Ethics
- is about matters such as doing good that we
should pursue, and bad things that we should
avoid
- is about what is acceptable and unacceptable
in human behavior
- may involve obligations we need to fulfill or
prohibitions that we need to respect, or ideals
we need to meet.
- is about determining the grounds or bases for
a specific set of values.
Theories of Knowledge
Skepticism – denies the possibility of certain
knowledge
Empiricism – claims that knowledge is possible
Rationalism – truth and knowledge are
attainable through reason rather than empirical
means.
Pragmatism – true and valid form of knowledge
is one which is practical, workable, beneficial,
and useful.
Authoritarianism – true knowledge is certified
by authority
Phenomenological realism – The knower
(subject) is immediately present to the known
(object)
Logical positivism – “Ang kahulugan ng isang
pangungusap ay nakasalalay sa paraan ng
pagpapatotoo nito.”
Moderate realism – mediates between
empiricism and rationalism
Theories of Ethics
Hedonism – pleasure is norm
Stoicism – apathy or indifference to norm
Epicureanism – between hedonism and
stoicism
Situationism – must always act in the name of
Christian love or concern and kindness towards
others
Power Ethics – might is right
Humanistic Ethics – self-realization is the
standard of morality
Thomistic Ethics – Do good avoid Evil
Filipino Centripetal Ethics - refers to the
people’s using the self as the center, basis, or
gauge of moral judgments, of good and evil.
Theories of Freedom
Determinism – man is not free but is
determined in actions and decisions
Indeterminism – man, to a certain extent, is
free
Alternativism – between determinism and
indeterminism
Predestination – there is an omnipotent God
who has complete dominion of man’s life
Theories of God
Theism – belief that there is a God
Atheism – no God
Agnosticism – we cannot know for certain
anything about God
Brahmanism – existence of Brahma, an
omnipotent God
Taoism – teaches Tao, the path of life
Lesson 2
Technical – Greek Word “Techne”
Technical Valuation – proper or right way of
doing things
Etiquette – right or wrong actions maintained
by the society we belong in.
. Not all valuations belong to the realm of
Ethical
. Value can be translated immediately into a
monetary term
. There are valuations that fall under the
domain of aesthetics.
Aesthetics – Greek word “aesthesis” meaning
sense or feeling.
Lesson 3
Ethical – acceptable behavior
Unethical – unacceptable behavior
Moral – specific beliefs or attitudes that people
should have
Immoral – behaving improperly
Amoral – neither right or wrong
Moral judgement or moral reasoning – suggest
a more rational dimension at work
Ethics – the discipline of studying and
understanding human behavior
Professional ethics – acceptable and
unacceptable ways of behaving in a given field.
Descriptive Study of Ethics – how people make
their moral valuation without judgement.
Normative Study of Ethics – It prescribes what
we ought to maintain as our bases for moral
valuation.
Moral Issue – a situation calls for moral
valuation
Moral Decision – when one is placed in a
situation to decide what act to perform
Moral Judgement – when a person is an
observer making assessment on the actions or
behavior of someone.
Moral Dilemma – torn between choosing one
of two goods or lesser of two evils
Abstraction – detaching itself from the
particular situation
Moral Theory – attempt to establish validity of
maintaining certain moral principles
Framework – theory of connected ideas;
structure where we can evaluate our reasons
on a judgement.
Reasoning
- Fear of punishment and a desire for reward
Lesson 4
Law
- Positive Law – rules from authority that
requires compliance
- Taking Law as basis of ethics provides us with
objective standard.
- Ethics? Just follow the law
- Problem: Prohibitive Nature
Religion
- Love the Lord, Your God, therefore always
heed his charge
- Oblige to obey God
- Divine Command Theory – God commands us
- Not simply prohibitive but provides ideals to
pursue.
- Ethics? Just follow what religion says.
- Problem: Multiplicity
Culture
- Cultural Relativism – There is no single
universal standard for moral valuations.
- We are provided basis for our valuations.
- Teaches us to be tolerant of others from
different culture.
- Ethics? Just follow what culture says
- Problem: No moral valuation
Cultural Relativism
- promotes a sense of humility.
- premised on the reality of difference.
Lesson 5
Subjectivism
- The thinking person is the heart of all moral
valuations.
- No one can tell me what is right or wrong
- No one knows my situation better than myself
- I have my own opinions
- It is good if I say it is good
Psychological Egoism
- self-centered; motivated by self-interest
- all human actions is a matter of pursuit of selfinterest.
- all actions are geared towards satisfying the
ego or self
- Strong points: Simplicity, Plausibility
Ethical Egoism
- we should make our own ends, our own
interests as our concern
- actions are right if the result is what is best of
our own selves
- everyone should put himself at the center
- self as priority and not allow concerns such as
welfare of others