Module 1: ETHICS

By: FERDINAND M. DE LA CRUZ

COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR I
CAVITE STATE UNIV. (Bacoor Campus )
 I. MEANING OF ETHICS
 DERIVES FROM THE GREEK WORD “ETHOS” OR ETHIKOS WHICH
MEANS “ HABIT / CUSTOM / CHARACTER.
REFER TO THE SET OF MORAL CHOICES A PERSON.
MORAL PHILOSOPHY WHICH IS CONCERNED WITH HUMAN
VALUES.
DISCERNMENT OF WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG.
BRANCH OF PHILOSOPHY – CONCEPT OF RIGHT OR WRONG.
 DEFINITIONS OF ETHICS
The practical science of the morality of human actions.
The scientific inquiry into principles of morality
The science of human acts with reference to right and wrong
The study of human conduct from standpoint of morality
The study of rectitude of human conduct
The science which lays down the principles of right living
  SCIENCE – Systematic study or a system of scientific
conclusions clearly demonstrated, derived from clearly
established principles & duly coordinated.
Scientific Inquiries- Investigation, Survey, Hypothesis, Conclusion
MORALITY- The quality of right or wrong in human acts.
HUMAN ACTS- Acts done with knowledge and consent.
LIFE IS NOT A SERIES OF CHANCES , IT IS A SERIES OF CHOICES.
HOW YOU LIVE, GOOD OR BAD- IS A CHOICE
 II. HISTORY OF ETHICS

1. Socrates (470-399 B.C ) the philosophy of self knowledge, considered

the “The Father of Ethics” & Founder of “Western Philosophy”.
2. A Greek Philosopher and as being the first moral philosopher of the
western ethical tradition of thought.
• “Know thy Self”. His famous precept or a guiding principle.
 meaning -knowing one’s own character can be important & can be
aware of one’s limitations.
 HISTORY OF ETHICS
2. Plato- 428-348 BC - Also, a Greek Philosopher
famous works, History of Ancient Greece & founder of Western Religion
& “The Republic”.
He maintain a virtue based on (eudemonistic), meaning- a conception of
ethics that is happiness or well-being is the highest aim of moral thought
and conduct , the virtues (excellence) are requisite skills & dispositions
needed to attain it.
 HISTORY OF ETHICS
3. Aristotle- 384-322 BC- Also, a Greek Philosopher
The widely considered “Nicomachean Ethics” – best known work of ethics of the most important
historical philosophical works, and had impact upon the European Middle Ages.
It is nature of good life for a human being.
Right course of action rather than applying a rule of law.
Teacher of Alexander the Great- conqueror of Asia minor & greatest general in the ancient
history.
Aristotelian Ethics - Ethics is the attempt to offer a rational response to the questions of how
humans should best live. Ethics examines the good of individual since the purpose of ethics is to
become good, not merely to know.
 HISTORY OF ETHICS
4. St. Thomas Aquinas- (1225-1274 A. D) was an Italian Philosopher &
Theologian during the medieval period. Doctor of the Catholic Church.
St. Thomas Aquinas’ Natural Law Ethics – written in the heart of men
made known to us by reason and which requires the observance of moral
order.
Influential philosopher of a Catholic doctrine.
 KINDS OF ETHICS
1. ORGANIZATIONAL ETHICS
Moral principles that defines right or wrong in the organization.
- The ethics of an organization & how the organization responds to internal
/external stimulus. ( impulse / reactions/ emotions )
Examples:
Business Operations ( Acts of fairness, Compassion, Integrity, Honor,
Responsibilities, Accountability, Commitment ).
2. CODE OF ETHICS
• Is a set of principles that is used to guide the organization in its decisions.
Example: Programs, Policies, Rules, Standards
For: Military Ethics, Teachers Ethics. Political Ethics, Medical Ethics
3. CORPORATE ETHICS or BUSINESS ETHICS
• Professional ethics that examines principles & moral process that arise in
the business environment .
Example: CVSU Missions / Visions
 RELATIONS OF ETHICS WITH OTHER
SCIENCES
1. LOGIC
 STUDIES THE RULES OF VALID REASONING
 RIGHT THINKING
@ Relation - Ethics a science of right living, Both ethics and logic aims of rectitude
(righteousness, corrections.)
2. PSYCHOLOGY –Study of human behavior while ethics how man ought to behave.
@ Relation - Ethics is concerned with moral obligation
while Psychology is not concerned.
 3. SOCIOLOGY
 Deals with human relations in a society.
 Social – means relating to the society & it’s organization.
Example: Community, Collective group, Party gathering, Reunion
@ Relation: Ethics deals with the moral order which includes the social
order.
Moral Disorder or Anti-Social- lack consideration for the well being of others
or actions that harm (videoke in the middle of the night, noisy neighbors)
 4. ECONOMICS
• is the proper allocation & efficient use of available resources for the maximum
satisfaction of human wants.
• A social science concerned with man’s problem of using scarce resources to
satisfy human wants.
• Examples: Inflation, salaries & wages, unemployment, trades, production of
factory, etc.
• Law of demand & supply – The greater the supply and the lesser the demand,
price lower, the higher the demand and the lesser supply, price increases.
• @ Relation: Economies must based on justice, fairness, & morality so that
peace and prosperity will prevail.
• “Man does not live by bread alone but by the words of God.” Matthew 4:4
5. EDUCATION

• It develops the whole man of moral character, intellectual &

physical capacities.
• Set the standard of what is acceptable & what is not.
• Protecting the interest of both teachers & students.
• Can discern moral & immoral characters.
• @ Relation - Ethics emphasize right attitude such as “good
manners and right conduct.” How we behave as an educated
person.
6. MORALITY

Moral means concerned with the principles of right or wrong behavior.

Goodness or badness of human character.
The quality of human acts by which we call them right or wrong , good or evil.
Examples: Integrity, Honesty, Accountable, Respectful, Fairness
IMMORAL- Not conforming to accepted standards of morality.
Examples: Corruption, Discrimination, Marital Infidelity, Cheating, Lying
@Relation: Ethics & Morality combined to discern, what is moral & immoral.
Example: Abortion is immoral
 7. LAW
• Rule of Action
• System of rules that are created & enforced through social & government institutions to regulate behavior.
• @Relation: Moral law- determine what is right or wrong. Moral law / divine law given by God to Moses. The
Ten Commandments (Exodus 20).
• Ten Commandments was summarized into two commandments
1. Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, will all your mind, with all your soul
2. Love thy neighbors as you love yourself” Luke 10:27
3. Oldest law- The Code of Hammurabi Law- 1755 B.C Babylonian Code of Law found in Irag
Example: Ignorance of the law excuses no one?
Can ignorance of the law be used as a defense?
Ignorance – (Kamangmangan) lack of knowledge or information.
Example: Sa Classroom may Batas, Bawal Lumabas – by actress, Kim Chui is a classic example of ECQ
lockdown during on-going pandemic.
 8. RELIGION- A system of belief & worship of super human controlling power especially God, or gods

•Latin word “RELIGERE means to bind together.

•@Relation= governed by conscience, inner sense of what is right or wrong in one’s conduct.
•Conscience- inner feeling, voice as acting guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior.
•Atheist- did not believe that God exist.
•Agnostics- The absence of knowledge of a God’s existence. Does not know whether there is God or not.
Question: Which is worse?
The names of God or gods in different religions:
Christianity - God Almighty / God, the Father in heaven and His son, Jesus Christ (source: Bible)
Jews / Israel - Yahweh, Jehovah, God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Torah/ Old Testament)
Islam – Allah (Koran) Hinduism – Krishna (History of India)
Buddhism – Buddha (History of East Asia) Ancient Filipino – Bathala (Phil. History)
Note: Be careful whose god you are calling!!!
What is your perception about this
picture?
 10. POLITICAL
Aims at good government for the temporal welfare of the citizens.
-Good governance & Social Responsibility / democratic / transparent / pro-poor / integrity
The Three Branches of Government;
 1. Legislative (Congress & Senate)
 2. Judiciary (Supreme Courts, RTC Courts, etc. )
3. Executive (Presidential & Cabinet Secretaries)
Kinds of government in the world
1. Democratic 2. Communist 3. Socialism 4. Monarchy 5. Theocracy 6. Dictatorship
All government is good, It becomes problematic when it becomes immoral due to:
Graft, Corruption, Frauds, Dynasty, Incompetent, Favoritism or Nepotism, Injustice,
Discrimination (Race, Religion, Gender, etc.)
 Kinds of World Government
1. Democracy- From Greek word “ Demus” People & “Kratus” Power
• Famously defined by Abraham Lincoln, the greatest American President
• “ Government of the people, by the people, for the people”
• It is a system of government in which people choose leaders by voting or election.
• Characteristics: Associated with Capitalism & Colonialism
• Capitalism- economic system, where the means of production are owned by private
individual. Free Enterprise, Profit motive, Freedom of Competition
• Best example countries: Philippines, USA, Canada, France, etc
 COMMUNISM
•Latin: Communis means common universal
•Defined as a system where all property is public and people work & are given things by the government according to their
needs,
•In economics, factors of production & distribution are owned & managed by the government.
•Characteristics of Communism:
•Classless society (Equality- no rich & no poor)
•No private ownership (no possession)
•No Free Competitions (the government is the only seller)
•No Economic Freedom- Regulated markets
•No Profit Motive
•Best example countries: China, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam,
•NPA insurgents in the Philippines as founded by Jose Maria Sison
•Karl Max – German Philosopher & Father of Communism & Socialism
 SOCIALISM
• Latin; Sociare, which means “To Share” To combine”
• Political & Economic System where the State owns the general means of
production.
• Everyone works for wealth & the government distributed to the citizen.
• The major strategic companies are owned by the government.
• The minor companies belong to the private sector
• It is a combination of capitalism and communism (Mixed Economy)
• Best example countries- Russia, Venezuela, Central Asia
 Monarchy
• Greek word: Monarchia means “Absolute Rule & Power”
• A political system based on the sovereignty of a single ruler
• Queen Elizabeth of Britain
• King Salman of Saudi Arabia
• King Felipe of Spain
• Best example countries: United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Jordan,
Malaysia, Thailand
 THEOCRACY
• Greek word; Theos means God or gods & Krateo means “To Rule”
• A system/form of government in which religious leaders rule usually
invoking the name of God/gods (priests, Imam, pastor), based on the
religion of a given country.
• Best example countries: Iran, Afghanistan, Vatican in Italy
• World History: Roman Empire (now Italy), Japanese Emperor,
Babylonian Empire ( Now, Iraq )
 MILITARY DICTATORSHIP
• A dictatorship in which the military exerts complete control over political
authority.(another term “Fascist”) a forceful suppression of any
opposition. (Martial Law )
• Best example countries: Myanmar, Libya
• During World War 2 (Japan, Italy, Germany)
• Famous Military Dictator in the world for their brutality in WW 2
• Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany who massacre 6 million Jews (Israelis)
• Tomoyuki Yamashita of Imperial Japan- who massacre 100,000 Filipinos
in Metro Manila during battle of Manila.
11. ARTS

Stands for Beauty (Aesthetics )- Deals with

beauty / appreciation of beauty.
@ Relation- moral goodness / art of beauty
Constituents Arts – Music, Drama, Poetry, Dance,
Painting, Photography, Architectural Design, etc.
PHILOSOPHY

• PHILOSOPHY- LOVE OF WISDOM – study of fundamental questions,

such as those of reason, existence, knowledge, values, mind & language.

• GREEK WORD –
• PHILOS – LOVE /FOND
• SOPHIA – WISDOM /SKILLS/ PURE
• @Relation: Concerned with what is morally good and bad or morally right &
wrong.
Reference:

• Ethics, Ruben A. Corpus, AB English-Philo, LIB, PhD

• and Brenda Corpuz, BSE, MAEd, PhD
• Business Ethics, Vol. 1 (2012), James Brusseaue
• Ethics, The Science and Art of Life, 3rd Edition , 1985 Felix
Montemayor
 REMEMBER

• Mistakes are inevitable

Correct it, if you must. Move on.
Forget the mistake,
but remember the lesson. Please!
 THANK YOU
VERY MUCH !!!