LEARNING MODULE

ETHICS

Module 1

Lesson 1: Introduction to Ethics

Learning Outcome:

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

 define ethics, human acts and morality;
 distinguish ethics from morality;
 cite examples of human acts.

Time Frame: 2 hours

Introduction

In this lesson we will discuss the definition and importance of Ethics. This serves as
an introductory part.

Activity

Activity 1.1

Your parents told you to study first, they prohibited you to have a GF/BF. But, you have a
crush on someone. Would you defy your parents? Answer: No

Are you doing the “right thing?” Answer: Yes

Are you a person who always do the “right thing?” Answer: No
Yet, how do you know that you are doing the “right thing?” Answer: I know that I’m doing
the “right thing” when I feel it in my heart and in my mind that the result is good and no
 bad thing will happen. In short there’s a peace in the end.
Before proceeding to read this lesson, on a piece of paper write down your answer to the
question “what is ethics?” Answer: Ethics is a discipline concerned with what is good and
bad for individuals and society.

Analysis

Having a boyfriend/girlfriend is seen nowadays as common occurrence in college life.

However, it is a fact that there are parents who would allow their children to engage in such
and also there are those who disagrees. In the given activity above, the situation calls that
the parents did not allow the child to having a partner while studying. Yet, the child desires
of having one. This begs now the question of who to follow, your heart or your parents who
send you to school for your future? Thus, the question, what is right or wrong in this
situation? This is, primarily, an ethical problem.
In this module, we will discuss what is ethics?

Abstraction
What is Ethics? Ordinarily, this question does not ring a bell into one’s life. This
study seems to be not necessary in our common everyday actions or activities. The question
of right and wrong has been evaporating in our daily endeavours. As students, for example,
seem to always forget this during exams as cheating has become a way of life. In
government offices and transactions where we hear about obvious acts of corruption. In the
social media platforms, nude pictures, pornography, killings, and other acts are being
posted. In this present times the vicissitudes and complexities in our society tests our moral
principle. A straightforward answer of what is right and wrong is in doubt given these
difficulties. Thus, this necessitates a turning back to the understanding of what it is really to
be “right’ or “wrong.”
There is, indeed, a primordial concern in dealing with what is right and wrong by
understanding what is Ethics. In doing so, understanding this simple yet complex question
brings us to varied thoughts offered by many philosophers, ethicist and moralist to guide
and help us in our predicament/problem. The most common answers to our question is
that Ethics is the study of right and wrong in human endeavours. Others said that it answers
the questions “what one ought to do?” or “how should we live?” While some offers that at
a more fundamental level, it is a method by which we categorize our values and how we
pursue them. And while Aristotle talks about Eudaimonia, Kant also speaks of Duty. Many
had endeavoured to answer this question since ancient time up to the contemporary time,
though they may differ in details, yet what is obvious is the understanding that Ethics is the
study of morality of human acts. This may not be the be all and end all of ethics, however,
we will use this as our working definition in this module. This definition emphasized two
aspects, morality and human acts. These are the main concepts which need further
clarification for a better understanding of what Ethics is.
Human acts

Ethics emphasized that making moral judgments are primordially limited to human
acts. The questions, therefore, is what are these human acts? As human beings, there are
actions performed which are instinctive – meaning these are actions which are automatic
and needs no conscious effort of the performer. These are considered as acts of men. (i.e.
breathing, blinking of the eye, walking, and others.) these actions are not being judged as
good or bad as they are mere acts of men. Human acts, however, involves knowledge,
freedom and voluntariness. These three components or constituents will be discussed in
detail later in lesson two. Yet, these are the constituents of human acts, which means that
actions performed with these three present will be classified as a human act, therefore,
judgment of being good or evil can be valid and material. However, an absence of these
three constituents in an action performed falls under acts of men, thus, cannot be judged as
good or evil. However, actions performed by men but with the lesser degree of constituents
also lessens the responsibility of the doer. This will also be discussed in detailed in the
modifiers of human acts. Take for example a diagnosed psychotic person, when such
person slaps you in the face, responsibility is eliminated since there is an absence of
knowledge. Thus, one cannot judge such action of slapping as evil as it lacks one of the
constituents of human acts. Some actions, however, only have reduced responsibility or
liability depending of which type of constituent is absent or as to what degree.

Morality

Do ethics mean the same as morality? These terms are not always used in everyday
context and how they are understood are not always similar to how philosophers views
them. Morality is commonly used in connection to the ways which individual conduct their
personal and private lives, especially relating to financial integrity, lawful conduct, and
acceptable standards of interpersonal behaviour (i.e. honesty, faithfulness, and even sexual
decorum. Ethics is more often seen as codes of conduct in connection with organizational
activities and profession: in medicine, information technology, nursing and even business,
they have set of formalized set of rules and guidelines on how employees are expected to
conduct themselves in the workplace. It may include respect, justice, kindness and care for
others, and many other values which are relevant to one’s organization or group. However,
distinction may be made by some thinkers, yet in this module, the use of the terms as
interchangeable is adopted, as it is by some philosophers especially in everyday life. The
main concern here is the study and understanding of what is right, fair and just, and that
which do not harm which can be applied to varied cases and circumstances.

Application

Let’s do it!

Observe 3 family members in your household. Identify 3 actions that they perform and
categorize or classify it as either human act or an act of man. Please follow the table below.
 Name of Human Act Act of Man
family
member
Riding a bicycle Laughing
James Playing online games

Fixing tricycle Talking

Avelino Feeding chickens

Planting flowers
Fherina Washing dishes
Folding Clothes

Closure

Congratulations! You have now finished lesson 1. Always remember what you
learned here as they will be very helpful in the next lessons.