ETHICS & MORALITY
Module 2
Definition of Ethics
= the practical science of the morality of human actions
- science = systematic study or a system of scientific conclusions
clearly demonstrated, derived from clearly established principles
duly coordinated. (not experimental science but philosophical
science)
- morality = the quality of right or wrong in human acts
- human acts = acts done with knowledge and consent
Montemayor, Felix M., “ETHICS: The Philosophy of Human Life”
Definition of Morality
= refers to that quality of goodness or badness in a
human act
Montemayor, Felix M., “ETHICS: The Philosophy of Human Life”
“Moral” vs. “Ethical”
Terms “moral” and “ethical” are often
used interchangeably but both derive
their meaning from the idea of
“custom”
“moral” = (Latin – mores)
“ethical” = (Greek - ethos)
https://www.slideshare.net/dborcoman/
“Moral” vs. “Ethical”
Custom
- a traditional and widely accepted way of
behaving or doing something that is specific
to a particular society, place, or time.
“Moral” vs. “Ethical”
“Morality” refers to:
• Certain Customs
• Certain Precepts
• Certain Practices of Peoples and
Cultures
https://www.slideshare.net/dborcoman/
“Moral” vs. “Ethical”
“Ethics” refers to:
- the whole domain of morality and
moral philosophy
https://www.slideshare.net/dborcoman/
Ethics and its Subdivisions
 (1)
Descriptive morality
 (2)
Moral philosophy (ethical theory)
 (3)
Applied ethics
https://www.slideshare.net/dborcoman/
Ethics and its Subdivisions
Descriptive Morality
- Refers to actual beliefs, customs,
principles, and practices of people and
cultures.
https://www.slideshare.net/dborcoman/
Ethics and its Subdivisions
Moral Philosophy

The systematic effort to understand moral
concepts and
justify moral principles and theories.

Moral Philosophy analyzes key ethical
concepts such as “right”, “wrong”, and
“permissible”.
https://www.slideshare.net/dborcoman/
Ethics and its Subdivisions
Moral Philosophy

Explores possible sources of moral
obligation such as God, human
reason, or the desire to be happy
Seeks to establish principles of right
behavior that may serve as action guides for
individuals and groups

Ethics and its Subdivisions
Applied Ethics
Deals with controversial moral problems such
as
abortion,
premarital
sex,
capital
punishment,
euthanasia,
and
civil
disobedience
Traits of Moral Principles
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Prescriptivity
Universalizability
Overridingness
Publicity
Practicability
Prescriptivity
The practical or action-guiding, nature of morality.
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Moral principles generally put forth as
commands or imperatives
Intended for use: to advise and influence action
◼
Used to appraise behavior, assign praise and
blame, and produce feelings of satisfaction or
guilt
Universalizability
Moral principles must apply to all people
who are in a relevantly similar situation.
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Exemplified in the Golden Rule
Applies to all evaluative judgments.
An extension of the principle of consistency
Overridingness
Moral principles have predominant authority
and override other kinds of principles.
Take precedence over considerations
including aesthetic, prudential, and legal
ones
Religion is a special case where a command
may override a normal moral rule
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Publicity
Moral Principles must be made public in order
to guide our actions.
Necessary because principles are used to
prescribe behavior, give advice, and assign
praise and blame
◼ Keeping a moral principle secret would be
self-defeating
◼
Practicability
A Moral Principle must be workable and its
rules must not lay a heavy burden on us
when we follow them.
◼
Rules must take human limitations into
consideration so as to prevent moral
despair, deep or undue moral guilt, and
ineffective action
Courtesy: Louis J. Polyman/James Feiser