LESSON 1-ETHICS AND IT’S

KEY CONCEPT

THE PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOR

IN MODERN SOCIETY by JENS MICAH DE
GUZMAN
WHAT IS ETHICS?

 ETHICS is the branch of Philosophy that studies morality or the rightness or

wrongness of human conduct.
 The word ‘ethics’ is derived from the Greek word ethos, which means
‘character’ or in plural, ‘manners’.

 MORALITY speaks of a code or system of behavior in regards to standards of

right or wrong behavior.

*take note: The 2 terms (ethics and morality), especially their adjective form
(ethical and moral) are used interchangeably.
Importance Of Ethics

Montemayor (1994) proclaims that the importance of the study of ethics follows immediately from
the importance of ethics itself. His idea is manifested in the following:
 1. Ethics means right living and good moral character and it is in good moral character that man
finds his true worth and perfection.

 2. Education is the harmonious development of the whole man-of all man’s faculties: the
moral, intellectual, and physical powers in man. Now then highest of man’s power are his
reason and will. Hence, the primary objective of education is the moral development of the
will.
Questions that are ethical in nature:

 What is good?
 Who is a moral person?
 What are the virtues of human being?
 What makes an act right?
 What duties do we have to each other?
I. The importance of RULES
I. The importance of RULES

 RULES refer to explicit or understood regulations or principles governing

conduct within a specific activity or sphere.
Rules tell us what is or is not allowed in a particular context or situation. In many
ways, rules serve as a foundation for any healthy society. Without rules, society
would fall into anarchy.
*not all rules are moral.
How rules can benefit social beings?
(The importance of RULES)

 Rules protect social beings by regulating behavior.

 Rules help to guarantee each person certain rights and
freedom.
 Rules produce a sense of justice among social beings.
 Rules are essential for a healthy economic system.
II. MORAL STANDARDS
VS. NON-MORAL
STANDARDS
Non-moral Standards

Non-Moral standards refer to rules

that are unrelated to moral or
ethical considerations.
*not all standards are moral
standards.
II. MORAL STANDARDS VS. NON-MORAL
STANDARDS
Moral standards involve the rules people
have about the kinds of actions they believe
are morally right and wrong, as well as
values they place on the kinds of objects
they believe are morally good and morally
bad. Some ethicists equate moral standards
with moral values and moral principles.
Characteristics of Moral Standards
 Moral standards involve serious wrongs or significant
benefits
 Moral standards ought to be preferred to other values
 Moral standards have the trait of universalizability
 Moral standards are not established by authority figures.
 Moral standards are based on impartial considerations.
 Moral standards are associated with special emotions (such
as guilt and shame) and vocabulary (such as right, wrong,
good, and bad).
III. Dilemma and
Moral Dilemma
III. Dilemma and Moral Dilemma

DILEMMA refers to a situation in which a tough choice has to be

made between 2 or more options, especially more or less
equally undesirable ones.
*not all dilemmas are moral dilemmas.
MORAL DILEMMA (ETHICAL DILEMMA) refers to situations in
which a difficult choice has to be made between 2 courses of
action, either of which entails transgressing a moral principle.
Key features of Moral Dilemma

 A. the agent is required to do each of 2 or more

actions
 B. the agent can do each of the actions; but the
agent cannot do both (or all) of the actions.
3 levels of Moral Dilemma
 1. Personal Dilemmas are those experienced and resolved on the personal level.
Example: a husband who had to choose between the life of his child who is about to
be delivered by his wife.
 2. Organizational Dilemmas refer to ethical cases encountered and resolved by
social organization. This category includes moral dilemmas in business, medical
fields, public sector, etc.
Example: a doctor that had to administer euthanasia (mercy killing). The doctor
would be conflicted on his professional oath of saving lives but then had to kill the
patient.
 3. Structural Dilemmas refer to cases involving network of institutions and
operative theoretical paradigms, this encompasses multi-sectoral institutions.
Example: The President of a country who had to choose between allowing businesses
to operate in order for the economy to recover to support those who are in need or
continue the lockdown for people to be safe from the virus.
IV. ‘Only human beings can be ethical’

 Only human beings can be Ethical (lifted from the book of De Guzman, (2017) -Ethics:
Principles of Ethical Behaviour in Modern Society)
a. Only human beings are rational, autonomous, and self-conscious
b. Only human beings can act morally or immorally
c. Only human beings are part of the moral community

Freedom as a foundation of Morality*

THANK YOU FOR
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