MYSTICAL ROSE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MANGATAREM, PANGASINAN

Name: __________________________________ Date: __________

Grade: ________________________
SUBJECT : ETHICS

CHAPTER 1 The Study of Ethics

At the end of Chapter 1, the students are expected to
 give the meaning of ethics and value education
 discuss the importance of ethics
 differentiate ethics and religion, and ethics and law
Ethics
- defined as the science of the morality of human acts
- is said to be the study of human motivation, and ultimately, of human rational behavior
- derived from the Greek word ethos which means “ characteristic way of acting “
- its equivalent is mos, mores, meaning “ tradition or custom.
Ethos includes cultural mannerisms, religion, politics, laws, and social aspirations of a group of
people.
In our study, ethos refers to those characteristics belonging to man as a rational being, endowed
with intellect and free-will.
The ethos of man as man is revealed in the following:
1. He is able to distinguish between
good and evil,
right and wrong,
moral and immoral.
2. He feels within himself an obligation
to do what is good and
to avoid what is evil.
3. He feels accountable for his actions,
expecting reward or
punishments for them.
To summarize:
Man is expected that he conducts himself according to the “dictates of reason“.
Morality – that aspect of the subject matter which primarily interests ethics
- is the quality of human acts by which they are constituted as good, bad, or different.
Moral – that which is good
Immoral –that which is bad
Amoral – that which is indifferent
Human Acts – are those actions performed by man, knowingly and freely.
- also called deliberate or intentional actions, or, voluntary actions
- reveal the thoughts and inclinations of the person doing them
- manifestation of one’s character or moral conduct.
Virtuous – a person who has the habit or inclination to do good
Vicious one who has the habit pf doing wrong
Acts of man – are instinctive and involuntary

Ethics as Value Education

 In the classical tradition, Ethics is Moral Philosophy.
 As a branch of Philosophy, Ethics relies solely on human reason to investigate truths
Moral Theology is different because Moral Theology employs reason insofar as it is
enlightened by faith or divine revelation.
 In contemporary curriculum, Ethics takes the form of Value Education.
Value – is something a person prizes, cherishes, and esteems as important to him. It includes
ideas, things, or experiences.
The aim of Value Education is to guide the individual in choosing wisely his values and in acting upon
them.
Ethics is the rational foundation of any attempt at Value Education.
Ethics goes deeper into the reasons why we must choose certain values.
Ethics explains human values in relation to the ultimate purpose of human existence.
The Art of Correct Living
Art, in general, is the appreciation of beauty. It implies order and harmony of parts in a given
whole.
Human life does not imply merely physical survival. It is a vocation towards the refinement of
the spirit. The demands of daily life includes and derives meaning from the cultivation of those traits
that truly reflect man’s innate dignity.
In this context, Ethics is an art. It is the breath of life, pulsating with the desire for growth and
development. It is a master plan indicating where man must go and what he ought to do in order to live
well. In a sense, every man is an artist, creating something of beauty out of his self.
Importance of Ethics
1. Ethics is an indispensable knowledge. Without moral perception, man is only an animal. Without
morality, man as rational being is a failure.
2. Moral integrity is the only true measure of what man ought to be.
One should be morally upright.
According to Jacques Leclercq “….greatness, perfection and happiness…consists in transcending
the commonly accepted human good. “
3. Morality is the foundation of every human society.
Two Ethical Systems
1. Atheistic Approach. No God who creates and rules the universe. Man is responsible only to
himself. Morality is an invention of man to suit his requirements and to preserve his society.
Moral truths are temporary and mutable depending on the situation. Accordingly, the concept
of good and evil is always relative and changeable.
Its Principle:
a. Matter is the only reality.
b. Man is matter and does not have spiritual dimension.
c. Man is free and must exercise his freedom to promote the welfare of society.
d. There is no life after death.
e. Man is accountable only to the state.
2. Theistic Approach. 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 Principle:
a. God is the Supreme creator and Lawgiver.
b. Man is free and must use his freedom to promote his personal and social interest along with
his fellowmen.
c. Man has an immortal soul which cannot die.
d. Man is accountable for his actions, both good and evil.
Ethics and Religion
Ethics – is a science and depends upon rational investigation of its truths.
Ethics – teaches the value of religion, presenting it as a duty to the Almighty
Religion – is a system of beliefs and practices based on faith or revelation.
Religion – as an organized church, contributes to the teaching of ethics and continues to enrich
with its moral insights. Thus, religion provides both the direction and motivation for the moral life
of people. All great religions hold life in deep respect and propose universal brotherhood as
necessary for global peace and prosperity.
Ethics and Law
Ethics – studies human motivation. It goes deeper than the study of external actions. It explores
thoughts and feelings. It requires that man desires that which is good and act in accordance with that
desire
Law –requires that we perform the required action regardless of our feelings towards such
action. The law is concerned with the externality of the act.
Motimer J. Adler says
“ for law is definitely concerned with what we do, not with what we feel. “
Ethical norms cover thoughts and feelings.
Laws do not judge man’s thoughts and desires.
In the Ethics of St. Paul, for example, a man commits adultery when he regards a woman
lustfully. This is not the case with law which requires an external act as a proof that a crime has been
committed.
Morality therefore, has a wider implications than law, because can either be moral or immoral.
Thus, what is legal is not necessarily moral; but what is moral is necessarily worth legalizing.

 Ethics is not simple a body of do’s and don’ts in the manner laws are.
 Ethics is a personal commitment to uphold what is true and good.
 Ethics aims to develop ‘ right disposition and inner spirit ‘ for accepting what is lawful.
Professional Ethics
A Code of Ethics implies that, before anything else, a professional is a person who has the
obligation to listen to the “ dictates of reason “

Reading:
Morality is Best Form of Government
“ No system of power can replace morality, which is necessary in any human society.
Those were quiet meaningful words from Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, spoken in his acceptance
speech after he was elected as Executive President of the Soviet, the first for a position that was created
following dramatic changes in that country’s political set-up.
While Mr. Gorbachev may have uttered that principle – any society needs morality – in the
context of reversing the rising criminality in his land, including abuses of government officials )”…causes
that provoke crime… “ it can very well be applied on any undertaking in any other country in this world.
Indeed, morality or the lack of it plays a major role in government and business dealings, and in the
everyday life of every human being.
For the Soviet Union’s leader, who was called “ Man of the Decade “ – perhaps in this new one
and the one just ended – morality may have been an inner voice urging him to do his country’s part in
putting an end to the frightening Cold war. The threat to mankind’s total annihilation in a nuclear war
still exists, of course, but the stage for a substantial arms reduction has been set. To be sure, Mr.
Gorbachev had a big role in it.
That relations, whether tense or otherwise, between the world’s two superpowers affect the
so-called Third World, cannot be denied. Conflicts in other countries struggling to attain economic and
political maturity are sometimes the off-shoot of animosity between those superpowers. As their
relations warm, other countries of the world may now be closer to achieving peace, even within their
own borders.
The Soviet Union and its defenders or sympathizers in the past also used the word “ democracy
“ in describing its political system. Mr. Gorbachev, in the same way he made perestroika and glasnost
household words in most parts of the world, does not hold back on words to tell what the old order
actually was: “ an authoritarian bureaucratic system, “ as against his vision of a “ humane and
democratic socialism “ for his country.
After all, that is all the reason for the existence of governments, in any from, and the grant of
power to their officials. The system must put the people’s interest first and foremost.
( * Editorial, The Philippine Star, March 20, 1990, p4-5 )

Exercise No.1
Direction: Answer the following briefly:
1. Why is man a moral animal?
Answer:
2. Philosophers refer to Ethics as “ the only necessary knowledge “. Explain why.
Answer:
3. What do you expect to learn from Ethics?
Answer:
4. Is Ethics the same as Religion? Why?
Answer:
5. Differentiate ethical norms and law.
Answer:

Exercise No.1
Direction: Read the Editorial and write a short essay in the importance of morality in government.

Importance of Morality in Government

Reference:
Agapay, Ramon B ( 1991 ) . Ethics and the Filipino, A Manual on Morals for Students and
Educators( pp.1-9 ). Cacho Hermanos,INC,

Prepared by:
MISS FARAH EVA C. CAPRIO
Instructor