This document defines key concepts related to ethics and morality. It discusses that ethics comes from the Greek word for character and is the branch of philosophy concerning morality. Morality refers to codes of conduct regarding right and wrong behavior. Rules are important for social beings as they regulate behavior, protect rights, promote justice, and enable economic systems. The document distinguishes between moral standards, which involve rules of right and wrong, and non-moral standards like game rules. It also defines a moral dilemma as a difficult choice between two options that both violate moral principles.
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Intro To Ethics
This document defines key concepts related to ethics and morality. It discusses that ethics comes from the Greek word for character and is the branch of philosophy concerning morality. Morality refers to codes of conduct regarding right and wrong behavior. Rules are important for social beings as they regulate behavior, protect rights, promote justice, and enable economic systems. The document distinguishes between moral standards, which involve rules of right and wrong, and non-moral standards like game rules. It also defines a moral dilemma as a difficult choice between two options that both violate moral principles.
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Ethics
Principles of Moral Behavior
ETHICS ▪ Comes from the Greek “ethos” which means character. ▪ Branch of philosophy that studies morality. ▪ Stands to queries about what there is reason to do. ▪ It is also known as “moral philosophy.” ▪ Deals with the questions: – What is the good? – What is good? MORALITY ▪ Comes from the latin “moralitas” which means manner. ▪ Speaks of a code of behavior in regards to standards of right or wrong behavior. ▪ Ethics and Morality could be interchangerable. Importance of Rules to Social Beings What are rules? What is a social being? RULES ▪ Refer to explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct within a specific activity or sphere. ▪ Tells us what is or is not allowed in a particular context. SOCIAL BEING ▪According to Aristotle, man is generally a rational animal and a social being. ▪Comes from the Greek socius. Rules benefit social beings in various manners 1. Rules protect social beings by regulating behavior 2. Rules help to guarantee each person certain rights and freedom 3. Rules produce a sense of justice among social beings 4. Rules are essential for a healthy economic system. In short… ▪Society will not function well without rules. Moral vs Non-Moral Standards What is the difference between the two? MORALITY ▪Refers to the standards that a person or a group of person has about what is right and wrong or good and evil. MORAL STANDARDS ▪ Involve the rules people have about the kinds of actions they believe are right and wrong. ▪ Example: – Killing – Stealing – Oral Defamation – Acts of Charity MORAL STANDARDS ▪ Includes serious wrongs or significant benefits ▪ Ought to be preferred to other values ▪ Not established by authorities ▪ Are universal ▪ Based on impartial considerations ▪ Associated with special emotions NON-MORAL STANDARDS ▪ Refer to the rules that are unrelated to moral or ethical considerations. ▪ Example: – Game rules – School Rules – Fashion – Aesthetics – Religion Dilemma and Moral Dilemma DILEMMA ▪Refers to a situation in which a tough choice has to be made between to or more options. MORAL DILEMMA ▪Situations in which a difficult choice has to be made between to courses of action that entails transgressing moral principles. KEY FEATURES ▪ Agent is required to do each of the actions. ▪ Agent can do the actions but he cannot. ▪ Agent thus seems condemned to moral failure, no matter what he does. ▪ Neither of the conflicting requirements is overridden. Levels of Moral Dilemma ▪Personal Dilemma ▪Organizational Dilemma ▪Structural Dilemma Only Humans can be Ethical Why? ▪Rational, Autonomous, and self-conscious ▪Moral and immoral acts ▪Moral community Freedom as Foundation of Morality Why? ▪Morality is a question of choice. ▪Everyone who wishes to function morally has to make choices. Minimum Requirements for Morality Minimum Requirements for Morality ▪Reason ▪Impartiality