Ethics

Moral Norm
Philosophy
- it came from the Greek words “philein” - it is a standard of reference to which a
meaning “love” and “sophia” meaning particular action can be judged morally
“wisdom” good or bad.
- Is the science of beings in their ultimate o It studies moral norms critically
reasons, causes and principles, acquired o It attempts to show that certain norms
by the aid of human reason alone. are correct or incorrect.

THEOLOGY What is critically theoretical question?

– is the science, which explores to • What is it that makes an action a moral
apprehend and re articulate the life-giving action?
goodness of God in Jesus Christ. • By what sort of thought processes does
one use general norms in making moral
Christian Ethics or Moral Theology judgments about particular cases?
- is the thematic, systematic, reflective o It explicates what is, not what ought to
study of Christian morality Is a branch of be.
ethics.
2 elements:
ETHICS - judgment
- is deduced from the Greek word “ethos,” - choice
which means “characteristic way of
acting,” “habit,” or “custom” or “behavior.” • Socrates
- introduced the concept of teaching ethics
Moral/Morality is deduced from the Latin and acceptable standards of conduct in 400
word “mos,” “mores”, meaning “custom.” BC.
- Studies the characteristics behaviour of - He believed virtue was found primarily in
man as endowed with reason and freewill. human relationships, love and friendship
not through material gains
Custom - is an action or way of behaving
that is usual and traditional among the • Plato
people in a particular group or place. - a disciple of Socrates, accepted the
- Is defined as the practical science of the beliefs in the objectivity of goodness and
morality of human act or conduct of the in the link between knowing what is good
good life. and doing it.
- It is a body of knowledge systematically believed that happiness or well-being is the
arranged and prescribed in surely manner highest aim of moral thought and conduct
that it arrives at its conclusions coherently and the virtues.
and logically.
- Is defined as a general study of moral life • Aristotle, the Father of Moral
which deals with two types of question, one Philosophy
critically normative and the other - Makes knowledge or understanding
theoretical. central to his conception of what is good for
us as human beings.
- Defines the supreme good as an activity
of the rational soul in
accordance with virtue.
Virtue for the Greeks is equivalent to Formal Elements of Ethics
excellence.
a. An understanding of the good as the
Three Important Treaties goal of moral life and the basic reason for
being moral.
1. Nicomachean Ethics Conviction: God is good!
- Is a philosophical inquiry into the nature of b. An understanding of the human person
the good life for a human as an agent.
being. Moral character: perspectives, dispositions,
affections and intentions
Characteristics of ultimate good: c. The points of reference, which serve as
a. complete the criteria for a moral judgment.
b. final
c. self-sufficient Types of Ethical Judgment and Ethical
d. continuous Reasoning

2. Eudemian Ethics 1. Descriptive Ethics

- Is a major treatise on moral philosophy 2.
whose central concern is what makes life ➢ It describes the particular values and
worth living. principles that someone holds
- The condition of human flourishing or of ➢ It involves describing, classifying, listing
living well Greek: “eudaimonia” means and summarizing ethical beliefs. Primary
happiness. Goal: To constantly stretch our
understandings, shifts our perspectives and
3. Magna Moralia(GreatEthics) consciousness and help us escape the
- The discussion focuses on the themes of limitations implicit in common ways of
good, happiness, virtue, thinking.
action, Justice, continence and
incontinence, pleasure, good fortune, 2. Normative /Prescriptive Ethics
friendship and gentlemanliness. ➢ This level of ethical reasoning involves
making ethical judgments, suggesting
ETHICS advice and offering ethical evaluations.
➢ Ex. The “ought” and “should”
- is the science of the morality of human
acts . Philosophical Ethics
- Is the study of man as moral being, one - It is also called moral philosophy
who is rationally able to distinguish - It is a higher level of generality and
between right and wrong. abstraction in which normative judgments
- Examines how man is accountable for his and their supporting reasons are analyzed
actions and its consequences and evaluated.
- Proposes how man ought to live his life –
meaningfully. a. Ethics of being (character ethics)
- Is concerned with morality, the quality - it focuses on the interiority of the person,
which makes an act good or evil, correct or or the person’s character.
wrong. - It focuses on what is happening to the
- Examines and explains the rational basis person performing actions
why actions are moral or immoral.
- It stresses the pattern of actions, or the ▪ Freedom to commit oneself
habits we acquire, the vision we have of
life, the values and convictions or beliefs b. Freedom of Choice
we live by, the intentions we have, the - Freedom is the power rooted in reason
dispositions which ready us to act and the and will, to act or not to act, to do this or
affections which move us to do what we that, and so to perform deliberate actions
believe is right. on one’s own responsibility.

Threats to Freedom:

b. Ethics of doing The exercise of freedom does not imply a

- it focuses on the right action right to say or do everything. The
- It makes a decision to resolve conflicts of economic, social, political and cultural
moral values so that we might do the conditions that are needed for a just
right action exercise of freedom are too often
- Ex. Canon law, jurisprudence, moral disregarded or violated.
theology.
3. Immortality of the Soul
2: Postulates of Ethics
Human Acts and Acts of Man
1. The Existence of God
1. Human Acts (actus humanus)
- God is the author of our life and is the - Is a description of an action performed by
only center of value a human person in a truly authentic/human
- It entails the self-awareness of human manner.
persons as stewards of creation and - They are performed with awareness and
provides a reason for being moral. free choice
- Are actions performed by a human with
2. Human Intellect and free will human capacities for knowledge and
freedom
Human freedom is a force for growth and - Are deliberate, intentional and voluntary.
maturity in truth and goodness. Freedom is - are actions done intentionally and freely,
so central to the moral life without it we like walking, reading, working, playing,
cannot properly speak of being moral shopping, joining a contest or signing a
persons at all. CCC1730, CCC1731 contract.
a. Basic Freedom or the Freedom of self-
determination 2. Acts of Man (actus hominis)
Through the use of psychological - Is a description of a behavior emerging
instruments, we recognize the limiting through human agency, but without the
conditions to who we can become and to same knowledge or freedom
what is possible to us to achieve. - They are acts done by man without
deliberation or volition and simple acts of
Fundamental Option sensation and appetition
- Is a choice that emerges from a personal • They are (instinctive) such as
depth or reinforces the fundamental physiological and psychological
direction of our lives. movements: breathing, feeling happy,
falling in love
▪ Deep knowledge of self
Ex. Metabolism, respiration, emotive It weakens the morals of the Filipino.
sphere (fear, hatred, jealousy, love • When we speak of “living standard” we
inevitably mean “economic”, that is, higher
The Art of Correct Living salaries and low prices.
• We should think more of moral standard
Art – provides for what is orderly and as our priority.
harmonious in an artwork.
ETHICS and Religion
Ethics They are both concerned with moral
– is an art, “the art of correct living”, education, but they differ from each other.
because it teaches how we may put order
and harmony in our lives. Ethics
- Is beneficial only when its truths are put - Is a science and relies on reasons for its
into practice as rules of conduct. conclusions.
- Teaches the value of religion, presenting
it as a duty of man towards the Supreme
Emilio Jacinto (Katilla ng Katipunan): being

• the rich, the famous and the powerful: • Religion

unless they are morally upright, they live – is a system of beliefs and practices based
vainly. on faith and revelation, or truths revealed to
• Poor & Ignorant: God-fearing, patriotic, man by God.
diligent, honest, helpful of others, self- - As an organized church or institution,
respecting and protective with one’s family contributes to the development of ethical
(dakila) thought. Thus, religion and ethics
Morality is not only necessary to a person complement each other.
but also to society.
ETHICAL Norms and Law Laws of
• Beltrand Russell: Society:
“Without civic morality, communities perish;
without personal morality their survival has legalizes immoral acts: gambling and
no value.” divorce Hence, what is legal is not
When people do not accept the rule of law, necessary moral.
society crumbles.
Human Laws: regulate external actions,
ETHICS and the Filipino but not thoughts and feelings. Ex. Thinking
of robbing a bank is not a crime until it is
• Filipinos believe in moral integrity as attempted.
essential to life. Ethical Norms: cover thoughts and feelings
• Filipinos also believe in a just society so that a person could sin because of what
he thinks or desires.
Situations: • St. Paul: says a man who lusts after a
- Corruption in government woman is committing adultery
- Commercialism • Moral Norms: require proper spiritual
- Over population disposition towards what is lawful.
- The unequal distribution of wealth • It is not sufficient to do good, one must be
- The lack of economic opportunities sincere in doing what is good.
Input 3: Ethical Approaches/Paradigms in not believing in God and negates his
existence. Adherents: Agnostics
1. The atheistic approach
- Assumes that only matter exists, and man 2. The theistic approach
is responsible only to the State since there - Assumes that God is the Supreme
is no God who rules the universe. Lawgiver and Creator.
- Moral truths are temporary and - Man must exercise his freedom in
changeable depending on the situation: accordance with God’s will.
- There are absolute principles of morality
Tenets: which are not changeable.
1) Man is the only reality. - Man is accountable for his actions and
2) Man is matter and does not have deserves either a reward or punishment in
spiritual soul this life or in the next.
3) Man is free and must exercise his
freedom to promote the welfare of society TENETS:
4) There is no life after death 1) God is the Supreme Creator and
5) Man is accountable only to the State Lawgiver.
2)Man is free and must use his freedom to
promote his personal interest along with
that of others.
Types of Atheistic Paradigms: 3) Man has an immortal soul
4) Manisaccountableforhisactions,both
1. Methodological Atheism good and evil.
- Brackets the existence of God for inquiry
ex. Natural & Social sciences General and Special Ethics

2. Reductionist Atheism General Ethics

- Advocates that religion can be exemplified - Is about the principles of morality
without reference to the supernatural once - It explains the norms with which the moral
a human person acknowledges the genesis significance of the human act is
of religion in human nature, human society determined.
or human desire. (L. Feurback, K. Marx, S.
Freud) Special Ethics
- is the application of the principles of the
3. Existential Atheism principles of General ethics to the problems
- A negation of God for believing in God and issues confronting a person on account
prohibits people from being fully human. of his circumstances in life.
- Epitomized in Dostoevsky’s the brother - Includes the sub-branches of professional
Karamazov and Camus. ethics, such as medical ethics, business
ethics, legal ethics, biological and
4. Christian Atheism environmental ethics.
- A negation of God since the beginning of
the enlightenment
- Adherents: Altizer, Jennings and Cupitt

5. Evidential Atheism
- Is a theoretical philosophical perspective
advocating that there is a good reason
MAN AS A PERSON and spirit. This essential wholeness is what we
call human nature.
Input 1: Man As A Person
❑Aristotle defined man as... Rational
WHAT IS A PERSON? animal.

The kind of being that has the moral right to Rationality is what separate man from all other
make its own life- choices and to live its life animals. It us what makes us unique.
without being provoked/interfered by others
“ any entity that has the moral right of self- 2 reasons:
determination”
There is a distinction between man and a 1. Man has Intellectual Faculty originating from
person... our mind 2. Moral Faculty originating from our
conscience.
❖Man ascribed to mean human population
which is the male and female population. Man The definition is unique to man and that no
be the person who controls or is in charge of. other animal is rational.

❖Person is a concrete man, concrete is a way • Aristotle believed “man as a rational animal. “
that he is unique. An individual whose nature is
rational. • Animals express pleasure or pain with their
cries, man and only man is able to speak.
FILIPINO BELIEFS....
• Ability to speak allows man to be able to
determine the difference between what is right
Filipino believe that .... and what is wrong, what is beneficial and what
is harmful. So, how are these skills and
1. Man is a creature of God. knowledge acquired? It is through education.
2. Man has an immortal soul.
3. Man has an assigned destiny in life. Human Nature is made up of man’s
4. Man must do good or else be punished by biological, psychological, and rational
God. powers.
5. Man by nature is good but is morally weak.
1. Biological powers – are nutrition,
Regarding morality, Filipinos believe locomotion, growth, and reproduction.
that .....
2. Psychological powers – include those of
1. Morality is “batas ng Diyos” the senses, such as smelling, tasting,
2. A person should respect his humanity, seeing, hearing, perceiving, imagining,
“pagkatao” and remembering and those acts of
3. A person should love and care for his family. emotions, such as love, hatred, desire,
4. A person should strive to live peacefully with disgust, joy, sorrow, fear, despair and
others. courage.
5. A person should fear God and His
punishment.
3. Rational powers- are those of the intellect
Rational Animal and the will comprehension and volition,
respectively.
Man is an organism composed of a material
body and a spiritual soul. He is the whole of his Human nature is a bundle of characteristics,
materiality and immateriality, the substantial including ways of thinking, feeling, and acting,
union (hylomorphic) of body and soul, matter which humans are said to have naturally.
 with equal dignity.
Human Nature: Six things we all do
C. IN RELATION TO SOCIETY
[Link] legislative 1. Man is intervenor
[Link] playful - Man creates the structures of society by
[Link] scientific actively
[Link] epicurean sanctioning/strengthening them.
[Link] gossipy 2. Man as Patriot
[Link] clandestine - The country is considered a person’s bigger
family, since he/she is inextricably linked with
Before looking at natural law in more detail others and society.
consider this statement.
1. Is it natural to be homosexual C. IN RELATION TO THE WORLD
2. Is it natural to be violent
3. Is it natural to be prejudice 1. Work
4. Is it natural to commit suicide - The person interacts with the world through
5. Is it natural to be monogamous his / her work.

Input 2: NATURAL LAW Von Hildebrand 2. Caretaker

said that... - The things of the world are for all people to
use – not adored or amassed.
"Natural law is the reality of moral values as
these impinge upon our consciousness.“ 3. Voluntary Simplicity
- The things of the world were given to us to
Input 3: THE HUMAN PERSON help us know, love and serve God.

 The person is a rational being. His / Her

nature emerges and is fulfilled in one’s various D. IN RELATION TO GOD
relationships.

A. IN RELATION TO THE SELF 1. Person as Transcendent

- The person needs to relate to a Greater
1. He has intellect and free will Being.
2. He has dignity
3. He is created in the image and likeness of 2. Person as having a Conscience
God
4. He is ambivalent 3. Person as a Child of God
5. He is limited - By virtue of the Incarnation and Redemption,
6. He is unique people have earned the right to the kingdom of
7. He is embodied subject 8. A historical God.
subject
PERSONALITY & CHARACTER
B. IN RELATION TO OTHERS
The person is an individual human being.
1. Each person is a social being
- Every individual is oriented towards other Personality – is the sum of those physical
people and needs their company. attributes and tendencies which define a
person’s distinctive behavior.
2. Each person is of equal value with other
persons - the sum of a person’s physical constitution,
- Although natural inequalities may exist, God talents, abilities, and habits which define
has gifted all characteristic behavior.
 ➢ History counts men of great character who
- in layman’s terms, personality consists of the acted against and above the prevailing beliefs
physical qualities and mannerisms of an and practices of their day like
aesthetically refined person.
Jesus Christ, Sakya-Muni or Buddha,
A person, all men and are equal regardless of Confucius, Gandhi,
race. However, one person may have more Martin Luther King, Jose Rizal,
personality than another. Brennan observes: Ninoy Aquino, Pope John Paul II

“The person does not grow in stature, but “Do not do unto others what you don’t want
personality develops and enlarges itself others do unto you”
according to the pattern of his actions, the
mature use of his powers, and the scheme of Moral character is formed by one’s actions.
his habits. There is no such thing as cultivating The habits, actions, and emotional responses
a person, but we speak of cultivation of of the person of good character are all united
personality. Hence, personality is the result of and directed toward the moral and the good.
one’s achievement.” (Ibid: 291)
SOCIAL DIMENSION OF THE PERSON
Character – is often taken as synonymous
with personality. This is correct if personality is • Society is but an extension of the person.
taken as the sum-total of the psychological Ethics is particularly relevant because of man’s
systems in an individual which enable him to social nature. The golden rule, for that matter,
adjust to his environment. is concerned about the other person.

While personality is an aspect of the body, • Among modern thinkers, George Hegel
character is an aspect of the human soul. We teaches that man is fully developed in his
describe personality as pleasant or unpleasant, participation in family life, civic community, and
but we speak of character as good or bad in in the State. Likewise, Thomas Hill Green
the moral sense. Personality Brennan says, (1836-1832) expresses the conviction that a
“the principle of rational action, character is the person’s morality must identify itself with public
principle of moral action.” (Ibid: 292) welfare.

MORAL CHARACTER • Paul Tillich puts it more clearly and

emphatically when he says natural law is the
➢ Character is the will of the person directing demand for us, “to be a person in the
him towards a recognized ideal. This is how community of other persons.”
human actions are significant because they
actualize man’s potential to be what he truly is It provides for communication and association
as a rational being. When a person falls short between individuals and groups. The effect of
of the expectation, he said to have bad people upon one another, their behavior, the
character. On the other hand, a person who development or breakdown of their
lives up to the ideals of his humanity is said to relationships, the requirements of their
have a good character, or moral integrity. communities and their organization as a
society, their culture, and the environment they
➢ Character is not the product of a moment’s exist in, and generate; all these give rise to the
inspiration, but a disciplined tendency to social dimension into which the other
choose the right thing in any dimension mesh.
givencircumstance. It is adherence to what is
true, beautiful, and good in us.