CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

• ETHICS

The formal study of ethics goes back at two thousand four hundred (2400) years,
To the Greek philosopher Socrates.
In layman’s term “ETHICS” broadly describes the way in which we look at the under-stand life, in
terms of GOOD and BAD or RIGHT and WRONG.
 TOPICS FOR THIS CHAPTER

Relativism
Divine Command Theory
Ethical Egoism
Consequentialism
Kantianism
Persuasive Power of Ethics and the law
RELATIVISM
 RELATIVISM

• Relativism is theory that there is no universal moral norm of right and wrong .This idea holds
that various persons or groups of people can have polar opposite opinions about moral issues and
both can be true. Subjective Relativism and Cultural Relativism are two types of relativism in
specific.
 SUBJECTIVE RELATIVISM

• Asserts that each person must determine for himself what is morally right or wrong. "What's
good for you may not be right for me" is a commonly held belief associated with subjective
relativism.
Cultural Relativism

is the view that moral or ethical

systems, which vary from culture to
culture, are all equally valid and no
one system is really “better” than
any other.

This means that NO MORAL OR

ETHICAL SYSTEM CAN BE
CONSIDERED THE “BEST,” or
“WORST,” and no particular moral
or ethical position can actually be
considered “right” or “wrong.”
People with different
backgrounds can help each other see
possibilities that they never thought
were there because of
LIMITATION or CULTURAL
PROSCRIPTIONS posed by their
own traditions.
One cannot criticize the practices and beliefs of another culture.

• This is an odd practice that makes a woman more attractive to a possible mate; and signs of
beauty and wealth. This starts from 5 years and old, and add more rings as they age.
• The neck ring worn by women is
• made from either brass or gold
• which identifies their wealth.
• Long term effects of this practice
• is that is can cause paralysis
One cannot criticize the practices and beliefs of one’s culture.

• Majority of us Filipinos have this practice of asking for ‘pamasko’

during Christmas season. We would knock at doors and look for elders
or our godparents to ask and receive our presents.

• Filipinos are fond of superstitions. We would believe and comply

because of the popular statement, “wala naming mawawala”. If
done otherwise, elders would reprimand us
 CULTURAL RELATIVISM

• Summing up Cultural Relativism:

• Different cultures have different moral codes.

• Therefore, there is no objective “truth” in morality. Right and wrong are only matters of opinion,
and opinions vary from culture to culture.