Modern Ethical Theory

1. Report in
PHILO 302
(Seminar in Modern Ethical Theory)

2. 1 Meaning of Ethics
2 Ethics Compared with Other Sciences that Deals with Man
3 Morality and Human Existence
4 References
REPORT OUTLINE

3. I. MEANING OF ETHICS
A. Definition of Ethics
– refers to the rules that a social system provides with us.
– The rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of
human actions or particular group or culture.
– also called moral philosophy, is the discipline concerned with what is
morally good and morally right and wrong.
– Descended from the Greek word “Ethikos” indicating character, ethics
helps shape our behavior.

4. B. Morals vs. Ethics
– Principles or habits with respect to right or wrong conduct. While morals
also prescribe do’s and dont’s, morality is ultimately a personal
compass of right and wrong.
– refer mainly to guiding principles, and ethics refer to specific rules and
actions, or behaviors.
– From the Latin word (mores, moralis, mos), variously translated as
customs, manners or social norms.
– Ethics and morals relate to “right” and “wrong” conduct. While they are
sometimes used interchangeably, they are different: ethics refer to
rules provided by an external source, e.g., codes of conduct in
workplaces or principles in religions. Morals refer to an individual’s
own principles regarding right and wrong.

7. Ethics versus Morals comparison chart
Ethics Morals
What are they? The rules of conduct recognized in
respect to a particular class of
human actions or a particular
group or culture.
Principles or habits with respect to
right or wrong conduct. While
morals also prescribe dos and
don'ts, morality is ultimately a
personal compass of right and
wrong.
Where do they
come from?
Social system - External Individual - Internal
Why we do it? Because society says it is the right
thing to do.
Because we believe in something
being right or wrong.
Flexibility Ethics are dependent on others for
definition. They tend to be
consistent within a certain context,
but can vary between contexts.
Usually consistent, although can
change if an individual’s beliefs
change.

8. The "Gray" A person strictly following Ethical
Principles may not have any
Morals at all. Likewise, one could
violate Ethical Principles within a
given system of rules in order to
maintain Moral integrity.
A Moral Person although perhaps
bound by a higher covenant, may
choose to follow a code of ethics
as it would apply to a system.
"Make it fit"
Origin Greek word "ethos"
meaning"character"
Latin word "mos" meaning
"custom"
Acceptability Ethics are governed by
professional and legal guidelines
within a particular time and place
Morality transcends cultural
norms

9. C. The Three Postulates of Kant Ethical Theory

10. II. Ethics compared with other Sciences that deals with Man
Ethics and Psychology
Ethics and Sociology
Ethics and Logic
Ethics and Anthropology
Ethics and Moral Theology

11. Ethics and Psychology both deal with the study of man and his behavior,
however, Ethics studies how man ought to behave.
It is concerned with man’s moral obligation or the result of his behavior.
It is the study of human behavior from the perspective of morality.
Psychology studies how man behaves.
It is not interested in the morality of human behavior.
It is the scientific study of mental and behavioral characteristics,
associated with a particular kind of behavior.
Ethics and Psychology

12. Ethics deals with the study of moral order in the society.
Sociology deals with the study of the social order in the society.
There is no social order if there is no moral order
Therefore, the foundation of any society depends on the moral values of
people and their concept of what is good and bad in human relationships.
Society depends on ethics for its underlying principles.
Sociology deals with human relations in a society, but human relations
are based on proper order and proper order come only with the proper
observance of moral laws and principles, which regulate the action of men
in a community.
Ethics and Sociology

13. Ethics is the study of correct action or doing, while Logic studies the
process of correct and organized thinking.
Logic is aimed at the right thinking and Ethics is aimed at the right acting
and right doing and behavior.
Based on perceiving information, Ethics is focused on the demands of the
subjective human world or world of people and relationships.
In communication, Ethics focuses, and studies people’s feelings and
emotional states based on non-verbal information and how things are said.
Logic focuses and studies what is done and said, or the content speech.
Ethics and Logic

14. Ethical principles are vital for anthropologists because important ethical
issues arise in their work. This set of principles is intended to heighten
awareness of the ethical issues that face anthropologists, and to offer them
workable guidelines to help resolve these issues.
Anthropology has been oriented toward ethics and social policy. It is the
study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology,
cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both present and past, including past
human species.
Ethics and Anthropology

15. Also called Christian ethics, Christian theological discipline concerned with
identifying and elucidating the principles that determine the quality of
human behaviour in the light of Christian revelation. It is distinguished from
the philosophical discipline of ethics, which relies upon the authority of
reason and which can only call upon rational sanctions for moral failure.
Moral theology appeals to the authority of revelation, specifically as found in
the preaching and activity of Jesus Christ.
Ethics and Moral Theology

16. III. Morality and Human Existence
Man is the only Moral Being
Man As Animal
Man as Rational Animal
Intellect compared with Will
Concrete Basis of Morality

17. Man was created as a moral being, capable of distinguishing between right
and wrong, and accountable to God. Whether a person likes it or not, he is
a moral being and thus with moral obligations (i.e. the ability to distinguish
right from wrong brings with it moral obligations).
Man is the only Moral Being

18. Aristotle the legendary Greek philosopher said, “Man is by nature a social
animal; an individual who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally is either
beneath our notice or more than human. Society is something that
precedes the individual.” Man cannot live alone.
Man as Animal

19. Aristotle defined man as being a rational animal. According to this definition,
rationality is what separates man from all other animals; it is what makes
them unique. In order to prove this to be an accurate definition of man the
definition of rational must first be understood. Rational has more than one
denotation and in order for man to be rational they must fit all or most of
them. It also has to be proven that this definition is unique to man and that
no other animal is rational. Aristotle’s definition of man is fairly accurate
because man has some unique characteristics which makes them unique.
Man as Rational Animal

20. Intellect vs. Will
How does the intellect and will affect human act?
What is the relationship between intellect and will?
Intellect compared with Will

21. - Arthur Schopenhauer’s argues that morality stems from
compassion.
- Kant believed that the shared ability of humans to reason should
be the basis of morality, and that it is the ability to reason that makes
humans morally significant. He, therefore, believed that all humans should
have the right to common dignity and respect.
- De waal also believed that morality grows from our genes and the
traits that define morality – empathy, reciprocity, reconciliation and
consolation – can be seen in many animals, most particularly primates.
Concrete Basis of Morality

22. “Thank you for listening.”