Elaugos, Janelle Ann F.

BSA 2B

REFLECTION PAPER

Does a small act of kindness matter? I have read an article about a lady who got raped at
a train station. It could have been stopped if people who passed by called the police. The neglect
of people affects one's life. It proves the reason why studying Ethics is significant in our society.
In this module, frameworks were described as the foundation that constitutes a way of viewing
reality. The three general subject areas of Ethics serve as the framework for people who study
Ethics.

When I think about my life and ethics on an individual level, I can't help but think about
how important it is to me to act ethically. Metaethics talks about the meaning, reference, and
truth of moral judgment. Sub-theories in Metaethics are contrasting. It includes cognitivism
versus non-cognitivism, universalism versus relativism, and moral empiricism versus moral
rationalism versus moral intuitionism. In Cognitivism right and wrong matter regardless of the
reason. Moral realism judges a fact objectively whereas, Ethical subjectivism judges
subjectively. On the other hand, Non-cognitivism denies that moral judgments are either true or
false. Emotivism is an example because our emotions are unstable. In the theory of
Universalism, moral facts and principles are applied to all areas in the world regardless of
different cultures. Moral Relativism theorizes that moral facts and principles are viewed
differently from one place to another. Moral Empiricism, the discovery of moral facts through
experience. Moral rationalism submits that reason alone could contend with moral facts.
Intuitionism claims that we are relying on our intuitions in distinguishing right and wrong.
Furthermore, Normative Ethics deals with issues on what we ought to do. Under Normative
Ethics are Deontology and Teleology. In Deontology, upon disobeying rules a person is deemed
to have done immoral acts. Teleology determines whether the consequence of an act is favorable
or unfavorable before concluding moral acts. Virtue Ethics emphasizes that giving importance to
moral education molds us to good habitual acts. Finally, the application of normative theories to
real-life situations refers to Applied Ethics. It deals with controversial issues wherein, its
subtopics are bioethics, environmental ethics, business ethics, sexual ethics, and social ethics.

This module has taught me a variety of moral theories. And different people may be
working within different ethical frameworks. I've realized how important it is to select a
workplace. Where my ethical values align with those of the people with whom I am working. If
they do not coincide, I will have to decide whether I want to accept our differences or whether I
want to continue working there. I struggle with ethics because I believe it is so subjective. What I
consider to be correct may be incorrect to another, and vice versa. I don't think it's fair to pass
judgment on people's decisions because they may have thought it was ethical, even if I disagree.