Study Notes

Dimensions of Ethics;
Ethics - in Private and
Public Relationships
Dimensions of Ethics

Branches of Ethics

There are Four Branches of Ethics

 Descriptive Ethics.
 Normative Ethics or Prescriptive Ethics
 Meta Ethics.
 Applied Ethics

Descriptive Ethics

It is the Branch of ethics that analyze the belief of the people on value. It aims to expose
commons beliefs about such things as values, which actions are right and wrong, It Combines
study from the fields of anthropology, psychology, sociology and history and examines the
process to understand what people do or have believed about moral norms. Generally, it
explores people beliefs on different values. The sample question that it may include are

1) Do the people in South India favor Death Penalty more the people in North India?
2) What is the general Consensus on child rights to elementary education in India?
3) Is there a relationship between beliefs and values among people in India?

Normative Ethics or Prescriptive Ethics

It is a branch of ethics that deals in gaging moral standards. It attempts to figure out what
individuals should do and guide on whether their current moral behavior is judicious.
Conventionally, maximum moral philosophy intricate normative ethics. Normative ethics analyze
which actions are right or wrong. The sample question that it may include are

1) Is it ever right to be lie?

2) Is it ok to be self-centered?
3) Should I keep my words?

Meta Ethics

It is a Branch of Ethics where we talk about the fundamental ideas of ethics itself. Meta mean
“Beyond” so literally Metaethics mean beyond the ethics. It studies the sense of moral language
and the metaphysics of moral actualities. Meta ethics understand the nature of ethical properties
and assessments. It deals with the enquiry such as

1) What is the meaning of ethical terms or judgments?

2) What do we mean by right and wrong?
3) Can we gain morals without guidance?

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Dimensions of Ethics

Applied Ethics

It is a branch of ethics that deals with analysis of specific theories to different situations. It helps
to use knowledge of moral principles to understand different dilemmas. Two features are
required in a question to be considered as an 'applied ethical issue'. One, the issue should be
provocative in the sense that there should be groups of people standing for and against the
issue at hand. Two, an issue to be an applied ethical issue, must be a definitely a moral issue
and not just a societal debate. Applied ethics deals with enquiry such as:

1) Is being whistle-blower is, ok? (Business Ethics)

2) Should we use chemical in crop production? (Environmental Ethics)
3) Does my dog have rights? (Animal Ethics)

Dimensions of Ethics

Ethical behavior is in essence of balancing act of satisfaction. Dimensions of ethics determine

content to determine ethical behavior and is explained in different ways by the different school
of thoughts. We have above already discussed in detail branches of Ethics . As the diagram
below suggests. Normative or Prescriptive ethics is further divided into Three i.e.

 Deontological Ethics
 Consequentialism Ethic
 Virtue Ethics.

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Dimensions of Ethics

1. Deontological Ethics:

Deontological ethics are duty-based ethics. It concerns itself with what people do and not
with its consequences It is defined as "duty" or "obligation" or "rule" based ethics, because rules
"bind you to your duty." Deontology argues that decisions should be made considering the
factors of one's duties and others' rights.

Some deontological theories include:

 Immanuel Kant's approach: German philosopher Immanuel Kant's construction of the

moral law is the categorical crucial, which perform on everybody, regardless of their
interests or wishes. Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative, roots in morality,
humanity’s rational capacity and proclaims certain unbreakable moral laws. Kant
characterized the CI as an objective, rationally essential and absolute principle that we
must always follow without any natural wishes or likings we may have to the contrary. All
specific moral requirements, according to Kant, are justified by this principle, which
means that all immoral actions are irrational because they violate the CI (Categorical
Imperative).

 Gandhi’s theory: His theory of truth took our attention of his views on the nature of
non-violence. Gandhi himself says, “I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and
non-violence are as old as the hills. All I have done is to try experiments in both on as
vast a scale I could. Gandhi advocated some cardinal virtues of life which are essential
to lead a pious and moral life.
Indian tradition stresses the thoughts of cardinal virtues by individuals for the good of the
society. Indian ethics speaks of six virtues: ahimsa (nonviolence), satya (truthfulness),
aparigraha (non- possession) and celibacy (bramhacharya). Gandhi added Abhaya
(fearlessness) Asteya (Non-Stealing). In understanding the common inferences of the
Gandhian view of cardinal virtues, it is unconditionally essential to not just define his
cardinal declarations and create relation between them, but also to pay attention on the
character of peace he has preached and adept.
Gandhi always desired to bring a social order in which, there is greatest good for all, the
last and the lowliest. The social order which he anticipated is free from moral collapse,
social inequality and economic exploitation. Though he never spelt out a social order of
his conception, he had a definite concept of casteless and stateless society based on
truth, non-violence, equality and moral and spiritual values.

 Nishkam Karma: It is the idea of the Bhagavat Gita. The Bhagavad-Gita highlights the
performance of duties in life without any wish for fruits and without attachment, hatred
and other selfish emotion. “Duty ought to be performed for the sake of Duty”
One has a right to do one’s duty but has no right or control over the result. The fruit of
work should not be your motive act with an attitude of non-attachment to the result (i.e.,
fruit of action) It involves activism –Action is better than inaction. Life depends upon
action. Performance of duties is better than refusal of action.

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Dimensions of Ethics

 Karma yoga – is the discipline of practicing detachment while working in the world.
Vivekananda says

 Karmayogi: is one who is not required to run away from this world. Man has to endure
in the world, in the middle of good and evil, pain and suffering attraction of beauty,
wealth & pleasure., yet remain unattached with them, he has to work. One must learn to
control desires – Bad desires, thought and consequently actions can be controlled.

We can do this by regulating our desires, emotions, Passions & feelings by balanced
and rational thinking. Exploitative and unfair tendencies should be altered. Society
should be founded on two-way traffic i.e., give & take.

“According to the Gita one must engage in action but not be concerned about the fruits of
action. The word “concern” implies anxiety for the fruits of action i.e. he has set his mind
on a particular type of outcome or result to meet his desire. If one thinks of success or
failure, profit-loss, fame-obscurity. While performing action, it means that his mind is
wavering instead of concentrating on the action. He is worried of the outcome of action.
Such an attitude is not the attribute of balanced or peaceful mind. It lacks concentration
and is incapable to produce the best result. Thus work (i.e., action) & result are 2
separate realms”.
“Gita is not for elimination or suppression of all desires. It is also not for renunciation or
rejection of life. Itis for reconstruction or readjustment of life in general with the help of
control of desires”.

Source: Joshi, National Seminar on Indian Philosophy: It’s Relevance in the 21st Century - 18th &
19th January, 2008 - Dept. of Philosophy, Bedekar College, Thane

2. Consequentialism Ethic: (Teleology)

Consequentialism ethics are situation-based ethics, right and wrong depend on the situation
and every case is unique and deserves a unique solution. Consequently, from a
consequentialist viewpoint, a morally correct act is one that will yield a good result, outcome or
consequence. We can put it in a way that "the ends justify the means".

Some Consequentialism theories are as under:

 Utilitarianism: Utilitarianism is a assumption in prescriptive ethics that views the moral

action as one that maximizes utility. Utility is defined in diverse manner, including as
pleasure, economic well-being and the absence of suffering. Utilitarianism is a type of
consequentialism, which entails that the results of an action are of moral importance.
Two most prominent contributors of Classical utilitarianism were Jeremy Bentham
and John Stuart Mill.

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Dimensions of Ethics

 Ethical egoism: Ethical egoism is consequentialist ethics in which moral mediators

should do what is in their own self-interest. In ethical egoism, the results of the
individual agent are taken to matter more than any other consequence. Thus, egoism
will commend actions that may be useful, detrimental, or unbiased to the well-being of
others

 Ethical altruism: Ethical altruism may be understood as a consequentialist ethics

which recommends that an individual take actions that have the best outcomes for
everybody except for himself.

 Hedonism: Hedonism is a school of thought that claims that pleasure is the chief or
most important intrinsic good. Bentham presented a technique for calculating the value
of pleasures and pains, which come to be known as the ‘hedonic calculus’.

Theorist, Bentham, who takes happiness as the measure for utility stated that "it is the
greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong". A
hedonist attempts to maximize net pleasure. Bentham specified that the value of a
pleasure or pain, can be measured conferring to its intensity, duration,
certainty/uncertainty and nearness/remoteness. Additionally, it is necessary to consider
"the tendency of any act by which it is produced". Ultimately, it is essential to consider
the extent, or the number of people affected by the action.

 Ethical relativism: it is the theory that holds that morality is relative to the norms of
one's culture. That is, whether an action is right or wrong depends on the moral norms
of the society in which it is practiced. The same action may be morally right in one
society but be morally wrong in another. Some claim that while the moral practices of
societies may differ, the fundamental moral principles underlying these practices do not.
For example, in some societies, mercy killing is a common practice, ideology being
freeing the person from unbearable pain. However, such a practice would be
condemned in our society.

Some basic differences between the deontological and teleological dimensions are:

Deontological Teleological
First proposed by Immanuel Kant as Introduced by Jeremy Bentham and
Kantian ethics developed by John Stuart Mill as
Utilitarianism
Rule-based and duty-based view of Consequence-based view of ethics
ethics
Goodness or badness is determined by Goodness or badness is determined by the
the action results or outcomes
Ethical behavior is the only one that has Ethical behavior is one that produces
goodwill behind it greatest good for the greatest number

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Dimensions of Ethics

3. Virtue ethics

Virtue ethics are character-based ethics it is supported by many well-known thinkers and
philosopher’s such as Plato, Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas. It stresses on the inborn character
of a person rather than on precise actions. Virtue ethics stress on one's character and the
qualities that one's character embodies for defining or assessing ethical behavior.

The fundamental virtues are a set of four virtues derived primarily from Plato's proposal, they
consist of:

 Prudence: It is described as wisdom, the capability to judge between actions with regard
to proper actions at a particular time.

 Justice: It is considered as impartiality and fairness, the widest and the most important
virtue.
 Temperance: It is termed restraint, the practice of self-control, abstaining, and
moderation.
 Courage: It is identified as fortitude, forbearance, strength, stamina, and the ability to
meet fear, doubt, pressure and uncertainty.

Example

There is a student who is very brilliant in his studies and has earned scholarships on various
levels, if he is caught stealing medicine or money. Then the cops can go easy on him giving him
a chance to explain the reason for the act of stealing and if the act is justified leave him with a
warning.

Here, the morals, reputation of the character is taken into account instead of plainly looking at
the act only.

4. Applied Ethics:

Already discussed above; it is further categorized in many more ethics like

 Bio- Ethics: It is a study of ethics concerned with the issues dealing with the biological
issues and facts about ourselves, and our close relatives beginning of life issues,
including abortion; end of life issues, ethical concerns doing medical research, as well as
availability of medical care are covered under this.

 Business Ethics: Business ethics is a study of the ethical issues that arise when human
beings exchange goods and services, where such exchanges are fundamental to our
daily existence.

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Dimensions of Ethics

 Cyber Ethics: Cyber ethics is the philosophic study of ethics relating to computers, about
user behavior and what computers are planned to do, and how this affects individuals
and society

 Environmental Ethics: Environmental ethics is the branch in philosophy that studies the
ethical relationship of human beings to environment, and also the value and moral status
of, the environment and its non-human contents

 Personal Ethics: Personal ethics is a type of philosophy that determines what an

individual believes about morality and right and wrong

 Professional Ethics: Professional ethics include the personal and corporate

standards of behavior anticipated from professionals.

 Public Ethics Public ethics is at the heart of democracy and good governance, at all level
of government. In the past few years, it has become a priority for the European
Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG).

 International Ethics: International ethics is an area of international relations philosophy

which talks about the extent and scope of ethical commitments between states in an era
of globalization.

 Publication Ethics: Ethical values for publication that exist to ensure high-quality
scientific publications, public trust in scientific findings, this helps that people in receiving
credit for their work and ideas.

Some important key terms in Ethics

Absolute Ethics: Absolute ethics is an ideal code of conduct formulating the behavior of the
completely adapted human person in the completely evolved society.

Relative Ethics: Relative ethics is the nearest approximation to this ideal according to the more
or less perfectly evolved society in which human person happens to find him/her

State consequentialism or Mohist consequentialism: It maintains that an action is right if it

leads to state welfare, through order, material wealth, and population growth.