Part 10: Philosophy of Ethics, Ethical Theories and Frameworks
1. Introduction
Ethics is the philosophical study of morality which provides the foundation for distinguishing
right from wrong, good from bad, and just from unjust. Ethical reasoning guides deskin making
and shapes societal norms in both personal and professional contexts. The philosophy ethics
includes different theories and frameworks in which each of them provide a unique perspectives
on how humans out to act(1).
According to Harry J. Gensler, ethics is the branch of philosophy that addresses the big questions
of morality and applies them to practical issues. Moral philosophy is divided into two main
areas: metaethics, which studies the meaning and justification of moral judgments, and
normative ethics, which examines the principles we ought to live by, including actions, ends,
virtues, and rights. Gensler emphasizes the golden rule—“Treat others as you want to be
treated”—as a practical method for moral reasoning and applies this framework to contemporary
controversies such as racism, global warming, moral education, and abortion. He highlights that
studying ethics not only deepens reflection on life’s fundamental questions but also improves
moral thinking, enriches professional and personal life, and sharpens reasoning skills, making it a
valuable introduction for college students who are new to philosophy or those who have already
taken an introductory course(2).
On the other hand, The Oxford Handbook of Ethical Theory (Oxford University Press, 2006),
moral philosophy is divided into two broad areas: metaethics and normative ethics, each offering
distinct frameworks for understanding morality. Metaethical theories explore the foundations of
moral truth and knowledge. Moral realism defends the existence of objective moral facts, while
ethical naturalism grounds morality in natural properties continuous with science. In contrast,
expressivism and quasi-realism argue that moral statements express attitudes but can mimic
realist discourse, and moral relativism questions whether moral truths are universal at all.
Normative ethics, by comparison, focuses on guiding action. Consequentialism evaluates
morality by outcomes, with utilitarianism as its central model, while deontology emphasizes
duties and rules, drawing heavily on Kant’s categorical imperative. Virtue ethics shifts attention
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to character and flourishing (eudaimonia), whereas care ethics highlights empathy and relational
responsibility. Other frameworks include contractualism, which grounds morality in fairness and
agreement, and discourse ethics, which emphasizes rational dialogue as the basis for
legitimacy(3).
Together, these theories illustrate the pluralism of contemporary ethical thought:
consequentialism stresses outcomes, deontology insists on duties, virtue ethics cultivates
character, and care ethics foregrounds relationships. The handbook demonstrates that no single
framework is sufficient; instead, moral philosophy requires a dialogue among competing
perspectives to address the complexity of real-world ethical problems(3).
According to Steven Crowell’s why is Ethics First Philosophy? Levinas in Phenomenological
Context, Emmanuel Levinas places ethics at the very foundation of philosophy, arguing that
responsibility to the other precedes ontology and knowledge. Within the phenomenological
tradition, Husserl and Sartre had already explored how the other appears in consciousness—
Husserl through analogical apperception and Sartre through the Look that exposes us to
judgment and shame. Levinas, however, reverses the focus: the encounter with the other is not
simply another consciousness but a command that calls my freedom into question. The “face” of
the other is thus not a perceptual property but the site of obligation, making ethics the condition
for intentional meaning. In this way, ethics becomes “first philosophy” because our ability to
constitute the world as meaningful depends on already being responsive to the normative
demand of responsibility(4).
According to Harry J. Gensler, the purpose of studying the philosophy of ethics is fourfold. First,
it deepens our reflection on life’s big questions, helping us think more clearly about issues we
already assume answers to in daily life. Second, it improves our moral thinking by giving us
tools to sort through values we inherit from parents, teachers, and society, and to form our own
moral beliefs in the wisest way. Third, it enriches our professional and parental lives, since most
professions—such as politics, business, medicine, and education—raise ethical issues, and moral
philosophy also helps with teaching morality to children. Finally, it sharpens general reasoning
skills, as philosophy trains us to think rigorously, evaluate conflicting views, and express ideas
clearly, skills that are valuable in all areas of life(2).
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2. Rationale
3. Method
4. Body
4.1. Philosophy of Ethics
4.2. Major Ethical Theories
4.3. Ethical Frameworks
4.4. Case Studies
5. Conclusion
6. References
1. Warnock GJ. Contemporary moral philosophy. New Studies in Ethics: Volume Two: Modern
Theories: Springer; 1967. p. 421-503.
2. Gensler HJ. Ethics: A contemporary introduction: Routledge; 2017.
3. Copp D. The Oxford handbook of ethical theory: Oxford University Press; 2005.
4. Crowell S. Why is Ethics First Philosophy? L evinas in Phenomenological Context. European
journal of philosophy. 2015;23(3):564-88.