Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Module 2
Module 2
SOCIAL AND
PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
Fundamentals of Ethics
FUNDAMENTALS OF ETHICS
Definition of Ethics
1. Ethics is derived from the Greek term “ethos,” which means character or custom.
Its equivalent term in Roman is the word “mores,” from which words like morality,
morals and moral are derived.
Ethics basically concerns human actions. Human actions are judged as ethical
or unethical depending on the circumstances surrounding the same and based
on certain standards generally accepted by a particular community or group of
people.
For example: Paul Dennis went to the city to take up computer programming.
In one of his computer subjects, they were required to design a computer
program within one month. Being skillful and intelligent, not to mention naughty,
Paul Dennis was able to design a program that could transform pictures of
clothed woman into pictures of the same women in the nude. When the
semester ended, Paul Dennis decided to sell his software to friends. It sold like
hotcakes. Did Paul Dennis commit an unethical act? Well, if we accept the idea
that in looking at nude pictures of women, a person corrupts his soul, then, the
answer is yes, Paul Dennis committed an unethical act.
4. Ethics is an area of philosophy that deals with man’s pursuit of the good life.
Here, the attainment of the good life is predicated upon one’s adherence to
ethics. This is somewhat analogous to the immediately preceding definition in
the sense that ethics is used as a means to reach a particular end.
For this point of view, a web designer and programmer who produces freeware
that benefits millions of users, is doing something ethical.
5. Ethics is the study and philosophy of human conduct with emphasis on the
determination of right and wrong.
6. Ethics deals with the basic principles of right action especially with reference to a
particular person, profession and others.
The definition of ethics pertains to norms that govern human actions and
omissions in every facet of life, whether they involve people in general, or a
group of people engaged in the practice of their profession or craft in particular.
Assumptions of Ethics
Assumptions are fundamental beliefs or statements that are accepted to be
true without the burden of proving or of proof.
1. Man is a rational being.
2. Man is free.