ETHICS
LESSON 1:
BASIC CONCEPTS IN ETHICS
INTRODUCTION
Ethics is the branch of philosophy that contemplates what is
right and wrong. It explores the nature of morality and
examines how people should live their lives in relation to
others.
Etymologically, it is a derived from the Greek word "ethos"
roughly translated in English as customary way and manner
of acting and behaving. The Latin word equivalent for
custom is "mos" or "mores" from which is derived the term
"moral" and "morality."
Ethics provides the person with the knowledge of the morality
of human acts, knowing does not necessarily lead to doing.
Learning about ethics does not guarantee a moral person. It is
morality that actualizes the theory, ethics is the word and
morality, the flesh.
"As ethics outlines theories of right and wrong and good or bad
actions, morality translates these theories into real actions.
Thus, morality is nothing else but a doing of ethics" (Babor,
1999).
ETHICS HAS THREE
MAIN BRANCHES: Meta-ethics, which
investigates big picture
questions such as, "What is
morality?" "What is justice?"
"Is there truth?" And "How
can I justify my beliefs as
better than conflicting beliefs
held by others?"
ETHICS HAS THREE
Normative ethics answers
MAIN BRANCHES: the question of what we
ought to do. Normative
ethics focuses on providing a
framework for deciding what
is right and wrong. Three
common frameworks are
deontology, utilitarianism
and virtue ethics.
ETHICS HAS THREE Applied ethics address
MAIN BRANCHES: specific, practical issues of
moral importance such as
war and capital punishment.
Applied ethics also tackle
specific moral challenges that
people face daily, such as
whether they should lie to
help a friend or co-worker.
ETHICS AND LAW
Why do we need ethics when there are laws to tell us what
is right and wrong? Is it not a fact that ethics teaches rules
concerning right and wrong, and what we should and
should not be doing?
Ethical rules are necessary even if we have laws
implemented by authority. Legality is not identical to
morality. We may follow the law but may not be ethical.
What is legal is not always moral.
ETHICS AND RELIGION
Ethics, as a philosophical discipline, relies solely on
natural reason, logic, and experience, especially in the
justification and validation of certain theories and
principles concerning good and bad.
Religion, on the other hand, relies primarily and mainly on
supernatural reason or divine authority. Even people for
whom morality is religiously-based also examine some of
their views using reason, reflection and common sense.
WHY DO WE STUDY ETHICS?
Ethics allows you to live an authentic life. Having
a firm character or set of principles to guide your
life and the choices you make is what ethics is al
about.
Ethics makes you more successful. Ethical people
embody traits that unethical people have to work
at to fake, they are honest, trustworthy, loyal and
caring.
WHY DO WE STUDY ETHICS?
Ethics alows you to cultivate inner peace. Lives
that are lived ethically tend to be calmer, more
focused, and more productive than those that are
lived unethically.
Ethics provides for a stable society. When people
live ethical lives, they tell the truth, avoid harming
others and are generous.
Snapshot of Key
Ethical Theories
Virtue ethics - states that character matters above all else.
Living an ethical life, or acting rightly, requires
developing and demonstrating the virtues of courage,
compassion, wisdom, and temperance. It also requires the
avoidance of vices like greed, jealousy and selfishness.
Utilitarianism - holds that the amount of happiness and
suffering created by a person's actions is what really
matter. Thus, acting rightly involves maximizing the
amount of happines and minimizing the amount of
suffering around us.
Kantianism - emphasizes the principles behind actions
rather than an action's results. Acting rightly thus requires
being motivated by proper universal principles that treat
everyone with respect. When we are motivated by right
principles, we overcome the animal instincts and act
ethically.
Contract Theory - proposes thinking about ethics in terms
of agreements between people. Doing the right thing
means abiding by the agreements that the members of a
rational society would choose. So for contract theoriests,
ethics isn't necessarily about character, consequences or
principles.
Care Ethics - focuses ethical attention on relationships
before other factors. As a result, acting rightly involves
building, strengthening, and maintaining strong
relationships. Acting rightly thus displays care for others
and for the relationships of which they are a part. To care
ethicists, relationships are fundamental to ethical thinking.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!