FRAMEWORKS IN ETHICS

VIRTUE ETHICS

• Character based. It started by Aristotle. The focus is the cultivation of virtues and practicing
good.
 DEONTOLOGY

• Duty based. The main proponent was Kant. Its focus are the binding rules and one’s
obligation and duty to family, country, community, etc. Motivation for actions is likewise
emphasized.
 UTILITARIAN ETHICS

• Consequence based. It was founded by Jeremy Bentham. The focus are the consequences
and results and the pursuit of the common good. The goal is to maximize happiness and
minimize suffering for most people.
 RIGHTS ETHICS

• Contract based- The focus are the rights and agreement between people.
VIRTUE ETHICS
 ARISTOTLE

• 1. Telos- It mean end, purpose, fulfilment, completion, goal or aim. All actions are directed
towards a certain goal. The goal in one’s life is the highest goof (summum bonum) which for
Aristotle is eudaimonia or happiness. Happiness can be achieved through excellence in action or
called virtue. For other schools of thought the telos of human being is pleasure (Epicureanism);
life according to nature (Stoicism).
• 2. Virtue as habit- Doing well is not a one-time act to be a virtue. It must be done always in all
circumstances. Virtue is a habit of acting excellently . Further, a virtue is a mean or the balance
between pleasure and pain.
• Courage – bravery
• Temperance – moderation
• Liberality – spending
• Magnificence – charisma, style
• Magnanimity – generosity
• Ambition – pride
• Patience – temper, calm
• Friendliness – social IQ
• Truthfulness – honesty, candidness
• Wit – humor, joy
• Modesty – ego
• Justice – sense of right / wrong, indignation
EUDAIMONIA
 IDEA OF HAPPINESS

• It comes from two Greek words, eu (good) and daimon (spirit) or the state of having a good
indwelling spirit. It can also mean human flourishing or simply happiness. Eudamonia is a
rational activity and not possession of wealth and power. It is the highest human good, the only
human good that is desirable for its own sake (as an end in itself) rather than for the sake of
something else (as a means toward some other end). Human flourishing involves fulfilling one's
human potential in ways that are admirable, sustainable, and personally satisfying.
HUMAN FLOURISHING
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEDONISM AND
EUDAIMONIA

• Hedonistic tradition – The focus is the experience of happiness that is the presence of
positive effect and the absence of negative effect. Happiness is external. One can gain
happiness which is often culture bound.
• Eudemonic Tradition – The focus is living life in a full satisfying way. Happiness comes
from within. The work is to uncover the potential to be happy.
 ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
• 1. Natural Law
i. Meaning of Natural law
- Law comes from the word lex that is derived from ligare which means to bind. Law then binds
one to act. Natural law is a system of right or justice common to all. It is derived from nature and
not from statutes of humans (conventional laws). In the mind of Aquinas, natural law is the
participation in the eternal law that can only exists in the mind of God.
“The law of nature, which is “nothing else than the participation of the eternal law in the rational
creature,” thus comprises those precepts that humankind is able to formulate—namely, the
preservation of one’s own good, the fulfillment of “those inclinations which nature has taught to
all animals,” and the pursuit of the knowledge of God.”
ii. Synderesis – The natural capacity of everyone using practical reason to apprehend intuitively the
universal first principles of human action.
iii. Key features of Natural Law (Aquinas)
God is the giver of Natural Law- this is Divine providence
Humans as recipient of Natural Law- forms the principles of practical rationality, or the
principles in and through which human actions are judged.
iv. Tenets of Natural law
Law is a measure of human acts- It evaluates human acts against relevant law using reason
Natural law springs from Eternal law which is how God orders things to their proper end.
Everyone participates in the Divine order in terms of our desire and ability to discern what is good
using reason. The result of such is the Natural law.
v. Precepts (teachings) of Natural law
2. Cardinal Virtues
i. Prudence- right reason with respect to action. It is an important virtue for variety of excellences occur like memory,
intelligence, docility, shrewdness, reason, foresight, circumspection and caution.
II. Temperance- moderation of physical pleasures like eating, drinking and sex.
iiI. Fortitude or courage- it moderates those desires that prevent a daunting undertaking or difficult to attain or avoid.
iv. Justice- pertains to relationship with others where one is willing to give what is due to others.
• Types of justice
• Legal justice- governs what is common good

• Commutative justice- it is about mutual dealings. The amount of goods or service should be equal to the amount of effort/ of
what one pays for.

• Distributive justice- collective goods and responsibility are apportioned among those who belong to a social community. What
is due is measured according to one’s need. It spells out the moral obligation to help those who are less fortunate.

• Restorative justice- a meaningful engagement and accountability and provides space for healing, reparation and re-
integration.
3. Happiness
• i. Aquinas distinguished between perfect happiness (beatitude) and imperfect
happiness (Felicitas). To attain complete happiness, living a virtuous life is not
enough.
• ii. Complete happiness can only be given as grace. To facilitate perfect happiness
are the following virtues: Faith, hope and charity.
• THE END.

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