Ethics Mod 1
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JOSEPH LAURENT JUNIOEthics Mod 1
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JOSEPH LAURENT JUNIOETHICS
What is ETHICS?
ETHICS
- ethos = custom or character
- studies the rightness and wrongness of a human action
- how do human persons ought to act?
- What is good conduct and a good life?
The Goal
- The attempt to seek the good in the aid of reason is the traditional goal of an
ETHICIST.
- Note: There is no single absolute definition of ethics. It is constantly evolving.
GREEK TRADITION JUDEO-CHRISTIAN
“good life” righteousness before God;
Happiness love God and neighbor
“being happy” “doing what is right”
ETHICS VS MORALITY
ETHICS MORALITY
“theory” of Right and Wrong “practice”, Rightness or
action and the greater good. Wrongness of human action.
“Descriptive” “prescriptive”
“Systematic study” of the = tells us what we ought to do
underlying principles of =exhorts us to follow the right
morality way
ETHICS as a philosophical science
4 DISCIPLINES IN PHILOSOPHY
- Descriptive or Speculative Philosophy
- Normative Philosophy
- Practical Philosophy
- Critical Philosophy
ETHICS
The Importance of Rules to Social Beings
RULES
- Refers to explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct within a
specific activity or sphere.
- Tells us what is not allowed in a particular context or situation.
A. Rules protect social beings by regulating behavior.
B. Rules help to guarantee each person certain rights and freedom.
C. Rules produce a sense of justice among social beings.
D. Rules are essential for healthy economic system.
In a nutshell
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 while upholding the common welfare.
MORAL AND NON-MORAL STANDARDS
MORAL STANDARDS
- STANDARDS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL, GROUP OR COMMUNITY HAVE ABOUT THE
KINDS OF ACTIONS OR BEHAVIORS TO BE MORALLY RIGHT OR WRONG.
NON-MORAL STANDARDS
- RULES OR STANDARDS BY WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL, A GROUP OR COMMUNITY
JUDGE WHAT IS GOOD AND RIGHT IN A NON-MORAL WAY.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MORAL STANDARD
Moral standards involve serious wrongs or significant benefits.
Moral standards ought to be preferred to other values.
Moral standards are not established by authority figures.
Moral standards have the trait of universalizability.
Moral standards are based on impartial considerations.
Moral standards are associated with special emotions and vocabulary.
ETHICS
DILEMMA AND MORAL DILEMMA
DILEMMA
- A dilemma is a situation where a tough choice has to be made between two or more
conflicting options, especially more or less equally undesirable ones.
NOTE:NOTALLDILEMMASAREMORALDILEMMAS.
KEY FEATURES OF MORAL
DILEMMAS
A. THE AGENT IS REQUIRED TO DO EACH OF THE TWO (OR MORE) ACTIONS;
B. THE AGENT CAN DO EACH OF THE ACTIONS; BUT CANNOT DO BOTH (OR ALL) OF THE
ACTIONS
THE AGENT THUS SEEMS CONDEMNED TO MORAL FAILURE
C. NEITHER OF THE CONFLICTING MORAL REQUIREMENTS IS OVERRIDDEN.
TYPES OF MORAL DILEMMAS
EPISTEMIC MORAL DILEMMAS
involve situations wherein two or more moral requirements conflict with each
other and that the moral agent hardly knows which of the conflicting moral requirements
takes precedence over the other. In other words, the moral agent here does not know which
option is morally right or wrong.
ONTOLOGICAL MORAL DILEMMAS
involve situations wherein two or more moral requirements conflict with each
other, yet neither of these conflicting moral requirements overrides each other. This is not to
say that the moral agent does not know which moral requirement is stronger than the other
SELF-IMPOSED VS WORLD-IMPOSED MORAL DILEMMA
SELF-IMPOSED DILEMMA
Is one created by the agent's own errors in judgment.
WORLD-IMPOSED MORAL DILEMMA
Is caused by circumstances outside the agent's control.
ETHICS
THREE LEVELS OF MORAL DILEMMAS
PERSONAL
- ENCOUNTERED AND RESOLVE PERSONALLY
• CONFLICTING PROMISES
ORGANIZATIONAL
- ENCOUNTERED AND RESOLVE BY SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
• BUSINESS
• MEDICAL
STRUCTURAL
- ENCOUNTERED AND RESOLVE BY NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS
F O U N D AT I O N S O F M O R A L I T Y
FREEDOM: RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE’S ACT AND TO OTHERS ONLY HUMANS CAN BE
ETHICAL
1) only human beings are rational, autonomous (free) and
self-conscious
2) only human beings can act morally or immorally, and
3) only human beings are part of the moral community.
FREEDOM AS FOUNDATION OF MORALITY
- Morality involves CHOICE. It is choosing ethical codes, values or standards to guide
us in our lives. Choosing is impossible without freedom. Everyone who wishes to
function morally in a society has to make choices every minute of the day (De
Guzman, 2018).
- Furthermore, freedom demands responsibility. According to Sartre, even though
individuals must make their own choices because they are free, these choices also
have consequences to it – these consequences are something that the person must
endure (Gallinero, 2018).
Minimum Requirement for Morality
- Since freedom demand responsibility, according to James Rachels, moral judgments
must be backed by sound reasoning and that morality requires the impartial
consideration of all parties involved (Rachels, 2004).
- REASON
- IMPARTIALITY
ETHICS
REASON
ENTAILS THAT HUMAN FEELINGS MAY BE IMPORTANT IN ETHICAL DECISIONS,
BUT THEY OUGHT TO BE GUIDED BY REASON. SOUND REASONING HELPS US TO EVALUATE
WHETHER OUR FEELINGS AND INTUITIONS ABOUT MORAL CASES ARE CORRECT AND
DEFENSIBLE.
IMPARTIALITY
INVOLVES THE IDEA THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL’S INTERESTS AND POINT OF VIEW
ARE EQUALITY IMPORTANT. IMPARTIALITY (EVENHANDEDNESS OR FAIRMINDEDNESS), IS A
PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE HOLDING THAT DECISIONS OUGHT TO BE BASED ON OBJECTIVE
CRITERIA.