Chapter I

DEFINITION OF ETHICS
 The term Ethics is derived from the Greek word ethos, meaning characteristic
way of acting (Glenn, 1968:X), or doctrine of morality. The word ethics is suited to
designate the science of human conduct. Mos (nominative) or moris (genitive) is,
on the other hand, the Latin equivalent, which also means custom or “traditional
line of conduct”. Ethics is defined as the “practical and philosophical science of the
morality of human acts or human conduct” (Ignacio,1985:1). Ethics is said to be a
science insofar as it is a body of systematized knowledge arranged with its
accompanying explanation .
The object of Ethics
MATERIAL OBJECT of Ethics refers to the subject matter to be studied,
namely, the human act. The FORMAL OBJECT is the morality of the human act. It
is that which is learned and to be applied. The FORMULA OBJET QUO is the
human reason employed in the study of the course.
IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF ETHICS

The practical importance of studying Ethics may be summarized in the

ETHICS

GENERAL ETHICS APPLIED ETHICS

INDIVIDUAL ETHICS
Man and his ends
SOCIAL ETHICS
Human acts
Moral norms, laws and principles Family
Rights and duties State
Church
Societal Concerns
VARIOUS NOTIONS OF MAN
The concept of man handed down from the Greeks to Augustine in the fourth
century, then to Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century, is basically the same concept
which the modern (14-16th c.) and contemporary philosopers generally uphold; that
man is body-soul being which is created by a Divine Being, God.
Following are various emphasis on the concepts of man.
 MAN AS BODY-SOUL COMPOSITE- The soul is distinct from the body, and its
likened to God in memory, understanding, indivisibility, and immorality.
Happiness is the highest good of manfundamental of man. Fundamental to man
is that he must know himself.
 MAN AS ARATIONAL ANIMAL- The medieval thinkers, led by Thomas
Aquimas, perceived man not merely as corporeal and spiritual, but also rational.
His rationality elevates him from the level of plants and brutes.
 MAN AS EMBODIED SUBJECTIVITY- Phenomenologists, on the other hand ,
perceived man as “embodied subjectivity”. Man is a dynamic agent or subject
that is always actively performing. As a subject-in-activity, he is unique core,
center of action, source and spring of activity and meaning (Dy, 1986:VI).
 MAN IS A BEING-IN-THIS-WORLD- Phenomenologists perceive man as
situauted in this world: a “Dasein”. Man is there. As he is there, man humanizes
the world. He makes the world alive – humanity alive. He improves raw nature ,
but not to destroy it.
 MAN AS SOCIUS AND INTERHUMAN- Man lives in the midst of fellowmen. He
cannot afford to live alone without the presence of other people. Because man has
that social nature, he seeks the company of other men. This active interrelation is
called dialogue, in the wrods of the phenomenologists. This is well-expressed in
the famous “I-THOU” relation of Martin Buber(1878-1965), a German Jewish
existentialist philosopher.
 MAN AS A PERSON- As an embodied subjectivity, man has that drive to improve
and develop himslef/herself in the journey of life. He cannot remain to be
stagnated. Socrates’ means is “know thyself”. For man to become person,he must
accomplish himself, because “person is the task of becoming one-self”. “Madaling
maging isang tao, pero mahirap magpakatao” (Manuel Dy, Jr.:Iibid.).
 MAN AS AN ABSOLUTE VALUE- In line with Christian thought, man is the center
of the universe, giving meaning to it, a being of human dignity created in the image
and likeness of God, he cannot be valued in terms of quantity (material, money,
etc.) which are of temporary and relative value.
HUMAN EXISTENCE
It took a French philosopher, Rene Descrates (1596-1650), in the 17th century
to come out with the question on human existence. Descrates started studying the
problem of existence with his “methodical doubt”. Descartes concludes finally that if
we think, we exist. He sums this up in the famous formula, ,COGITO, ,ERGO SUM,
I think, therefore I exist (Glenn: 293).
Phenomenologists (who came out with their philosophy os essence ca. 1850-
1925) and the existentialists (with their philosophy of existence ca. 1900-1945)
have common stand on human existence; that human existence is nothing but
consciousness of:
a) One’s won being;
b) The human other, hence man is a being with others;
c) The world, thus man is a being with others in ther world;
d) In time, man is a being with others in the world in time. Man has past, present,
and future time.
SOME HUMAN EXISTENTIAL EXPERIENCES
Man is not only a dynamic creature. He is also a being undergoing some
existential experiences. Let us examine the more significant ones.
 THE EXPERIENCE OF THE GOOD.- (joy, healthiness, fullness, life) Man
knows and feels good. He trends to do good. He is attracted to things that are
good. Because by nature, man is good himself. He is created and procreated
good.
The experience of the evil (pain, deprivation, suffering, death) is not a
negation o the experience of the good. On the contrary, the experience of evil
confirms the experience of the good.
 THE EXPERIENCE OF THE BEAUTIFUL.- Man’s capacity to appreciate is
directed toward the beautiful, whether it is value or an act. It is part of man’s
nature to be attracted to it which normally spontaneous.
Likewise, the presence of the ugly affirms the experience of the beautiful,
but not denying it.
 THE EXPERIENCE OF LOVE.- Every human creature has the capacity to love;
to love himslef, to love others, and God. He also feels the need to be loved by
other people like his parents, brothers and sisters, friends et al. in short, man is
a LOVER and a BELOVED. It is love that keeps man alive.
 THE EXPERIENCE OF EXISTENCE.- Summing up all the experiences above
is the experience of existence, the experience of living in the [Link]
experience of good, the beautiful, love and happiness are the elements of life,
including their respective opposites.
The phenomenon of death is a concrete proof of life. For death
presupposes life. No one can die without first living. Otherwise, nothing
will die. The fact of death confirms the fact of life and existence.
 THE EXPERIENCE OF HAPPINESS.- Human living would be dry and lonely if
the experience of joy and happiness is lacking. If life is all pain, suffering and
sorrow, the living person is between living and dying. We people crave for
happiness, and this is our natural tendency. To be happy is our inatte desire.