean – an example is abortion, prostitution
Ethics point of view
All acts should be in line with the right reason/morally upright
Custom
Makes ethics related to moral; defined as more or less permanent moral behavior in accordance with the precepts of natural moral law which is universally known and common to all men
Moral
Came from the Latin word "mores" or most also means customs or character
Perception of Men is not fixed and it changes from time to time, particularly on the nature of a person
Moral Principles
Refers to customs, behavior, and character (what is morally upright and ethically good)
Truth is presupposed in ethics
Existence of God
The dignity of the human person
Immortality of the soul
Ethos
Has something to do with the development of virtuous and moral character
According to the Greeks we must know what is morally upright
To the Greeks, it is important to live a good life. Do what is good and right, and avoid what is wrong or bad
Socratic Method
Investigation through process
Consistent about asking people questions about something they already know
By critical inquiry we become closer to the truth
Socrates doesn't want to tell/impose on people what to do he just wants to guide them
The need to study ethics
We make decisions and examine if it will be good for everyone. These decisions should not hurt feelings
We are thought to live in an orderly life. We should all be rational people
We consider the past and present practices which should be carried on for the future generations
It seeks to point out to man what are the true values of life
We need to study ethics, not to gain monetary amounts but to gain moral uprightness
Through ethics, we are guided by moral uprightness
Men as rational beings
Men know what is good and right
Since we are rational beings, we should choose what is right and good
Man is free
We have freedom and liberty to express ourselves
We have full control of what we do
But not because we have freedom, we can do all that we want to do, but we should know our limitations
Descriptive Ethics
Describing how people actually behave
Suits more on empirical sciences like sociology and political science because it holds moral beliefs in a given society, group, organization, etc.
Doesn't prescribe
Doesn't assess the moral soundness of any ethical systems
Objectively describes what kind of values people come to have
Normative Ethics
Seeks to discover norms that would guide our actions
Concerned with developing a system of morality and determining what actions are right or wrong
Focuses on prescribing how people ought to behave based on these criteria
Consequentialist Ethics
Pertains that the morality of an action is determined by its consequences
Doing utilitarian cuts to make others happy
Utilitarianism - fruitiest good for the greatest number
Non-Consequentialist Ethics
The morality of the action depends on its intrinsic nature and motive and not on its consequences
Theological Ethics
You are guided by what you believe in. Your actions are being dictated by reason on that belief that that is the will of God
The divine command of morality
Holds the will of god or what the scriptures tell us what to do
Dictated upon our reason of faith
Ethical Egoism
Maintains that an action is right if it is in the interest of the agent or doer only
"What is good is my interest only" or "what is correct is only the interest of the doer"
Situational Ethics
Claims that the morality of the actions depends on the situation and not on the application of moral law
Plato
Nature of good and bad, and happiness and virtue
"Happiness is found neither in material things nor in the treasures of life but in making your soul like God"
More idealist than Aristotle
Composed "the republic" (describes the importance of being just in the world, and by being just, one is happy)
Aristotle
More practical than Plato
"Man is a political animal"
Came up with the principles of society
"In a society, you cannot avoid corruption"
General Ethics (Law)
Discusses the nature of human acts and their relation to morality
Special Ethics (Obedience)
Deals within the application of general principles of morality to the particular actions of man
Socrates
The purpose of man in this world is to learn how to die
Tells us that in our daily life, we should live as if it is our last day
Epicurus
Claims that sensual and intellectual pleasure were the real purpose of life
Zeno
The mission of man is to be superior against suffering
The end talks about the good
Rational Appetite
It's for goodness and something desirable for the human being
The end should always be something that is desired because this desire is what gives us an appetite
Proximate End
An immediate end on account which an action is immediately performed
Intermediate End
A subordinate end sought for the attainment of another end
Ultimate End
An account of which other ends or means are sought
Absolute Last End
According to Saint Thomas, it is the end for the sake of which all other things are desired