Ethics Lecture FinalVersion
Ethics Lecture FinalVersion
Intellectual
Aesthetic
Physical
Intellectual Pleasure
Physical Pleasure
- Means the satisfaction of sensuous or sexual desire
Aristippus (400BC)
Founder of the pleasure principle
Taught that the pleasure is the one and only good,
hence it must be the basis for moral judgment
Whatever act that gives pleasure is good, hence it must
done under all circumstances; whatever act that gives
pain is bad, hence it must be avoided as much as
possible
Anumang gawa na nagdudulot ng kasiyahan ay
mabuti; anumang gawa na nagdudulot ng sakit ay
masama
In other words whenever an act is pleasurable, it is
good; whereas if it is painful, evil. Every person,
therefore, seeks his own pleasure and avoids pain
For a hedonist happiness is the
highest good, and so it must be
made the ultimate goal in life
Examples:
We should not allow others to disturb our peace of mind
so that we will not be enslaved by them
Huwag tayong papayag na ligaligin ng iba kung ayaw
natin maging alipin nila
Secondly, objects which we desire intensely enslave us
Ang mga bagay na labis-labis nating hinahangad ay
syang umaalipn satin
Furthermore, we should preserve serenity by
understanding the true nature of things
Panatilihin ang kakalmahan sa pamamagitan ng pag-
unawa sa tunay na kalikasan ng mga bagay
In Filipino experience, we can console ourselves by
saying:
“Sadyang ganyan ang buhay ng tao, una- una,
sunod-sunod, at hali-halili lamang”
In Chinese thought, Lao Tzu, celebrated the death of
his wife by singing instead of mourning for her
When confronted by relatives, he explained to them
that his wife’s birth was a moment of great and
celebration for her loving parents, so her death should
also be a time to celebrate and enjoy, for human life
beginning as well as end
Hence, as we celebrate the beginning, so also must we
celebrate the end of an individual’s life
That’s the nature of life in Lao Tzu’s view
In this light following Epictetus philosophy, one can
still remain serene even upon the death of a loved one
Another thing is that we should accept the things that
cannot be changed
“Tanggapin ang mga bagay na hindi na mababago”
According to Epictetus, most of the misery of life comes
from within; it comes from our refusal to accept our part of
it; but once we accept our handicaps, our misfortunes, they
can be withstood thus, we have to accept the inevitable
And lastly, we should embrace difficult problems in
life: running away from ones’ problems will create
bigger and more complicated ones
Problems, in Epictetus’ perception, are desirable
spiritual exercises
We need as much as physical exercise to keep
ourselves physically fit as we also need spiritual
exercise to keep ourselves mentally alert
LUCIUS SENECA
Another faithful adherent of stoicism was Lucius
Annaeus Seneca (1-65 A.D.) born in Cordoba, Spain
but studied and taught in Rome during the period of
the Roman dictators
He is also known as a practical moral teacher, a kind of
spiritual guide or a physician of the soul
Seneca’s main philosophical aim was to lead men
toward virtue, especially moral courage and fortitude
so as to men brace themselves against the onslaught of
adversities
First is his philosophy of moral courage and misfortune:
no evil or misfortune can defeat and discourage the spirit
of a stalwart man
“Walang kasamaan o kasawimpalad na makakatalo at
makakabagabag sa isang taong matapang”
According to Seneca “the thing that matters is not
what you bear but how you bear it”
“Ang mahalaga ay hindi ang iyong pasan kundi ang
paraan ng pagpasan mo nito”
Second is the role of adversity. Disaster, in Seneca’s
view, is virtue’s opportunity, for a disastrous situation
gives an individual a good chance to prove his strength
and courage
“Ang kapahamakan ay siyang pagkakataon ng
kagalingan”
MARCUS AURELIUS
Well-described as “by nature a
saint and a sage, by profession
a warrior and a ruler”
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
(121-180) was emperor of
Rome, stoic philosopher, and
one of the noblest figures of
antiquity
His teachings of tranquility
are priceless gems of human
knowledge that are worth
bequeathing to posterity
For Marcus Aurelius, one cannot
find peace in such places
Tranquility as a mental state
consists in good ordering of the
mind; hence the place to look for
it is in your soul
For mental peace does not depend
upon wealth, power, or sex, but
upon the quality of your thoughts;
the same is true with happiness
Ang kaligayahan ay nakasalalay
sa kalidad ng iyong pag -iisip
Live simply and naturally and harmonize yourself with
nature. Likewise, live with kindliness for kindliness is
invincible; nobody can conquer kindness but kindness
conquers all
Walang sinumang makasusupil sa kagandahang-loob
subalit ang kagandahang-loob ay syang makasusupil
sa lahat
Marcus Aurelius taught that things do not and cannot
touch the soul for they are external and immovable;
but our troubles come only from the opinion which is
within
That is to say, if we can control our opinion about
things, we cannot be upset or perplexed by anything
Life, according to Marcus Aurelius, is but an opinion;
it is a belief a judgment
Ang buhay ay isang kuro- kuro lamang
3. EPICUREANISM
Epicureanism
Founder: Epicurus (341-
270 B.C.)
Athenian Philosopher
Speaking of the noblest
aim of philosophy,
Epicurus pointed to
Ataraxia, or peaceful and
tranquil life
Epicureanism
Epicureanism professes moderate pleasure as the
moral norm
It is the intermediate pleasure doctrine between
hedonism and stoicism
Hedonism teaches an all-out pleasure norm of morality
Stoicism an indifference pleasure or no pleasure at all
Epicureanism
Moderate pleasure-“Katamtaman lamang”
If we are still alive, death has not yet come; it has not yet
touched us. If we are dead, then death cannot touch us any
more since we are already gone. The is no need ,after all, to
fear death (Hakim 1992: 117 – 135; Shapiro and Curley 1965:
4 - 15)
4. SITUATIONISM
SITUATIONISM
“might is right”
• All that serves life is good and all that serves death is
evil
Good - is reverence for life, all that enhances life, growth,
and the unfolding of self
• Man possesses a
threefold nature:
o Vegetative
o Sentient
o Rational
Who?
- has something to do with the special quality, prestige, rank or
excellence of the person involved in the moral act.
What?
- refers to the quality or quantity of the moral object
Where?
- denotes the place where the act occurs
By what means?
- refers to the means used in carrying out the act
Why?
- the end or purpose is considered as a circumstance affecting the
goodness or badness of the action
How?
- indicates the manner in which the action is done
When?
- refers to the time element involved in the performance of an action,
not only with regard to quantity but to quality as well
Moral Principles usually associated with Thomistic ethics:
Batas Panunumbalik
Kung anu ang iyong itinanim ay iyon din ang iyong aanahin