THE MAIN FEATURES

OF MORALITY
1. Can a person be exempted from
following moral norms or rules?
Why?
2. Can the majority (or the action of
the many) determine or decide
what is right or wrong? Why?
3. Can we easily identify and judge
whether an action is good or
bad?
4. Can we always come up with a
clear and easy judgment or
decision on every moral issue or
problem?
5. Do I have to be good because I
want to go to heaven or receive a
reward? (Is morality a means towards
a certain goal?) Why?
6. Is morality optional? Can I prefer
which moral rules to follow?
7. Can I judge someone as good or
bad based on the looks, personal
likes or dislikes, moods or
temperament?
The Main Features of Morality
1. Can a person be exempted from
following moral norms or rules?
Why?
NO…
“Morality is binding on those
to whom it applies.”
 1. “Morality is binding on those to whom it applies.”

…if some principles is part of morality, then

the people to whom the morality applies ought
to obey that principle…

…for being binding is part of what it means

for something to be a rule.
1. “Morality is binding on those to whom it applies.”

It would be incoherent to claim that some

rules apply to some group of people…. and
that they are not obliged to follow/adhere…
2. Can the majority (or the action of
the many) determine or decide
what is right or wrong? Why?
NO…
“Morality does not depend on
what people think.”
2. “Morality does not depend on what people think.”

…numbers do not decide right and wrong

even it has majority…

“You cannot legislate morality.”

“What is legal is not necessarily moral.”
3. Can we easily identify and judge
whether an action is good or
bad?
YES…
“There are often correct
answers to moral questions.”
3. “There are often correct answers to moral questions.”

…in spite of so many controversies regarding

certain moral issues (abortion, euthanasia and the
like), most people have no trouble
distinguishing good moral actions or
decisions from bad ones.
4. Can we always come up with a
clear and easy judgment or
decision on every moral issue or
problem?
NO…
“Despite this, morality is
sometimes unclear and
ambiguous.”
4. “Despite this, morality is sometimes unclear and ambiguous.”

The rules of morality… are not always as clear

or obvious as we all would like them to be.

This may explain why a number of individuals

argue on certain moral issues without ever
reaching some sort of an agreement
4. “Despite this, morality is sometimes unclear and ambiguous.”

Unlike rules in a chess game, moral rules, as

in life, are complex and as such, answers
don’t usually come in black and white.
5. Do I have to be good because I
want to go to heaven or receive a
reward? (Is morality a means towards
a certain goal?) Why?
NO…
“Morality is an end it itself.”
5. “Morality is an end it itself.”

We ought to be moral or good just because to

be moral is what we ought to be.

Morality is an end in itself, not just a means to

an end.
5. “Morality is an end it itself.”

Do good for goodness’ sake…

Do good or help others because that is the

right thing to do…
6. Is morality optional? Can I prefer
which moral rules to follow?
NO…
“Morality is obligatory.”
6. “Morality is obligatory.”
One cannot decide what morality he or she
would like to have. You cannot just choose
your own moral rules.

…morality obliges us to do certain things

whether we like them or not
6. “Morality is obligatory.”

…to have moral rules means one is obliged to

follow them...

Morality is not optional… it is not voluntary.

7. Can I judge someone as good or
bad based on the looks, personal
likes or dislikes, moods or
temperament?
NO…
“Morality is decided by reason
rather than emotion.”
7. “Morality is decided by reason rather than emotion.”

…moral questions/issues need to be settled through

arguments to justify one’s moral views rather than
appeal to feelings and sentiments…

There have to be reasons, good reasons why

you hold such kind of moral belief…
7. “Morality is decided by reason rather than emotion.”

Personal likes or dislike, moods or

temperament are not good arguments to
justify one’s ethical view.
ASSIGNMENT: Short Bond Paper

1. When can an act be good/right in the given

ethical theory?
2. When can an act be bad/wrong in the given
ethical theory?
3. How does the ethical theory view the human
person?
4. Is the ethical theory and its view of the human
person acceptable to you? Why?
THE ETHICAL THEORIES

1.Hedonism 6.Situation Ethics

2.Pragmatism 7.Kantian Ethics
3.Utilitarianism 8.Virtue Ethics
4.Ethical Egoism 9.Confucian Ethics
5.Ethical Relativism 10.Buddhist Ethics