Ethics and Law
04:567:380
What is ethics?
• ethic:noun Etymology:Middle English
ethik, from Middle French ethique, from
Latin ethice, from Greek ēthikē, from
ēthikos Date:14th century
• 1plural but singular or plural in
constr: the discipline dealing with what
is good and bad and with moral duty
and obligation
What is ethics?
• 2 a: a set of moral principles : a theory
or system of moral values <the presentday materialistic ethic> <an oldfashioned work ethic> ﾑoften used in
plural but singular or plural in
construction
What is ethics?
• 2 b: the principles of conduct governing
an individual or a group <professional
ethics>
• 2 c: a guiding philosophy
• 2 d: a consciousness of moral
importance <forge a conservation ethic>
What is ethics?
• 3 plural : a set of moral issues or
aspects (as rightness) <debated the
ethics of human cloning>
What is morality?
• Adjective Etymology: Middle English, from
Anglo-French, from Latin moralis, from mor-,
mos custom Date:14th century
• 1 a: of or relating to principles of right and
wrong in behavior : ethical <moral
judgments> b: expressing or teaching a
conception of right behavior <a moral poem>
c: conforming to a standard of right behavior
What is morality?
• d: sanctioned by or operative on one's
conscience or ethical judgment <a
moral obligation> e: capable of right
and wrong action <a moral agent>
• 2: probable though not proved : virtual
<a moral certainty>
What is morality?
• 3: perceptual or psychological rather
than tangible or practical in nature or
effect <a moral victory> <moral
support>
What is ‘right’?
• Righteous, upright
• Good, just or proper (right conduct)
• Conforming to facts or truth (the right
answer)
• Suitable, appropriate
• Genuine, real
• Ethical
Who decides?
• Moses took a crack at it.
• Old Testament: Deuteronomy.
• No graven images, keep the Sabbath,
no adultery, no killing (of humans, that
is) except under certain conditions, no
stealing and no bearing false witness.
• Oh…and do not desire thy neighbor’s
wife.
But then…
• Moses described how the
Israelites should divide power
(one leader for each of 12
tribes, each tribe cut into
smaller power centers) and
how he didn’t want his
lieutenants coming to him
unless they had a major
problem.
And he said…
• Moses told his assistants, the ones he
just told to handle all complaints: “Hear
out your fellow man, and decide justly
between any man and a fellow Israelite
or stranger…”
And he (also) said…
• “…You shall not be partial in judgment;
hear out low and high alike.”
— Deuteronomy 1:9
Did Jesus endorse ‘situation
ethics’?
• At that season Jesus went on the
sabbath day through the grainfields; and
his disciples were hungry and began to
pluck ears and to eat. But the
Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto
him, “Behold, thy disciples do that which
it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath.”
Did Jesus endorse ‘situation
ethics’?
• But Jesus said unto them, “Have ye not
read what David did, when he was
hungry, and they that were with him;
how he entered into the house of God,
and ate the showbread, which it was not
lawful for him to eat, neither for them
that were with him, but only for the
priests?”
What is situation ethics?
• Situation ethics is the notion that there
are no absolute rules governing right
and wrong. Rather, all human activity is
determined by the situation of the
moment, supposedly guided by love
alone.
The Koran
• The word “ethic” or “ethics” does not
appear in the Koran.
• “Allah loves those who act equitably.”
• “Do not utter lies.”
• But emphasis that unbelievers are
“lost.” (strangers.)
What we’re pretty sure about
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No lying or cheating
Tell the truth.
Do your own work.
Be accurate, fair, honest.
Do NOT distort, mislead,
plagiarize, advocate, have
conflicts, take gifts.
But make sure you…
• Clarify points, encourage public
participation, admit mistakes, uncover
other’s ethical practices, and abide by
the same high standards you expect of
others.
What are some aspects of
ethics?
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Fabricating, lying, plagiarism
Sources — getting too close
Influence by outsiders (business, pols)
Legal problems
Privacy
Accountability
Compassion
Freebies
What you need to do in this
course…
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Read the books.
Write paper(s).
Make an oral presentation.
Get extra credit.
Take a few quizzes, a midterm and a
final exam.
• Attend class.