AN INTRODUCTION
Levi Tecson, MAT/RE
Associate Professor
STAGES OF PHILOSOPHICAL STUDY
RENE DESCARTE
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
I. KANT, Etc.
ST. AUGUSTINE MODERN
THOMAS AQUINAS, ERA
etc.
THALES MEDIEVAL
ANAXIMANDER
ERA
PLATO, etc.
PRE-
SOCRRATIC
ERA
• The focus of their thought is to study the origin / the
“primordial stuff” of the universe.
BRANCHES OF
PHILOSOPHY
ETHICS IS THE PRACTICAL SCIENCE OF
THE MORALITY OF HUMAN CONDUCT
A. Ethics is a science.
A science is a relatively complete and systematically arranged
body of connected data together with the causes or reasons
by which these data are known to be true.
Ethics squares with this definition, for it is a complete and
systematically arranged body of data which relate to the
morality of human conduct; and it presents the reasons
which show these data to be true. Ethics is therefore a
science.
ETHICS IS THE PRACTICAL SCIENCE OF
THE MORALITY OF HUMAN CONDUCT
B. Ethics is a practical science.
If the data of a science directly imply rules or directions for
thought or action, the science is called practical.
If the data of a science enrich the mind without directly
implying rules or directions, the science is called speculative.
ETHICS IS THE PRACTICAL SCIENCE OF
THE MORALITY OF HUMAN CONDUCT
A speculative science presents truths that are to be known; a
practical science presents truths that are to be acted upon.
A speculative science enlarges our knowledge and enhances our
cultural equipment; a practical science gives us knowledge with
definite guidance.
Now the science of Ethics presents data which directly imply and
indicate directions for human conduct. Ethics is therefore a
practical science.
TYPES OF PHILOSOPHY
SPECULATIVE PHILOSOPHY PRACTICAL / APPLIED PHILOSOPHY
Cosmology Axiology
Metaphysics Ethics
Theodicy Aesthetics
Anthropology Social Philosophy
Rational Psychology Philosophy of Man
Logic Philosophy of Religion
Epistemology Philosophy of Education
ETHICS IS THE PRACTICAL SCIENCE OF
THE MORALITY OF HUMAN CONDUCT
C. Ethics is a science of human conduct.
By human conduct we mean only such human activity as is
deliberate and free.
A deliberate and free act, as act performed with advertence
and motive, an act determined (chosen and given existence)
by the free will is called a human act.
Acts performed by human beings without advertence, or
without the exercise of free choices, are called acts of man.
HUMAN ACTS VERSUS ACTS OF MAN
Human Acts
Actions done Consciously and freely by the
agent or by man
Essential Qualities of Human Acts:
1. Knowledge of the act
2. Freedom
3. Voluntariness
HUMAN ACTS VS. ACTS OF MAN
Acts of Man
Actions beyond one’s consciousness; not
dependent on the intellect & the will
Essential Qualities of Acts of Man:
1. Done with out knowledge
2. Without consent
3. Involuntary
ETHICS IS THE PRACTICAL SCIENCE OF
THE MORALITY OF HUMAN CONDUCT
Ethics treats of HUMAN ACTS; human acts make man
as man and make a human conduct. Ethics therefore
is a science of human conduct.
The constituents of the Human Act are knowledge,
freedom and voluntariness.
ETHICS IS THE PRACTICAL SCIENCE OF
THE MORALITY OF HUMAN CONDUCT
D. Ethics is the science of the morality of human conduct.
Human conduct is free, knowing, deliberate human activity.
Such activity is either in agreement and disagreement with
the dictates of human reason. Now the relation (agreement
or disagreement) of human activity with the dictates of
reason is called MORALITY.
Ethics studies human activity to determine what it must be
to stand in harmony with the dictates of reason. Hence,
Ethics deals with the morality of human conduct.
ETHICS IS THE PRACTICAL SCIENCE OF
THE MORALITY OF HUMAN CONDUCT
E. The name ETHICS is derived from the Greek word ethos,
which means “a characteristic way of acting.”
Now the characteristic mark of human conduct is found in the free
and deliberate use of the will: in a word, this characteristic is found in
human acts. Thus we perceive that the name ETHICS is suitably
employed to designate the science of human acts, of human conduct.
The name MORALITY is derived from the Latin word mos, moris which
means “character, behavior, morals, custom, or habit.”
Thus we understand ETHICS as the same as MORAL PHILOSOPHY or
MORAL SCIENCE.
ETHICS IS THE PRACTICAL SCIENCE OF
THE MORALITY OF HUMAN CONDUCT
Morality and Ethics according to Velasquez
Morality pertains to standards of right and wrong,
usually inherited from a community.
But…
Ethics studies standards of right and wrong, the
act of making a decision, the nature of the agent
who makes the decision.
ETHICS IS THE PRACTICAL SCIENCE OF
THE MORALITY OF HUMAN CONDUCT
F. Division of Ethics
a. General Ethics presents truths about human acts,
and from these truths deduces the general
principles of morality.
b. Special Ethics is applied /practical ethics. It
applies the principles of General Ethics in
different departments of human activity,
individual and social.
ETHICS IS THE PRACTICAL SCIENCE OF
THE MORALITY OF HUMAN CONDUCT
G. Approaches to ETHICS
Philosophers nowadays tend to divide ethical theories into three
areas: metaethics, normative ethics and applied ethics.
Meta-ethics deals with the nature of moral judgement. It looks at
the origins and meaning of ethical principles.
Normative ethics is concerned with the content of moral
judgements and the criteria for what is right or wrong.
Applied ethics looks at controversial topics like war, animal rights
and capital punishment.
THE STUDY OF ETHICS
AND
CULTURAL CONCEPTIONS
OF
THE GOOD
THE STUDY OF ETHICS AND
CULTURAL CONCEPTIONS OF THE GOOD
Goodness
it something that pleases, enjoyable,
gives satisfaction.
a thing when it is useful.
a thing when it serves a good purpose.
a thing when conforms to the moral law.
CLASSIFICATION OF GOODNESS
1. Metaphysical Goodness / Ontological Goodness
is that goodness which we have seen to be synonymous with
being. All existing beings are examples of goodness.
2. Physical Goodness
is the perfection of a being which has all the rounded
completeness which its nature requires. E.g. Complete
fingers in a hand. Lacking of one finger is physical evil.
3. Moral Goodness
is the perfection which accrues to free human activity from
the fact that such activity squares with the requirements of
the moral law. It is objective good in Ethics.
CLASSIFICATION OF GOODNESS
4. Bonum Utile (goodness of utility)
a thing chosen as a suitable means to an end has the goodness of
utility. Thus a good broom when it can be used in cleaning is a useful
good.
5. Bonum Honestum (proper good)
a thing chosen for its own sake and not as a means to something
else. “A seemly and fitting good.” A knife is intended to use in
chopping but when it use in killing defeats its purpose.
6. Bonum Delectabile (satisfying/pleasurable good)
a thing chosen for itself affords satisfaction when achieved, and,
under this aspect as satisfying. Eg. Sex, food and others.
CLASSIFICATION OF GOODNESS
7. Real Good
a thing which truly answers as unspoiled natural tendency or also a
thing which answer a supernatural tendency. E.g. health, virtue,
suitable work etc.
8. Apparent Good
a thing which has the outer seeming and the appeal of a real good
but which brings no lasting satisfaction. E.g. indolence and sinful
indulgence
9. Material Good
a good which belongs to the order of man’s outer, bodily life. E.g.
man’s health, his properties, his good name, his standing in the
community etc.
CLASSIFICATION OF GOODNESS
10. Intellectual Good
a good which perfects man’s mind. E.g. knowledge,
wisdom, etc.
11. Moral Good
a good which perfects man’s will. E.g. prudence, purity,
chastity, etc.
12. Natural Good
a good achievable by natural powers. E.g. moral virtues
13. Supernatural Good
a good achievable only by the aid of revelation or
grace. E.g. theological virtues (faith, hope, love).
