Scribd
Upload
859 views5 pages

Definitions: What Is Ethics?

Ethics is defined in multiple ways in the document: 1) Ethics is the practical science of morality in human actions. 2) It is the study of principles of morality and human conduct with regards to right and wrong. 3) Ethics examines human acts and provides norms for integrity and honesty based on reason. The document discusses how ethics relates to other fields like logic, psychology, sociology, economics, education, law, politics and religion. It also outlines some key imperatives of ethics, including the existence of a Supreme Being and human freedom.

Uploaded by

Kim Kyun Si
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
859 views5 pages

Definitions: What Is Ethics?

Ethics is defined in multiple ways in the document: 1) Ethics is the practical science of morality in human actions. 2) It is the study of principles of morality and human conduct with regards to right and wrong. 3) Ethics examines human acts and provides norms for integrity and honesty based on reason. The document discusses how ethics relates to other fields like logic, psychology, sociology, economics, education, law, politics and religion. It also outlines some key imperatives of ethics, including the existence of a Supreme Being and human freedom.

Uploaded by

Kim Kyun Si
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

ETHICS

What is Ethics?
Definitions
1. Ethics is the practical science of the morality of
human actions. 2. Ethics is the scientific inquiry into
the principles of morality. 3. Ethics is the science of
human acts with reference to right and wrong.
4. Ethics is the study of human conduct from the
standpoint of morality.
5. Ethics is the study of the rectitude of human
conduct. 6. Ethics is the science which lays down the
principles of right living. 7. Ethics is the practical
science that guides us in our actions that we may live
rightly and well.
8. Ethics is the normative and practical science,
based on reason, which studies human conduct
and provides norm for its natural integrity and
honesty.
9. According to Socrates, ethics is the investigation of life.

What is Ethics?
Definitions
Science – systematic study or a system of scientific
conclusions clearly demonstrated, derived from clearly
established principles and duly coordinated. Ethics is a
philosophical (as opposed to experimental) science

Morality – The quality of right or wrong in human acts.


Norm of Morality – The standard by which a human act is
deemed “right” or “wrong”.

Human acts – Acts done with knowledge and consent.


Voluntary acts of man
Acts which are proper to man as man
Conscious acts, under our control and for which we are responsible

What is Ethics?
Relationship with other
sciences
Ethics and Logic – Logic is the science of right thinking.
Ethics is the science of right living. Right living
presupposes right thinking.

Ethics and Psychology – Both deal with the study of man,


human nature, and human behavior. Basic difference -
Psychology is not interested in the morality of human
behavior. Psychology studies how man behaves, Ethics
studies how man ought to behave. Ethics is concerned
with moral obligation while psychology is not.

Ethics and Sociology – Ethics deals with the moral order


which includes the social order.

Ethics and Economics – Economics and morality are two


aspects of one and the same human nature. Human
behavior is governed by moral codes as well as by
economic motivation; at times they are in conflict
What is Ethics?
Morality and Other Phases of
Human Life
Ethics and Education – Education develops the
whole man: his moral, intellectual and physical
qualities.

Morality and Law – Right and wrong, good and bad in


human actions presuppose a law or rule of conduct.
Laws are restatements, specifications or interpretations
of moral laws. The legal only covers the external acts of
man; the moral governs even the internal acts of man
(e.g., thoughts and desires)
Ethics and Politics – Politicians ought to be the models
of ethical behavior and decision making. In politically
chaotic countries like the Philippines, they are not.

Ethics and Religion –


Both are based on the same postulates: The existence of a
Supreme Being, free will in man, and immortality of the soul.
Both have the same end – attainment of man’s supreme purpose
Both prescribe the same means to attaining the goal – right living

Imperatives of Ethics
• The existence of God or a Supreme Being
– There is no reason for man to deny himself evil but
pleasurable acts if there is no final judge to
dispense justice and retribution – reward or
punishment.
– There are significant cultural and religious
differences in the notion of a Supreme Being,
conceptions of good, and form of reward and
punishment
• The existence of Human Freedom
– Ethics is the science of the morality of human acts
which presupposes responsibility which, in turn, is
based on the freedom to do or not to do.
–

You might also like