BRANCHES OF

PHILOSOPHY
PREPARED BY:
LANNIE A. BAYKING
Epistemology
Ethics
Aesthetics
Political Philosophy
Logic
What is Epistemology?
Is the study of the nature and scope
of knowledge and justified belief. It
analyzes the nature of knowledge and
how it relates to similar notions such
as truth, belief and justification. It also
deals with the means of production of
knowledge, as well as skepticism
about different knowledge claims.
Epistemological Questions:

What is knowledge?
How is knowledge
acquired?
How do we know
what we know?
Is human knowledge
trustworthy?

Can our senses be

trusted?
What is the difference
between opinion,
knowledge and
wisdom?
KNOWLEDGE
is gathered from learning and
education. It is merely having
clarity of facts and truths.
WISDOM
is gathered from day-to-day
experiences and is state of being
wise. It is a practical ability to make
consistently good decisions in life.
 Explores the nature
and limitations of
knowledge
 Definition of
knowledge
Investigates how
knowledge is
obtained
 Explores the EPISTEMOLOGY
relationship
between belief, truth
and knowledge
Epistemology is the
explanation of how we think. It
is required in order to be able
to determine the true from the
false, by determining a proper
method of evaluation. It is
needed in order to use and
obtain knowledge of the world
around us.
Ethics
Questions:

 How should we live?

 What is good and evil?
 What is the best way to live?
 What is Justice?
 Is right and wrong the same
everywhere or different
everywhere?
ETHICS
• A code of moral standards of
conduct for what is “good” and
“right” as opposed to what is
“bad” or “wrong”.
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
• That which is “right”or “good”in
the context of governing moral
code.
• Ethical behavior is value driven.
 FOUR BRANCHES OF ETHICS

DISCRIPTIVE ETHICS
- Deals with what people actually
believe (or made to believe) to be
right or wrong, and accordingly
holds up the human actions
acceptable or not acceptable or
punishable under a custom or law.
NORMATIVE ETHICS

- Deals with “norms” or set of

considerations how one
should react. The Golden rule
of normative ethics is “doing
to other as we want them to
do to us”.
META ETHICS or ANALYTICAL
ETHICS
-Deals with the origin of the ethical
concepts themselves. It does not
consider whether an action is good or
bad, right or wrong. Rather it questions
– What goodness or rightness or
morality itself is? It is basically a highly
abstract way of thinking about ethics
APPLIED ETHICS
Deals with the philosophical
examination , from a moral standpoint,
of particular issues in private and public
life which are matters of moral
judgment. This branch of ethics is most
important for professionals in different
walks of like including doctors,
teachers, administrators, rulers and so
on
 An Ethic Based on Individuals
INDIVIDUALS :
 Have equal political rights
Deserve to be treated fairly
Have the right to live as they want, as long as they
do not harm the rights of others
 THIS INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO LIVE BADLY

A GOOD SOCIETY IS ONE THAT TREATS

INDIVIDUALS FAIRLY AND PROTECTS THEIR
RIGHTS. THIS REQUIRES:

1. Efficient, non-corrupt government and business

2. A clean, non-toxic environment
 An Ethic Based on Relationships,
Family and Community
REQUIRES:

Loyalty
Honor
Friendships
Humility
Self- sacrifices
A clean, non – toxic environment

A good individual has the qualities that promote

stable, long-lasting relationships, families, and
communities.
FACTORS INFLUENCING ETHICAL BEHAVIOR

THE PERSON
- Family influences, religious values,
personal standards, and personal needs.
THE ORGANIZATION
-Supervisory behavior, peer group norms
and behavior, and policy statements and
written rules.
THE ENVIRONMENT
- Government laws and regulations,
societal norms and values, and competitive
climate in an industry.
 RED FLAGS!
If you hear someone say any of these , you can
expect something and unethical is about to
happen!
1. “Well, maybe just this once”.
2.“No one will ever know”.
3.“It doesn’t matter how it gets done as long as
it gets done”.
4.“Everyone does it”.
5.“Don’t worry its part of the culture”.
6.“Shred that document”.
7.“We can hide it”.
8.“I don’t want to know”.
 WHO ARE YOU
WHEN NOBODY IS
WATCHING ?