ETHICS

PROF. RONEL RIO ALIGAM

LECTURE HANDOUT 1: Why do we
need to study ethics and the importance of
rules.
 OVERVIEW: This module addresses the importance of moral standards and
how they differ from other rules in life. It teaches the advantage of owning moral
standards (morality and ethics) over merely abiding by moral standards. the first
part lays the groundwork- the meaning of ethics- and leads the students through
the analysis of human experience, linking it to the elements of the ethical
dimension. The first part serves as an initial discussion into the subject matter.
Here we recognize ethics as a significant dimension of human existence, and start
to explore how we may engage in careful ethical thinking.
OBJECTIVES:

At the end of lecture/ handout 1, the student will be able to:

 Understand the in-depth meaning of moral and social values like cooperation, social
responsibility, respect for human rights, compliance with the law and peace preservation.
 Understand the principles of ethical behavior in modern society at the level of the person,
society, and interaction with the environment and other shared resources.
 Develop a conscious ethical sense and become critical in choosing a moral philosophy to
live by.
 Learn from cautiously filtered supplemental online lectures, take exciting automated fun
quiz games, and engage in intellectual discussions with other people online and in class.
 Help develop critical attitudes about various moral theories.
Introduction/overview
Ethics
 Ethics is a branch of philosophy that studies morality or the rightness or wrongness of
human conduct.
 Morality speaks of a code or system of behavior in regards to standards of right and
wrong behavior, Click to add text
 Ethics evaluates moral concepts, values, principles, and standards. It is concerned with
norms of human conduct.
 Ethics is considered a normative study of human actions
What is ethics?
 As a branch of Philosophy, ethics stands to queries about where there is reason to do.
Dealing with human actions and reasons for action, ethics is also concerned with
character. In fact, the word ethics is derived from the Greek “ethos”, which means
“character”, or in plural “manners”.

 Some questions that are ethical in nature are: What is the 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?
What is ethics?
 Also called moral philosophy, ethics evaluates moral concepts, values, principles, and
standards. Because it is concerned with norms of human conduct, ethics is considered
a normative study of human actions.

 Ethics ensure a generally agreed standard work-related behavior that empowers

professionals to foster moral values through their work. Ethics gives a sense of
justification in one’s judgment, and helps ensure that decisions at work are not made
based on purely subjective factors. Without the study of ethics, the practice of one’s
profession will fall prey to vastly conflicting individual interpretations.

Clearly, ethics and morality necessarily carry the concepts of moral standards or rules
with regard to behavior. So as way of introducing moral rules, let us discuss why rules are
important to social beings.
Importance of Rules to Social Beings

 Humans in general, do not live in isolation. Instead an individual is a member of a

community of people whose common goal is to survive and thrive. As human societies
evolved, they found that human communities have better chances to survive if they
work together; and that working together is more effective when there is a system in
place. One of the systems that humans developed are standards that guide human
activities, or simply, “rules”.
Rules benefit social beings in various
manners:

A. Rules protect social beings by regulating behavior. Rules build boundaries and place
limits on behavior. Rules are usually coupled with means to impose consequences on
those who violate them. One of the reasons people follow accepted rules is to avoid
negative consequences.

B. Rules help to guarantee each person certain rights and freedom. Rules form
frameworks for society. Nations are generally nations of laws and the governing
principles are outlined in what is called constitution. Because the majority has agreed
to follow and consent to be governed by such a constitution, the freedom outlined
exists
Rules benefit social beings in various
manners:

C. Rules produce a sense justice among social beings. Rules are needed in order to keep
the strong from dominating the weak, that is, to prevent exploitation and domination.
Without rules, schemes in which those with the power control the system, would take
over.

D. Rules are essential for a healthy economic system. Without rules regulating business,
power would centralize around monopolies and threaten the strength and
competitiveness of the system. Rules are needed to ensure product safety, employee
safety, and product quality.
LECTURE HANDOUT 2 - MORAL
VS. NON-MORAL STANDARDS

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of lecture handout 2, the student will be able to:

 Understand the importance of having moral standards

 Know the characteristics of moral standards that set it apart from non-moral standards

 Cite examples of moral and non-moral standards

Overview
Moral vs. Non-Moral Standards
 Non-moral standards refer to rules that are unrelated to moral ethical considerations.
 Not all rules are moral and not all standards are moral standards.
 Moral standards involve serious wrongs or significant benefits.
 Moral standards are not only rules or principles in society, but they take precedence
over other considerations, including aesthetic, prudential, and even legal ones.
 Moral standard are based on impartial considerations
 Impartiality is usually depicted as being free of bias or prejudice. It requires that we
give equal and/or adequate consideration to the interests of all concerned parties.
 Moral standards are associated with special emotions and vocabulary.
What are moral standards?
 Moral standards are those concerned with or relating to human behavior, especially the
distinction between good and bad (or right or wrong) behavior. It has been observed
that this intrinsic code of honor is already present in children, and it continually
undergoes revisions as the child matures and influenced by his or her surroundings.
Moral standards deal with matters that the person thinks have serious consequence.
However, these standards are not hinged on external authorities or rules, but based on
good reason and impartial considerations overriding self-interest. Feelings of guilt and
shame are often associated when the person goes against his or her moral standards.
Characteristics of Moral Standards that
set its part from Non-moral Standard

1. Moral standards involve behaviors that seriously affect other people’s well- being. It
can either profoundly injure or benefit a person or persons.

2. Moral standards take a more important consideration than other standards, including
self-interest.

3. Moral standards do not depend on any external authority but in how the person
perceives the reasonableness of the action
Characteristics of Moral Standards that
set its part from Non-moral Standard

4. Moral standards are believed to be universal. Thus, when you truly believe an act is
wrong you also will not agree or consent when other people commit what you
consider a wrongful act. On the other hand, if you believe an action is morally right,
then you will also support other people doing such acts.

5. Moral standards are based on objectivity.

6. Moral standards are associated with vocabulary that depicts emotion or feelings.
What are non-moral standards?
 Non-moral standards can be considered as relative standards by which something or
someone is judged as either good or bad. The rules of non-moral standards vary
because these rules depend on the guidelines agreed by a particular group. These refer
to rules that are unrelated to moral or ethical considerations. Either these standards are
not necessarily linked to morality or by nature lack ethical sense. For example, when
you take a picture in the dark with no flash; when you wear a sleeveless shirt and
shorts on a very formal occasion; or you write a grammatically incorrect essay- you
have violated certain standards. In the sample situations, you violated no-moral
standards in rules of: technique, fashion standards, and grammar, etiquette, rules in
games, and various house rules.
Moral Standards versus Other Rules in
Life
 Etiquette is a set of rules on how an individual should responsibly behave in the
society (Taylor and Williams, 2017). Table manners such as the proper use of utensils
and the proper manner of eating are examples of etiquette. Meanwhile, policy is a
clear, simple statement of how an organization plans to handle its services, actions, or
business. Policies are guiding rules to help with decision making.

 On the other hand, a law is a rule created and enforced by the government and its
agencies to maintain order, resolve disputes, and protect a person’s liberty and rights.

 Finally, a commandment is a rule that is to be strictly observed because it was said to

be set by a divine entity, such as those in the Ten Commandments.
What is the advantage of owning moral standards
over merely abiding by moral standards?

 For most people, the fundamental moral question is, “What should I do?” or ”How
should I act?” Ethics are presumed as moral rules on how a person should act. For
example, “every person is obligated to do the greatest good for the most number of
people.” There is also a philosophy that “everyone is obligated to act in ways that
upholds the human dignity for all people.” Moral principles like these guide the
practice of various professions (professional ethics).
 But is that all there is to ethics? Is ethics just about following rules of do’s and
don’ts? This obsession with rules somehow neglects the more important aspect of
being a human person and that is becoming what you should be. In other words, the
more “important question for ethics is not “What should I do?” but “What kind of
person should I be?”
References

 Agapay, R., Ethics And The Fiipino: A Manual On Morals For Students And Educators, 2 nd
Edition, National Book Store Inc., Mandaluyong City, 2010
 Babor, E., Ethics: The Philosophical Discipline Of Action, Updated Edition, Rex Book
Store Inc., Manila, 2008
 Bulaong, O.G. Jr., et al., Ethics: Foundation Of Moral Valuation, First Edition, Rex Book
Store, C.M. Recto Avenue, Manila, 2018
 De Guzman, J.M., et al., Ethics: Principles of Ethical Behavior In Modern Society, CHED
Curriculum Guide Compliance, Mutya Publishing House, Inc.,Malabon City, 2017
 Gallinero, B.,et al., Ethics, Mutya Publishing House, Inc., Malabon City, 2018
 Montemayor, F., Ethics: The Philosophy Of Life, National Book Store Inc., Mandaluyong
City, 2010
 Pasco, M. D., et al., Ethics, C &E Publishing, Inc., Quezon City, 2018
THANK YOU!

PROF. RONEL RIO ALIGAM