Unit 2 of Module 1
Domains of the Ethical Assessment
Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, students are expected to;
1. Know the domains of ethical assessment.
2. Be able to distinguish right from wrong action.
3. Know the classification of right action.
4. Ascertain consequences determining the right action.
5. Know the virtuous character.
6. Know the importance of motive as an element of the right action.
DOMAINS OF ETHICAL ASSESMENT
The material object of Ethics is the human act. In general, it encompasses all human activity.
However, it is not that simple. The formal object of Ethics pertains to acts coming from
knowledge and freedom which are essential to man’s action as man. The definition of human
acts by Paul Glenn as proceeding from the deliberate free will points this out.
It might seem at this point that ethics concerns itself with rules of conduct based only on an
evaluation of acts. However, the situation is more complicated than this. Most ethical analysis
falls into one, or some, of the following domains
Domain
Action
Consequences
Character
Motive
Evaluative Terms
Right, wrong, obligatory, optional
Good, bad, indifferent
Virtuous, vicious, neutral
Good will, evil will, neutral
An examination of each of these domains will be helpful for understanding.
TYPE OF ACTION
RIGHT
(Permissible)
WRONG
(Not Permissible)
Obligatory Optional
Neutral
Supererogatory
ACTION
The most common classification of actions may be as right or wrong, but the term “right’ is
ambiguous. Sometimes it means “obligatory” (as in “the right act”), but sometimes it means
“permissible” (as in “a right act” or “it’s alright to do that). Usually, philosophers define “right”
as permissible, including under the category what is obligatory.
A. A “right act” is an act that is permissible. It may be either (a) optional or (b) obligatory
(a) An “optional act” is an act that is neither obligatory. Ex. To marry is an optional
act. You are not required to marry. Neither are you required not to marry. In
other words, it is not one’s duty to do it; nor it is one’s duty to do it. Neither
would be wrong.
(b) An “obligatory act” is one that morality requires one to take, an act that is not
permissible to refrain from doing like “Telling the truth” or “promise keeping”.
II. A “wrong act is an act that one has an obligation or duty to refrain from; it is an
act one ought not to do, an act that is not permissible like “lying” and “promise
breaking.”
Within the range of permissible acts are supererogatory acts. These highly
altruistic acts go beyond the call of duty. They are not obligatory, and they exceed
the requirements of morality. One may have an obligation to give a donation to
strangers in dire need, but one is not obligated to sell his house or car in order to
help.
CONSEQUENCES
While lying is generally seen as wrong and that truth-telling is generally seen as right. Those
who believe that morality has something to do with the consequences of actions would
prescribe lying as the moral thing to do. Those who believe that we should not consider the
consequences in the face of a clear and absolute rule of action would say we should either keep
quiet or tell the truth.
Theories that focus primarily on consequences in determining moral rightness and
wrongness are called “teleological” ethical theories (from the Greek telos, meaning goaldirected). The most famous of these theories is utilitarianism.
CHARACTER
While some ethical theories emphasize principles of actions for themselves and some
emphasize principles involving consequences of actions, other theories, such as Aristotle’s
ethics, emphasize character or virtue. According to Aristotle, it is most important to develop
virtuous character, for if and only if we have good people can we ensure habitual right action.
MOTIVE
Practically, all ethical systems especially Kant’s system, accept the relevance of motive. It is
important to the full assessment of any action that the intention of the agent be taken into
account. Two acts may be identical, one may be judged morally culpable and the other
excusable. Consider John’s pushing Joan off a ledge, causing her to break her leg. In situation A
he is angry and intends to harm her, but in situation B he sees a knife flying in her direction and
intends to save her.
Source: Ph 269S (FUNDAMENTAL ETHICS)
ACTIVITY 1
Identify whether the following is right, wrong, obligatory, or optional. Write your answer before
each no.
____Optional____ 1. Studying the Lesson
___Obligatory___ 2. Fulfilling a Promise.
___Optional ____ 3. Cooking an Unusual Menu.
___Optional_____ 4. Chewing a piece of Gum.
_____Right_____ 5. Yawning.
____Optional____6. Playing Basketball.
______Right ____ 7. Helping Others.
______Right ____ 8. Praying.
____Optional____ 9. Combing one’s hair.
____Optional_____10. Texting.
ACTIVITY 2
Identify whether the following is: Moral, Immoral, Amoral (Neutral).
_____Moral____ 1. Telling the Truth
____Immoral____ 2. Plotting to murder an enemy
____Immoral____ 3. Committing an abortion
_____Moral_____ 4. Praying
____Amoral_____ 5. Eating a juicy hotdog
____Amoral_____ 6. Defending a stranger
____Amoral_____ 7. Washing Clothes
_____Moral_____ 8. Caring for the sick
_____Immoral____ 9. Fabricating a story
_____Amoral______ 10. Drinking a glassful of water
ACTIVITY 3
Arrange the following according the given format: Intention-Means-End. Write your answer
below.
1. Praying, enjoyment of God, to be holy.
2. Self-preservation, Killing an unprovoked aggressor, to prevent one’s self from harm.
3. To pass the exam, studying hard, passing the exam.
4. Winning the Mayoralty post, vote buying, to be the next city mayor.
5. To write a good term paper, selecting good topic. To earn a good grade.
6. To be promoted, bootlicking, promotion.
7. Rehearsing Dance steps, to dance gracefully, standing ovation.
8. To save the life of the mother, survival of the mother, aborting the fetus.
9. To eat balance diet, healthy, long life
10. Eternal life, Holy, praying
Intention
Means
End
To be holy
Praying
Enjoyment of God
To prevent one’s self from
harm
To pass the exam
Killing an unprovoked
aggressor
studying hard
Self-preservation
passing the exam
To be the next city mayor
vote buying
Winning the Mayoralty post
To write a good term paper
selecting good topic
To earn a good grade
To be promoted
bootlicking
promotion
To dance gracefully
Rehearsing Dance steps
Standing ovation
To save the life of the
mother
Healthy
aborting the fetus
survival of the mother
To eat balance diet
long life
Holy
Praying
Eternal life