SOC PHILO 12: GENERAL AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
own ends and interests as the single overriding
 Ethics-about matters such as the good thing that
we should pursue and the bad things that we
should avoid.
 Etiquette-concerned with right and wrong actions
but those which might be considered not quite
grave enough to belong to discussion of ethics.
 Moral-specific beliefs or attitudes that people have
or to describe acts that people perform.
 Morality-
 Descriptive-reports how people make their moral
valuations without making any judgment
 Normative-prescribes what we ought to maintain
as our standards or bases for moral valuation
 Moral Issue-a situation that calls for moral
valuation
 Moral Decision-involves a choice of what act to
perform
 Reasoning-
 Moral Dilemma-situation wherein one is torn
between choosing one of two goods or choosing
between the lesser of two evils.
 Moral Judgment-assessment on the actions or
behavior of someone
 Plato-a Greek thinker and credited as one of the
pioneers of philosophy
-he wrote “The Apology of Socrates” and
“The Republic”
 Aristotle-he proposes the four causes: material,
formal, efficient and final cause
 Jeremy Bentham-he wrote about the greatest
happiness principle of ethics and was known for a
system of penal management called panopticon.
-He also argue that our actions are governed by
two sovereign masters: pain and pleasure.
 Thomas Aquinas-hailed as the “Doctor of the
Roman Catholic Church.” He wrote “Summa
Theologiae” which comprehensively discusses
many significant points in Christian history.
 Immanuel Kant-proponent of Deontology. He
wrote “Groundwork towards a Metaphysics of
Morals” which shows his contribution in moral
philosophy.
 Human Law-all instances wherein human beings
construct and enforce law in their communities.
 Divine Command Theory-idea that one is obliged to
obey his/her God in all things.
 Divine Law-precepts or instructions that come from
divine revelation.
SOURCES OF AUTHORITY
 Religion
 Culture
 Law-one’s guide to ethical behavior.
SENSES OF THE SELF
 Subjectivism-individual thinking person is at the
heart of all moral valuations.
 Psychological Egoism-theory that describes the
underlying dynamic behind all human actions.
 Ethical Egoism-prescribes that we should make our
concern.
 Egoism-self interest is the motive of all conscious
action
 The Republic-a book written by Plato wherein the
characters (Socrates and Glaucon) are engaged in a
discussion about justice.
 Utilitarianism-an ethical theory that argues for the
goodness of pleasure and the determination of
right behavior based on the usefulness of the
action’s consequences.
 Utility-usefulness of the consequences of one’s
action and behavior
 Felicific Calculus-framework provided by Bentham
used for evaluating pleasure and pain
 Different Kinds of Rights
o Moral Rights-takes precedence over legal
rights
o Legal Rights-neither inviolable nor natural
 Emotions-the passions that are involved in the
pursuit of happiness and require a proper order if
they are to properly contribute to a good life.
 Essence of Law
 Neo Platonic Good-God creates. This does not only
mean that He brings about beings, but also means
that He cares for and thus governs, the activity of
the universe and of every creature.
 Four Causes according to Aristotle
o Material-materiality or physical stuff
possessed by any being
o Formal-shape that makes a being a
particular kind
o Efficient-something which brings about the
presence of another being
o Final-apparent end or goal of a being
 Aesthetics-derived from the Greek word “aisthesis”
(sense or feeling) and refers to judgments of
personal approval or disapproval
 In Common with other beings-we, human beings
are both unique and at the same time participating
in the community of the rest of creation.
 In Common with other Animals-there is in our
human nature, common with other animals, a
desire that has to do with sexual intercourse and
the care of one’s offspring.
 Deontology-comes from the Greek word deon
meaning being necessary.
-a moral theory that evaluates actions
that are done because of duty
 Universazalibility-makes possible the self-
legislation for the result of categorical imperative.
 FOUR KEY ELEMENTS IN THE FORMULATION OF
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
o Action
o Maxim
o Will
o Universal Law
 Autonomy-property of the rational will which is the
opposite of heteronomy.
-it means self law while
heteronomy means other law.