Hum102 PPT 1

ETHICS
HUM 102
ETHICS AS A BRANCH OF
PHILOSOPHY
WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
The term "philosophy" means, "love of wisdom." In a broad sense, philosophy is an activity people
undertake when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which
they live, and their relationships to the world and to each other. As an academic discipline
philosophy is much the same. Those who study philosophy are perpetually engaged in asking,
answering, and arguing for their answers to life’s most basic questions (Department of Philosophy,
n.d.).
Are humans
Is it important to be
obligated to better Do acts of
respected or liked?
themselves? kindness have a
What is the meaning
motive?
of a good life?
To make such a pursuit more systematic academic
philosophy is traditionally divided into major areas
of study.
Metaphysics - the study of the nature of reality, of

BRANCHES what exists in the world, what it is like, and how it
OF is ordered.
PHILOSOPH Epistemology - the study of knowledge. It is

primarily concerned with what we can know about
Y the world and how we can know it.
Logic - To this end philosophers employ logic to
study the nature and structure of arguments.
ETHICS
ETHICS AS A BRANCH OF
PHILOSOPHY
Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing,
defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct. The term
ethics derives from the Ancient Greek word ethikos, which is derived from the word
ethos (habit, “custom”).
As a branch of philosophy, ethics investigates the questions “What is the best way
for people to live?” and “What actions are right or wrong in particular
circumstances?” In practice, ethics seeks to resolve questions of human morality, by
defining concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice
and crime.
ETHICS
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).
ETHICS
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
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.
ETHICAL APPROACHES
There are two approaches – the atheistic and theistic ethics.
1. 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:
a. Matter is the only reality.

b. Man is matter and does not have spiritual soul.
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.
ETHICAL APPROACHES
2. 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:
a. God is the Supreme Creator and Lawgiver.

b. Man is free and must use his freedom to promote his personal interest along with that
of others.
c. Man has an immortal soul.
THE The Science of Ethics is greatly
RELATION OF concerned with the study of the human
conduct and how man behaves or acts in
ETHICS TO accordance with morality. For this reason,
it is evident that the Ethical science is also
PSYCHOLOGY related to some other sciences that also
, SOCIOLOGY deal with the study of the human nature
as well as in human living. Among of
AND these sciences are Psychology, Sociology,
and Economics.
ECONOMICS
The relation between these two sciences is
based upon the comparison on their basic
aim that is to study man, its nature and
ETHICS AND its behavior. However, there is a basic
PSYCHOLOG difference between Ethics and Psychology.
Y The science of Psychology is not
concerned with the morality of man’s
action; this science is only concern of how
man ought to behave.
ETHICS AND
SOCIOLOGY
They are related as Ethics is concerned in

dealing with the moral order that eventually
includes the social order of society. It was
being said that society depends upon the
science of Ethics for its principles. Sociology
as a science is concerned with the relationship
of humans to his/her fellow individuals and to
his/her society upon the observance on the
moral laws and principles that will eventually
regulate man’s action in his/her community.
ETHICS AND
ECONOMICS
As economics deals with labor, wages,
production, as well as distribution of wealth,
Ethics as a science somehow acts in the different
relations in the business processes. This would
be based on justice, charity as well as moral
principles that would eventually create a
prevailing harmony in the community. Man can
also be considered as an economic being. This
consideration involves man in different
economic activities which should be guided with
the norms and principles of Ethics.
HUMAN ACTS AND
ACTS OF MAN
HUMAN ACTS AND ACTS OF MAN
1. Human Acts – the actions man does knowingly, freely and voluntarily.
2. Acts of Man – acts done by man without deliberation or volition, and
simple acts of sensation and appetition.
THE HUMAN ACT
Actions, since they are products of our thoughts and desires, reveal our moral
character. What we are and what becomes of us as persons depends on our choices and
actuations.
Attributes of Human Act

An act is considered a human act, when it is done knowingly, freely and willfully.
1. An act is done knowingly when the doer is conscious and aware of the reason and
the consequences of his actions. Every normal person of age is presumed to act
knowingly. However, children below the age of reason, the senile and the insane – are
considered incapable of moral judgment.
THE HUMAN ACT
2. An act is done freely when the doer acts by his own initiative and choice without
being forced to do so by another person or situation. An action done under duress
and against one’s freewill is not a voluntary action. A person is not acting freely
when he gives up his money to a robber who threatens him with a knife.
3. An act is done willfully when the doer consents to the act, accepting it as his
own, and assumes accountability for its consequences.
An act which lacks of any of the above mentioned attributes is either imperfectly
voluntary or involuntary.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HUMAN
ACTS
Because human acts come from the intellect and the will, they express the thoughts
and desires of a person, revealing his moral character. Hence, people are judged by
their actions like trees by their fruits. We condemn a person for his evil deed or praise
him for doing what is good.
We often hear people say that they “condemn the sin but not the person” or suspect. The
statement is probably acceptable if it means we should not rush to judge the guilt of a
suspect. But the statement is wrong if it means we should not blame people for their
evil deeds, no matter how unfortunate are these acts. This is to condone evil. Parents,
for example, are inclined to be soft towards children. Instead of being horrified, they are
amused that their kids are so smart.
REFERENCE/S:
Agapay, R. (July 2008). Ethics and the Filipino 2nd Edition. Philippines
Department of Philosophy. What is Philosophy?.
https://philosophy.fsu.edu/undergraduate-study/why-philosophy/What- is-Philosophy
Experts Column. (2016, July 30). The Relation Of Ethics To Psychology, Logic, Sociology
And Economics.
http://varron.expertscolumn.com/article/relation-ethics-psychology-logic-sociology-and-econo
mics
L.A. (2017, March 6). Ethics Defined.
https://medium.com/the-ethical-world/ethics-defined-33a1a6cc3064
Nery, M. I. (2003). Ethics. Katha Publishing Co., Inc.

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ETHICS

Metaphysics - the study of the nature of reality, of

PHILOSOPH Epistemology - the study of knowledge. It is

a. Matter is the only reality.

a. God is the Supreme Creator and Lawgiver.

They are related as Ethics is concerned in

Attributes of Human Act

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