Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Ethics

CHAPTER 1:
FUNDAMENTALS
OF ETHICS
OBJECTIVES
 Define ethics, both as study and as an activity

 Discuss the origin of ethics
 Differentiate the formal object of ethics from the
material object of ethics
 Explain the Assumption of ethics
 Discuss the importance of ethics
 Identify the forms of ethics
INTRODUCTION
Knowing the nature of ethics is the first basic step

workers can take to strengthen the foundation upon
which to anchor themselves in their quest to live
ethically in and out of the workplace.
Workers may ethical judgments all the time when p
erforming their work. These judgments are frequently
based on ethics. Ethics is a personal and a lifelong
commitment.
THE ORIGIN AND NATURE OF ETHICS
Ethics comes from the Greek word ethos, meaning

character. Ethics in ancient Greece was concerned with
the development of a virtuous and moral character.
Socrates was the first to recognize the value of q
uestions that affect how a person should live. He mad
e investigations through a process which philosophers
today call the Socratic method. The Socratic method c
onsist of asking people questions about ideas they p
resumably know about.
ETHICS DEFINED
Ethics will be defined as the study of methods and

principles used to distinguish good from bad.
THE NEED TO STUDY ETHICS

Ethics provides a basis for cooperation based on
mutual respect and mutual understanding. By providing
us with good reasons why an act is better than another, it
helps us make decisions, especially on difficult cases
where clear answers are hard to find.
ASSUMPTIONS OF ETHICS
Assumptions are fundamental beliefs or statements t

hat are accepted to be true without the burden of p
roving or of proof.
First, that man is a rational being. This means that a
man is rational and acts with a purpose, unlike brutes
who merely act out of instinct and reflex.
Second, that man is free. Ethics assume that man is
free to act according to his will and he has the power to
act, speak, or think if he chooses to without restraints.
THE PHYSICAL OBJECT OF ETHICS
The doer of an act and the act done by the doer are
two different objects of Ethics. The doer of an act is the
physical object of ethics. The physical object of ethics do
es not only refer to a person, but to institutions, and to
other forms of social organization.
THE NONPHYSICAL OBJECT OF ETHICS

The nonphysical object of ethics are the action done
by a moral agent, such as the act of telling the truth,
helping others in distress, fulfilling a promise, forgiving
others’ trespasses and humility.
TWO GENERAL FORMS OF ACT
1. Acts of Man, are of two types: the first type is called involun
tary natural acts. These include the involuntary, intuitive or
reflex acts exhibited by man, such as the blinking of the e
ye, the beating of the heart, sneezing, yawning, breathing, sc
ratching, and others. The second type is called voluntary nat
ural acts. These types are action we usually perform as part
of our daily, socially learned activities, such as brushing our t
eeth, combing our hair, cutting our nails, taking a bath, etc.
2. Human acts. It includes actions that are conscious, delibe

rate, intentional, voluntary and are within the preview of
human value judgment.
Classification of Human Acts:
• Moral or ethical acts. These are human acts that

observe or conform to a standard or norm of moralit
y.
Ex. Helping others in need, taking examinations
honestly, returning excess for change received, giving
party to your friends, and others.
• Immoral or unethical acts. These are human acts

that violate or deviate from a standard of morality.
Ex. Refusing to help others in distress, cheating in an
examination, speaking ill of others, and others.
Components of Moral Act:
• The intention or motive of the act. For instance,

studying the lesson is intended to pass an exam.
• The means of the act. This is the act or object employ

ed to carry out the intent of the act.
• The end of the act. The intent of the act is assumed

to be always toward a desired end or a perceived
good.
FORMS OF ETHICAL ANALYSIS
 Descriptive ethics is more suited to empirical sciences

like sociology, psychology or political science as it aims
to discover what moral beliefs are held by a given
society, social group or social organization.
 Normative ethics is not merely a description of what

people find morally good and morally bad but seeks to
discover norms that ought to guide our actions
Classification of Major Normative Ethics
• Consequential (Teleological) Ethics. This school of

thought maintains that the morality of an action is
determined solely by its consequences.
Ex. Utilitarianism, the theory that the greatest
happiness or good of the greatest number of persons
is the test of right and wrong.
• Nonconsequential (Deontological) Ethics. This t

heories assert that the morality of an action depends
on its intrinsic nature, its motives, or its accordance
with some rules or principles and not on its c
onsequences.
AUTHORITARIAN ETHICS
Authoritarian Ethics includes Theological or the Divine

Command Theory of Morality and Legalism or Legalistic
Morality.
 Theological Ethics. This holds that the will of God is
what determines the rightness and wrongness of an act.
 Legalism or Legalistic Morality. This determines right
from wrong, based on a body of clearly stated and well-
documented body of laws.
ETHICAL EGOISM
Ethical Egoism maintains that an action is right only if
it is in the interest of the agent or the doer of the act.
This theory is consequentialist, but unlike most of the
consequentialist theories that emphasize the idea of
the greatest good for most people.
SITUATIONAL ETHICS
Situational Ethics assert that the morality of an action
depends on the situation and not on the application of
moral laws to the case.
FORM OF ETHICS
1. Practical Ethics is primarily concerned with answering

matter-of-fact questions. Ex. questions posed by the
situations.
2. Theoretical Ethics is primarily aims to study the
meaning of ethical concepts. Ex. good, right, fairness,
etc
3. Moral Skepticism. Skepticism comes from the Greek
word, skeptesthai, meaning “to examine” or “to
consider”. It is a general name for the philosophic
attitude that rejects any claim to certainty.

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CHAPTER 1:

 Define ethics, both as study and as an activity

Knowing the nature of ethics is the first basic step

Ethics comes from the Greek word ethos, meaning

Ethics will be defined as the study of methods and

THE NEED TO STUDY ETHICS

Assumptions are fundamental beliefs or statements t

THE NONPHYSICAL OBJECT OF ETHICS

2. Human acts. It includes actions that are conscious, delibe

• Moral or ethical acts. These are human acts that

• Immoral or unethical acts. These are human acts

• The intention or motive of the act. For instance,

• The means of the act. This is the act or object employ

• The end of the act. The intent of the act is assumed

 Descriptive ethics is more suited to empirical sciences

 Normative ethics is not merely a description of what

• Consequential (Teleological) Ethics. This school of

• Nonconsequential (Deontological) Ethics. This t

Authoritarian Ethics includes Theological or the Divine

1. Practical Ethics is primarily concerned with answering

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