ETHICETHICSS(REPORT ON FUNDAMENTALS OF PHILOSOPHY) (REPORT ON FUNDAMENTALS OF PHILOSOPHY)

ETHICETHICSS(REPORT ON FUNDAMENTALS OF PHILOSOPHY) (REPORT ON FUNDAMENTALS OF PHILOSOPHY)

Rosalina V. Cea Dr. Michael V. Mallari

PhD 3 Student Professor

EthicsEthicsderived from the Greek word ethos which

means “characteristics way of acting”.

Latin equivalent is mos, mores meaning “tradition or custom”.

Ethos includes cultural mannerisms, religion, politics, laws, and social aspirations of a group of people.

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• Ethos refers to those characteristics belonging to man as a rational being, endowed with intellect and free-will.

Hence, ethics is also called moral philosophy.

• Ethos refers to those characteristics belonging to man as a rational being, endowed with intellect and free-will.

Hence, ethics is also called moral philosophy.

The ethos of man as man is revealed in the following:

The ethos of man as man is revealed in the following:

• He is able to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral.

• He feels within himself an obligation to do what is good and to avoid what is evil.

• He feels himself accountable for his actions, expecting reward or punishments for them.

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Man is endowed by nature with a moral sense. Self-conscious of his dignity and submits to the duty of doing what is good and avoid what is wrong. Man is expected to conducts himself according to the “dictates of reason”.

Man is endowed by nature with a moral sense. Self-conscious of his dignity and submits to the duty of doing what is good and avoid what is wrong. Man is expected to conducts himself according to the “dictates of reason”.

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What Is Ethics? What Is Ethics?

Etymologies of ethics and morality

Distinction between ethics and morality

Scope or boundaries of morality

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What does “ethics” mean?

What does “ethics” mean?

• Ethics, its meaning:Defined as the science of the morality of human acts.

• Actions reflect the motives of the doer• Study of human motivation, and of

human rational behavior. Ethics is morality.

Two common meanings of “ethics”

1) How people actually live (descriptive ethics)

2) Reflection, discourse, and study concerning how people ought to live (normative ethics)

Two common meanings of “ethics”

1) How people actually live (descriptive ethics)

2) Reflection, discourse, and study concerning how people ought to live (normative ethics)

Origins of the word “ethics”

Origins of the word “ethics” The word ethics derives from two branches:

Tekne- art, applied science (in the sense of discipline); the skill which enables a person to produce a certain product. [The Greek term ethike was derived from this concept.]

The ethike or tekne of a human is the skill by which humans use their freedom and capacities to produce good characters and communities and thereby realize their fullest potential. 2

Ethos--“custom,” “character,” or the normal state of a person or group. --the characteristic spirit, values, beliefs, practices, attitudes, aspirations of a social group or culture.

Words related to Ethos: ethology-- science of character formationethnos: a band of people with a distinct identity

Ethos--“custom,” “character,” or the normal state of a person or group. --the characteristic spirit, values, beliefs, practices, attitudes, aspirations of a social group or culture.

Words related to Ethos: ethology-- science of character formationethnos: a band of people with a distinct identity

Importance of EthicsImportance of Ethics

Ethics is an indispensible knowledge.

Without moral perception, man is only an animal.

Without morality, man as rational being is a failure.

Importance of the study of Ethics

Importance of the study of Ethics

• Helps every student to know the meaning and internalize ethical or moral principles.

• Students should understand and uphold moral standards.

• Seeks to inculcate among men the true values of living a good life.

• Find man’s true worth and perfection as a member of society.

• Guides the individual in choosing wisely his values and in acting upon them.

ETHICS AND FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

ETHICS AND FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

• Morality

• Human Acts

• Right

• Reason

• Conscience

• Relativity and Objectivity in Ethics

• Ethical Theories

Word Origin of “MORALITY”.

Word Origin of “MORALITY”.

The word “morality” comes from the Latin translation of ethos: mores

Mores are customary ways of behaving and believing; commonly held moral beliefs and practices.

Morality refers to that quality of goodness or badness in a human act.

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Conclusions from Word Origins

Conclusions from Word Origins

Both ethics and morality refer tosocial phenomenapatterns of conductuse/exercise of human freedom (contingent matters)

realization of human potential/capacities

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HUMAN ACTSHUMAN ACTS

Those actions which man performs knowingly, freely, and voluntarily.

Actions are the result of conscious knowledge and are subject to the control of the will.

Deliberate, intentional, or voluntary

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Acts of ManActs of ManActs of ManActs of Man

Those actions which happen in man

They are instinctive and are not within the control of the will

Actions are biological and physiological movements in man such as metabolism, respiration, fear, anger, love, and jealousy.

Essential Attributes for an act to be considered a human act, it must possess the following characteristics:

Essential Attributes for an act to be considered a human act, it must possess the following characteristics:

• It must be performed by one who is aware of what he is doing and of its consequences. Children below the age of reason, the insane, and the senile- are incapable of acting knowingly.

• It must be performed by one who is acting freely, that is by his own volition and powers. An action done under duress and against one’s will is not entirely a free action.

• It must be performed by one who decides willfully to perform the act. This willfulness is the resolve to perform an act here and now, or in some future time.

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Kinds of Human ActsKinds of Human Acts

Human acts are either elicited acts or commanded acts. Elicited acts are those performed by the will and are not bodily externalized.

Paul Glenn enumerates the following elicited acts:

Paul Glenn enumerates the following elicited acts:

1.1. WishWish- is the tendency of will towards something, - is the tendency of will towards something, whether this be realizable or not. It may include whether this be realizable or not. It may include the impossible, or that which is remotely possible, the impossible, or that which is remotely possible, such as winning the sweepstakes.such as winning the sweepstakes.

2.2. Intention-Intention- is the tendency of the will towards is the tendency of the will towards something attainable but without necessarily something attainable but without necessarily committing oneself to attain it. Such is our committing oneself to attain it. Such is our intention to study the lesson, to attend a party, to intention to study the lesson, to attend a party, to spend a vacation in Baguio.spend a vacation in Baguio.

Con’t. of elicited actsCon’t. of elicited acts

3. Consent- is the acceptance of the will of those needed to carry out the intention. Thus, a woman is to show consent when she consciously attracts attention to herself.

4. Election- is the selection of the will of those means effective enough to carry out the intention. A salesman shows election shows when he opts to visit a client instead just writing him a letter.

Con’t. of elicited actsCon’t. of elicited acts

5. Use- is the command of the will to make use of those use means elected to carry out the intention. It is this act of the will which moves the salesman to dress up and take a ride to see his client.

6. Fruition- is the enjoyment of the will derived from the attainment of the thing he had desired earlier. The joy of the woman on being complimented for her attractiveness, or, the satisfaction of the salesman in closing a deal with his client- is fruition.

Commanded actsCommanded acts -are those done either by man’s mental or bodily powers

under the command of the will.

-can either be internal or external actions.

Examples of Internal Actions

-conscious reasoning

-recalling something

-encouraging oneself

-controlling aroused emotions and others

Con’t. of Commanded ActsCon’t. of Commanded Acts

External Actions, example:

- walking, eating, dancing, laughing, listening, reading and others.

Actions that are combinations of internal and Actions that are combinations of internal and external movements:external movements:

-listening, studying, reading, driving a car, writing a -listening, studying, reading, driving a car, writing a letter , or playing chess.letter , or playing chess.

Elements Of Human ActElements Of Human ActElements Of Human ActElements Of Human Act

Any act, thought, or word -

1. That is done with full knowledge & deliberate.

2. The person is free to do it.

3. The person does it intentionally or voluntarily.

Knowing & DeliberateKnowing & DeliberateKnowing & DeliberateKnowing & Deliberate• It means deliberation

about the means to

perform an action and

about the end to be

achieved.

• Awareness or

conciousness

of the conditions and

implications of one’s action.

Free ActsFree ActsFree ActsFree Acts

FreedomFreedom is the power to choose between two or more courses of action without being forced to take one or the other by anything except our own will.

Every human act is a free act for it is under the control of the will.

Authentic FreedomAuthentic Freedom is not “the right to say and do anything,” but to “do the good and truth.”

Morality versus Ethics

Morality vs. EthicsMorality vs. Ethics

a Morality = our lived experience of human freedom

a -- trying to use our freedom to live well or of discovering what is worth living for and trying to live accordingly)

ü Note: moral practice may differ from moral aspirations

aEthics = critical reflection on morality

a --stepping back to examine, analyze, and organize it in order to enhance morality (more abstract);

ü It looks for consistency, logic, order, coherence, conflicts, etc.

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Morality & EthicsMorality & Ethics

What should I do? Who should I become?

Is it Right? Good? Just?

Why?

Morality & EthicsMorality & EthicsMORALITY AS LIVED EXPERIENCE OF FREEDOM &

ETHICS IS OUR SYSTEMATIC REFLECTION ON THOSE EXPERIENCES OF FREEDOM

MoralityEthics

Reflection

Experience

What are the perennial questions of

ethics?

What are the perennial questions of

ethics?

What should we do with our freedom?

The most fundamental question of ethics =

Related QuestionsRelated QuestionsWhat is a good life? worth living for? human flourishing? the best way to achieve these goals?

At the root of such questions lie three moral conceptions:

Good--character and lives Good = valuable, precious, desirable, meaningful,

fulfilling, promoting flourishing Right--actions Just--communities

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Ethical Analysis: An Example

Ethical Analysis: An Example

• Instrumental reasoning• --assumes wants/ends as given

--asks only how to achieve them most effectively, e.g., self-interest

• For example: some versions of free market capitalism take maximization of profit as a given end of corporations and individuals. Then the most important question is how to achieve this end most effectively.

• Analysis: • Should effective maximization of profit be questioned?• Should other goals take priority? • Which goals will lead to a better, more meaningful life for all?

Class ExerciseClass Exercise

What would you consider

to be the most important

ingredients of a good

life?

What is Christian ethics?

Road Map

What is Christian ethics?

Road Map

Christian ethics vs. ethics

Christian defined

Faith and reason

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How does Christian qualify ethics?

How does Christian qualify ethics?

TRADITION: Christianity is a tradition, or a group of traditions, with its own story, communities, ethos, beliefs, values, practices, loyalties, and identity

PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST: Christ refers to the anointed one of

God, the messiah whom Christians identify as Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus Christ = God become human, the definitive and fullest revelation of God

(though not the exclusive revelation of God)

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Christian DefinedChristian DefinedA Christian is a) a person who has identified with

the cause of Jesus Christ, i.e., the reign of God that began with the life and teaching of Jesus, and

b) a member of a community of those who seek to follow Christ as his disciples by embodying God’s reign on earth

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What is the Relationship between

Faith and Reason?

What is the Relationship between

Faith and Reason? A LIVING FAITH = AN EXAMINED FAITH

A faith that is not lived and examined is a meaningless or irrelevant faith--like a lottery ticket one never looks at.

Christians use reason and experience to make sense of their tradition and its faith.

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The Dialogue of Faith and Reason

The Dialogue of Faith and Reason

STARTING POINT Christian faith is a starting point for

CE but it faith does not replace ethical reflection

REASON INFORMED BY FAITH C&M p.vi define Christian ethics as a

process of critically engaging our moral experience in light of Christian faith.

Faith informs the ethical reasoning of Christians and reason gives shape to faith by making it operative and providing feedback.

GOAL = Cooperation and Harmony of Faith & Reason

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A Balance of Faith and Reason

A Balance of Faith and Reason

The power and richness of Christian tradition has been its ability to integrate knowledge from faith sources, such as Scripture, with knowledge gained with secular reason, such as Greek philosophy.

Christian tradition holds the two sources in tension by refusing to allow one to eclipse or destroy the other.

THE END of the beginning

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•• THE END