INTRODUCTION TO
ETHICS
WHY STUDY ETHICS?
Google Classroom
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What is Ethics?
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Justice
Law
Ethics
There’s a difference.
WHAT IS ETHICS?
The word ETHICS comes from the Greek
word ETHOS meaning CHARACTER.
 Ethics is
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1. The study of standards of right and wrong
2. the part of philosophy dealing with moral
conduct, duty and judgment
Ask yourself:
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Ask yourself:
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What do you believe about treating others with
respect?
What do you think about stealing?
What do you think about cheating?
Do you practice what you preach and/or
honestly believe?
Are your beliefs reasonable?
Are they morally sound?
Do they and or will they survive moral
argument?
Moral vs. Ethical
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The term Moral is basically the same as
Ethical.
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Moral is from the Latin word mores.
Ethical from the Greek word ethos.
The two words refer to behavior.
 Ethics deals with the study of right and
wrong, Morality with the doing of right
and wrong.
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CLASS PURPOSE
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The purpose of this class is to give you
moral autonomy.
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The ability to reason for oneself without
passive adherence to societal or social
conventions.
Not to be automatons
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Succumbing to parents, tradition or peer
pressure and not making one’s own decisions.
To obtain moral autonomy one must:
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Identify moral problems
Create moral possibilities to solve the
problems
Weigh all the different options
Clearly state the problem and the solutions
Be knowledgeable about differing customs
This will ensure a morally responsible
conclusion
Ethical Perspective
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Systematic questioning and critical examination of the
underlying principles of morality
Example:
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Where did the idea that cheating is wrong come from?
Should cheating always be considered wrong, or are
these instances where cheating would be justified for
certain individuals?
Fours Aims of Philosophical Ethics
1. Clarity (of important moral issues)
2. Comprehensive perspective
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Understanding both sides of an argument
3. Critical assessment
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Testing the truth of moral claims- question the
ethics involved
4. Moral guidance
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How should we act?
Assignment
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Uploaded to Google Classroom.