UNIT II: THE
ETHICAL
DIMENSION OF
HUMAN
EXISTENCE
Learning Outcomes
01 02 03
Define and explain Create a critique Produce a
terms that are paper on the comprehensive
relevant to ethics; foundation of ethics; discussion paper on
the standards of
morality.
Ethics: The Ground of Values
◦ Ethics – a philosophical study that determine the grounds for values in relation to
human existence.
◦ It involves the responsibilities that we are expected to perform, the restrictions
that we need to respect (Bulaong et. al, 2018).
Clarifications of Terminologies
Not all concepts related to what is right and wrong are related to ethical
discussions. (Aesthetics vs Ethics) (Etiquette vs Ethics)
abortion, sexual identity, poverty, capital punishment, life and
Matters that involve
death, inequality, war and etc. are some of the topics related to ethical discussions. (concern of human
well-being)
◦ Ethics – Philosophical study of what is acceptable and unacceptable ways of acting in a
particular field. Ethics studies morality.
◦ Morals – pertain to specific beliefs or attitudes that people have or to describe acts that people
do. (person’s conduct)
Descriptive Ethics – pertains to the study of how people make
moral valuations without making a confirmative or denial judgement
of those valuations. (Anthropologists & Sociologists)
Normative Ethics – study of what should be the right way of
acting. What we ought to do as the ground of our moralities. It
focuses on the study of the ethical norms that we are ought to
follow as bases of our moral valuation (Bulaong et. al, 2018).
Other terms related to Ethics:
1. Moral Issue – situation or event that calls for moral valuation. Our
contemporary world faces a lot of this moral issue in w/c these issues
sometimes led to an ethical debates.
2. Moral Decision – a situation in which a person is confronted with
what choice of actions should be done. (ex. chooses not to cheat)
3. Moral Judgement - the evaluation of someone to a person’s actions
or behavior. (saw someone cheating)
4. Moral Dilemma – the situation in which a person faces choices over
right over wrong or good over evil. Facing between choosing one to the
two goods or choosing between two evil choices. (stealing vs feeding)
5. Moral Theory – refers to ethical frameworks that systematically
attempt to create a validity of maintaining specific moral principles.
Can the Law, Religion,
Culture and the Self be an
Ultimate Basis of Morality?
◦ Law – is enforced by way of a system of sanctions managed by persons and institutions in
w/c all citizens of the country must obey. Note that the law does not tell us what we
should do but it only tells us what to avoid. The law gives us constraints in doing
acts that we should not do but it cannot tell us what to pursue regarding some
aspects of good which we can do regardless of the lawful requirements
*Acts that are unethical and also prohibited by the law.
*Acts that were not prohibited by the law but are ethically doubtful. (deprived of job security)
*Acts that are unethical and not prohibited by the law.
2. Religion – Religion has a divine command theory that God commands human beings
to obey the creator. Many religious people made religion as the ultimate foundation of
ethical values. (Ten Commandments)
Each religion requires certain laws to follow w/c lead to conflicting ethical
standards. (Multiplicity of religions) (many wives & food restrictions)
3. Culture – what is unacceptable and acceptable is relative to or dependent to one’s
culture. One cultural standard could be a basis of moral evaluation and this could also
teach us that we are in no position to judge whether the ethical practice of another culture
is acceptable or not acceptable. There could be no universal standards of what is right or
wrong.
Cultural Relativism
- premised on the idea of differences, we cannot say which moral code
is the right one
-we are in no position to create any judgment on the practices of a
particular culture. This idea is good for respecting other cultures
The Self as a Basis of Morality
a. Subjectivism – the individual is the sole determinant of what is right
or wrong.
1. No one can tell me what is right and wrong.
2. No one knows my situation better than myself.
3. I am entitled to my own opinion.
4. It is good if I say that it is good.
b. Psychological Egoism
- a theory that describes that there is an underlying motives behind human actions
- based on the idea that human beings are naturally self-centered
c. Ethical Egoism
- claims that we should create our own ends and our own interests
- we should act only if it ultimately benefit us since we need to prioritize ourselves in the
world out there. E.g. Corruption
