CHAPTER 1

ETHICS

Definition

Ethics is derived from the Greek word “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 – 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 treatises:

Nicomachean Ethics – is the name normally given to Aristotle's best-known work on ethics. The work,
which plays a pre-eminent role in defining Aristotelian ethics, consists of ten books, originally separate
scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes from his lectures at the Lyceum. The title is often
assumed to refer to his son Nicomachus, or alternatively to his father, who was also called
Nicomachus.

Eudemian Ethics –sometimes abbreviated EE in scholarly works, is a work of philosophy by Aristotle.

Its primary focus is on Ethics, making it one of the primary sources available for study of Aristotelian
Ethics. It is named for Eudemus of Rhodes, a pupil of Aristotle who may also have had a hand in
editing the final work. 

The Eudemian Ethics is less well-known than Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, and when scholars refer
simply to the Ethics of Aristotle, the latter is generally intended. The Eudemian Ethics is shorter than
the Nicomachean Ethics, eight books as opposed to ten, and some of its most interesting

Magna Moralia / Great Ethics – is a treatise on ethics traditionally attributed to Aristotle, though the
consensus now is that it represents an epitome of his ethical thought by a later, if sympathetic, writer.
Several scholars have disagreed with this, taking the Magna Moralia to be an authentic work by
Aristotle, notably Friedrich Schleiermacher, Hans von Arnim, and J. L. Ackrill. In any case, it is
considered a less mature piece than Aristotle's other ethical works, viz. the Nicomachean Ethics,
the Eudemian Ethics, and Virtues and Vices. There is some debate as to whether they follow more
closely the Eudemian or the Nicomacheanversion of the Ethics.

The name "Magna Moralia" cannot be traced further back in time than the reign of Marcus Aurelius.
Henry Jackson suggested that the work acquired its name from the fact that the two rolls into which it

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is divided would have loomed large on the shelf in comparison to the eight rolls of the Eudemian
Ethics, even though the latter are twice as long

General Ethics is about the principles of morality. It explains the norms with which the moral
significance of the human act is determined.

Special Ethics is the application of the principles of general ethics to the problems and issues
confronting a person on account of his circumstances in life, for instance, as a citizen,
neighbor, worker, wife, husband, or child. Special Ethics includes the sub-branches of
professional ethics, such as medical ethics, business ethics, legal ethics, biological
and environmental ethics.

Ethics is the science of the morality of human acts.

Human Acts – These are actions done intentionally and freely, like walking, reading, working, playing,
shopping, joining a contest, or signing a contract.

Acts of Man – These are instinctive, such as 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 judgment and
volition.

Ethics is the study of man as a moral being, one who is traditionally 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 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.

The Art of Correct Living

Art provides for what is orderly and harmonious in an artwork. Ethics is an art, “the art of correct
living”, because it teaches how we may put order and harmony in our lives. Thus, Ethics is a practical
science and differs from one that is purely speculative. Ethics is beneficial only when its truths put into
practice as rules of conduct.

Every person is expected to be decent and trustworthy. The rich and famous are challenge to live
morally upright lives, otherwise they live in vain. The poor and the ignorant are truly great people since

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most are God-fearing, patriotic, diligent, honest, helpful of others, self-respecting and protective of
their families.

Morality is not only necessary to a person but also to society. Without civic morality, communities
perish, without personal morality, survival has no value. When people do not accept the rule or law,
society crumbles.

Ethics and the Filipino

Filipinos believe in moral integrity as essential to life. However, moral norms are easily ignored for
personal interest. Corruption in government, commercialism, over population, the unequal distribution
of wealth, and the lack of economic opportunities – all contribute to the weakening of the moral resolve
of the Filipinos.

Ethics and Religion

Ethics and religion are both concerned with moral education, but they differ from each other.

- Ethics is a science and relies on reasons for its conclusions.

- Ethics teaches the value of religion, presenting it as a duty of man towards the Supreme Being.
- Religion is a system of beliefs and practices based on faith and revelation, or truths revealed to
man by God.
- Religion is an organized church, institution that contributes to the development of ethical
thought.

Ethics and religion compliments each other.

Ethical Norms and Law

The laws of society sometimes legalizes immoral acts, like Gambling, Divorce, Same-Sex-Marriages,
In-Vitro-Fertilization, most of which is accepted and practice in the Western World. Hence, what is
legal is necessary moral. Likely, human laws regulate external actions, but not thoughts and feelings.
Thinking of robbing a bank is not a crime until it is attempted, nor of lustfully looking at a young-sexy
lady. Thus, pre-meditated thoughts are not punishable under criminal or civil laws.

Ethical norms however, cover thoughts and feelings so that a person could sin because of what he
thinks or desires. A moral norm require proper spiritual disposition towards what is lawful. It is not
sufficient to do good, one must be sincere in doing what is good.