Ethics and Morals: Study Guide

Ethics is generally thought of as the study of right action and morals is the
system through which that action is applied. Historically, the term ‘ethics’
comes from Greek ethos which means the customs, habits and mores of
people. ‘Morality’ is derived from Latin mos, moris which denotes basically
the same; it was introduced by Cicero as an equivalent to the Greek ethos.

What Ethics is NOT:

1. Ethics is not just values education

2. Ethics is not catechism
3. Ethics is not moral theology
4. Ethics is not just applied ethics

Ethics and morals are difficult to define and many definitions are acceptable.

Ethics
 The critical examination and evaluation of what is good, evil, right and
wrong in human conduct (Guy, 2001)
 A specific set of principles, values and guidelines for a particular group
or organization (Guy, 2001)
 Ethics is the study of goodness, right action and moral responsibility, it
asks what choices and ends we ought to pursue and what moral principles
should govern our pursuits and choices (Madden, 2000)

Morals
 Those principles and values that actually guide, for better or worse, an
individual's personal conduct (Guy, 2001)
 Morality is the informal system of rational beings by which they govern
their behavior in order to lessen harm or evil and do good, this system,
although informal, enjoys amazing agreement across time and cultures
concerning moral rules, moral ideas and moral virtues (Madden, 2000)

Distinction in terms of philosophy:

 Ethics – formal study of those standards

o Oftentimes called “moral philosophy”
o Investigates the nature of moral principles, ethical systems &
moral norms that people use to justify their moral judgment.
 Morality – quality of goodness or badness in a human act (good – moral;
bad – immoral).
o Conformity to the rules of right conduct •Judgment that refers to
moral standards & moral conduct
 There are three categories or sub-branches of ethics; descriptive
ethics, metaethics and normative ethics:

1. Descriptive ethics aims at empirically and precisely mapping existing

morality or moralities within communities and is therefore linked to the
social sciences.
2. Normative ethics is concerned with the content of moral judgments
and the criteria for what is right or wrong.
3. Meta-ethics asks how we understand, know about, and what we mean
when we talk about what is right and what is wrong. Meta-ethics deals with
the nature of moral judgement. It looks at the origins and meaning of ethical
principles.
The Derivation of Moral Standards
The foundations of evolving moral systems rest on a complex cybernetic
process that sustains and preserves the human species. This is a dynamic
process that drives the creation of moral and ethical standards. Every
human action inspires a corresponding reaction whether subtle in nature or
violent. Some people are more emotionally reactive than others. Emotions
can get out of control if not regulated by laws, customs, moral codes,
professional codes and even the rules of etiquette. Rules are a stabilizing
force that enhance the survivability of individuals, families and
nations. Mathematically, the initial point* evident in human behavior is
the survival of the species. It is defined and redefined in many ways, such as
a concern for public safety. The complexity of this process cannot be
understated, and it is best described by cybernetic science.

There is a considerable difference between the static term "moral standards"

and the cybernetic process that creates them. A basic understanding of this
process can be conveyed through a series of illustrations:
For example, the evolution of traffic laws demonstrates the creation of
standards of vehicular conduct directly related to public safety. Public safety
itself is dedicated to increasing human survival on the highways. If an action
on the highway consistently leads to unnecessary pain, suffering and death,
it is an action discouraged by new rules and regulations designed to prohibit
it.

Thus, by the destructive consequences of human actions, the notion of

"right" and "wrong" evolves.

The standards of vehicle codes integrate seamlessly into cultural

morality as illustrated by the example of consuming alcohol while driving an
automobile.

Here, the standards of behavior are statistical in nature. The probability that
any outcome will occur is ranked from the first standard deviation to the
fourth. Some of the facts surrounding alcohol abuse go back thousands of
years. Alcohol has long been known to have a profound affect on human
thinking.

The destructive tendencies alcohol motivates is compounded in multiples if

you add the simultaneous emotions that, for example, come from the
breakup of a romantic relationship—or stress from the workplace. Put job
and family problems together with a fifth of 100-proof alcohol and a fast car
traveling 10 miles across crowded city streets, and you have the formula for
a very likely accident. This destructive behavior conflicts with a fundamental
value—self-preservation—and the preservation of others in society. So in
time, rules evolve to restrict drinking and driving. Every time there is a
tragedy produced by alcohol abuse, it reinforces and perpetuates a long
history of the moral sentiments and laws relating to the use of alcohol.

There is larger dimension to the creation of laws prohibiting drinking and

driving: There are economic considerations that drive the creation and
implementation of new laws based on survival.

Economics is a primary force in human cultures; it is a powerful expression

of the will to survive. Economics sometimes overrides ethical
concerns because the survival as a person, nation or world demands it. If a
society allows intoxicated people to drive on the highways, there is a
statistical certainty many unnecessary deaths will occur. Property will also
be destroyed, the flow of goods and services will be interrupted and the
healthy spirits of people will be damaged. All of these factors, if allowed to
go unchecked, will affect the health and efficiency of an economy.
Maximizing economic health requires the evolution of behavioral standards
that avoid pain, suffering and death and embrace the values of peace,
prosperity and productivity. There must be an uninterrupted flow of goods
and services and minimal accidents and dislocations sufficient to evoke a
societal spirit and willingness to work hard.

That is how, in theory, a particular economic or social system survives when

others have failed.

source: The Derivation of Moral

Standards /files/463594/The_Derivation_of_Moral_Standards.pdf
https://philosophy.lander.edu/ethics/amoral.html

STUDY GUIDE
Moral actions or events are areas of interest where moral categories can be
applied and of such a kind as to be according to some code or theory of
ethics.

It also involves human intention, volition, or behavior described in terms of

moral categories.

Non-moral actions would be those actions where moral categories (such a

right and wrong) cannot be applied (such as matters of fact in scientific
descriptions).

A non-intentional action such as reflex or an accident would be ordinarily a

non-moral action.

An unintentional action resulting from ignorance is sometimes called "non-

moral" and other times called "immoral" depending upon the code of the
society as to whether or not a person is morally responsible for knowledge.

Watch this YouTube video from McCombs School of Business. Morals are
society’s accepted principles of right conduct that enable people to live
cooperatively: https://youtu.be/0WxOGR6HKFs