Module 1

Ethics: Overview and

Definition Mrs. Soledad A. Tambaoan
Instructor

Email Address:
[email protected]

Contact Number:
0961-436-8702

Module Duration:
September 5- 9, 2022

GE004
Ethics
 MODULE 1 – OVERVIEW AND DEFINITION OF ETHICS

MODULE SCHEDULE
This module is designed to be discussed for a period of one week. Lesson Delivery will be done in synchronous and
asynchronous learning. The platform to be used will be facebook messenger, google classroom and google meet
created for the class.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the module, you are expected to:

1. define ethics;
2. classify the two ethical approaches;
3. apply the concepts of ethics in one’s daily life.

INPUT INFORMATION
The word "ethics" is derived from the Greek “ethos" which
means “characteristic way of acting”, habit or custom.” The
Latin equivalent is mos, mores, from which come the word moral and morality.
Ethics studies the characteristics behavior of man as endowed with reason and
freewill.

The study of ethics started with the Greek philosophers, notably Socrates,
Plato, and Aristotle. Socrates is regarded as the father of moral philosophy.
However, it is Aristotle who has greatly influenced ethical thinking with three
important treatises - the Nicomachean Ethics, the Eudemian Ethics, and the
Magna Moralia (Great Ethics).

DEFINITION OF ETHICS

1. Ethics is the science of the morality of human acts.

Human acts are actions done intentionally and freely, like walking,
reading, working, playing, shopping, joining a contest, or signing a
contract. Human acts are differentiated from acts of man which are
instinctive, such as the physiological and psychological
movements like breathing, feeling happy, or falling in love. Ethics
does not study. the acts of man in themselves but as factors
affecting man's judgement and violation.

Ethics is the study of man as moral being, one who is rationally

able to distinguish between right and wrong. It examines how man
is accountable for his actions and its consequences. It proposes
how man ought to live his life - meaningfully.

Ethics is concerned with morality, the quality which makes an act good or evil, correct, or wrong. Ethics examines and explains the
rational basis why actions are moral or immoral. In other words, Ethics is concerned with the norms of human behavior.

2. The Art of Correct Living

WEArt provides for what is orderly and harmonious in an artwork. Ethics is an art, "the art of correct living” because it teaches how
we may put order and harmony in our lives. Thus, Ethics is a practical science and differs from one that is purely speculative.
Ethics is beneficial only when its truths are put into practice as rules of conduct.

Every person is expected to be decent and trustworthy. And since moral integrity as attested by people is the true measure of
man's greatness, some philosophers regard Ethics as "the only necessary knowledge". Indeed, unless they are also morally
upright, the rich, the famous and the powerful live vainly. On the other hand, the poor and ignorant who is God-fearing, patriotic,
diligent, honest, helpful of others, self-respecting and protective of his family is truly a great person- dakila, says Emilio Jacinto in
Kartilla ng Katipunan.
Morality is not only necessary to a person but also to society. Beltrand Russell states that "without civic morality, communities
perish; without personal morality their survival has no value".
When people do not accept the rule of law, society crumbles.

Ethics and the Filipino

Filipinos believe in moral integrity as essential to life. They also
believe Exams of in Nurses, a just society. as well However, as
the many the more recent similar cheating instances, in the Board Exams of Nurses as well as many more similar instances show
moral norms are easily ignored for personal interest.

Corruption in government, commercialism, over population, the distribution of wealth – and the lack of economic opportunities all
contribute to the weakening of the moral resolve of the Filipinos.

People of some other countries suffer as much, if not worst. But this is no consolation at all since we should be looking up to the ideal.
When we speak of "living standard" we inevitably mean "economic", that is, higher salaries and low prices. Perhaps, we should think
more of moral standard as our priority.

Ethics and Religion

Ethics and religion are both concerned with moral education, but
they differ from each other. Ethics is a science and relies on
reasons for its conclusions. Religion is a system of beliefs and
practices based on faith and revelation, or truths revealed to man
by God.

Ethics teaches the value of religion, presenting it as a duty of

man towards the Supreme Being. Religion, on the other hand, as
an organized church or institution, contributes to the
development of ethical thought. Thus, religion and ethics
complement each other.

Ethical Norms and Law

The law of society sometimes legalizes immoral acts, like gambling and divorce. Hence, what is legal is not necessary moral. Also,
human laws regulate external actions, but not thoughts and feelings. Thinking of robbing a bank is not a crime until it is attempted.

Ethical norms, however, cover thoughts and feelings so that a person could sin because of what he thinks or desires. Thus, St. Paul
says a man who lusts after a woman is committing adultery. Also, moral norms require proper spiritual disposition towards what is
lawful. It is not sufficient to do good, one must be sincere in doing what is good.

Ethical Approaches
There are two. approaches --- the atheistic and theistic ethics.

The atheistic approach assumes that only matter exists and man is
responsible only to the State since there is no God who rules the universe.
Morality is an invention of man to suit his requirement and to preserve
society. Moral truths are temporary and changeable depending on the
situation. Accordingly, the concept of good and evil is relative. Some of its
tenets are the following:

1. Matter is the only reality.

2. Man is matter and does not have spiritual soul.
3. Man is free and must exercise his freedom to promote the welfare
of society.
4. There is no life after death.
5. Man is accountable only to the State
The theistic approach, to which we adhere, assumes that God is the Supreme
Lawgiver. Everything must conform to God's Eternal plan of creation. Man
must exercise his freedom in accordance with God's will. There are absolute
principles of morality which are not changeable. Man is accountable for his
actions and deserves either a reward or punishment in this life or in the next.
Its tenets are:

1. God is the Supreme Creator and Lawgiver.

2. Man is free and must use his freedom to promote his personal
interest along with that of others.
3. Man has an immortal soul.
4. Man is accountable for his actions, both good and evil.

General and Special Ethics

Ethics is divided into general and special ethics. The first part of this book is about General Ethics and the second part about Special
Ethics.
General Ethics is about the principles of morality. It explains the norms with which the moral significance of the human act is
determined. Special Ethics is the application of the principles of General ethics to the problems and issues confronting a person on
account of his circumstances in life, for instance, as a citizen, neighbor, worker, wife, husband, or child.

Special Ethics includes the sub-branches of professional ethics, such as medical ethics, business ethics, legal ethics, biological and
environmental ethics. This book is divided into General and Special ethics.

Reading Material:
What is Ethics?
Jovito R. Salonga

Ethics ... is the discipline dealing with right and wrong. And when we ask what things and scholars, are right, common without having
sense tells to go us back the things to the that ancient are philosophers right are the things that help people and accountability. and
society at large, be sure, ethics has as honesty, a practical fairness, dimension, decency It is based on what one might call reciprocity,
something like the Golden Rule -"Do unto others what you would like others to do unto you." Or even its negative version - "Don't do
unto others what you don't like them to do unto you." I do not want to be lied to; hence I should not lie to others. I do not want my
possession stolen; therefore, I should not steal other people's possessions. If I do not want to be cheated by the other candidates for
president, then I should not cheat them.

But beyond reciprocity, ethics has a spiritual a dimension. People have an inner sense of right and wrong. That is why we feel guilt and
shame. Wasn't it Abraham Lincoln who said: "When I do good, I feel good? When I do bad, I feel bad?" Our best moments, as one
ethicist points out (Meyers 1989:18), are not when we made a lot of money, but when something we did meant a lot good to others. In
my own law practice before I got into the fascinating but turbulent world of politics, I earned more than enough by serving as lawyer for
a number of big corporations; however, my happiest moment was not when I received a handsome attorney's fee but when I defended
– gratis et amore - an old man, a friend of my late father, who, in my opinion was erroneously convicted by a biased judge. I appealed
the judgment of conviction, prepared the written brief at my expense, and personally argued his case in the Court of Appeals, knowing
he could not pay me even if he wanted to. When the judgment of acquittal came, I thought I was the happiest man in the world. What I
am trying to say is that beyond honesty and fairness, compassion and caring for people, especially those who are in need, are among
life’s highest ethical values. (Excerpt, from "Ethics in Politics" in The Intangibles that Make a Nation Great ,2003. p.165-166).

LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Answer the following question (10 points each).

1. What is the aim of ethics?

ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION
Be ready for a 15-item quiz.

ASSIGNMENT
1. Write something about yourself in 10 sentences.

LEARNING RESOURCES
Agapay, Ramon (2016): Ethics and the Filipinos. National Bookstore