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Chapter 1 The Ethical Dimension of Human Existence Roxas John Paul D Social Philosophy 12 Ethics Bsed IV F Day
Chapter 1 The Ethical Dimension of Human Existence Roxas John Paul D Social Philosophy 12 Ethics Bsed IV F Day
D. (ETHICS)
BSED IV-F
(DAY)
Ethics-about matters such as the good thing that we should pursue and the bad thing
that we should avoid.
KINDS OF VALUATION
Morals-refer to specific beliefs and attitudes that people have or to describe acts that
people perform. Example: Moral Judgment and Moral Reasoning
Ethics-discipline of studying and understanding ideal human behavior and ideal ways of
thinking. Example: Professional Ethics
Philosophy-rooted in the Greek words that translate to “love of wisdom”
-Philia means friendship or love while Sophia means wisdom
Metaphysics-reality
Epistemology-study of knowledge
Axiology-study of values
Descriptive Study-reports how people make their moral valuations without making any
judgments either for or against these valuations.
Normative Study-prescribes what we ought to maintain as our standards or bases for
moral valuation.
REASONING
Principles-rationally established grounds by which one justifies and maintains her moral
decisions and judgments.
Moral theory-systematic attempt to establish the validity of maintaining moral principles.
Framework-theory of interconnected ideas and a structure through which we can
evaluate our reasons for valuing certain decision or judgment.
Plato-credited as one of the pioneers of philosophy
The Apology of Socrates-written by Plato whereas in this book Socrates makes the claim
that it is the greatest good for a person to spend time thinking about and discussing
with others.
SOURCES OF AUTHORITY
1. Law
2. Religion
Divine Command Theory-foundation for ethical values; The Divinity called God, Allah or
Supreme Being commands and one is obliged to obey her Creator.
3. Culture
Subjectivism-recognition that the individual thinking person is at the heart of all moral
valuations.
Psychological Egoism-theory that describes the underlying dynamic behind all human
actions.
Ethical Egoism-prescribes that we should make our own ends and interests as the single
overriding concern.
o Platos’ Republic-a response to the assertion that one should only care about one’s
own interest.
o Socrates-one of the character in the book “The Republic” whereas he answered
the question regarding justice and the need to be just.
o Glaucon-provides a powerful restatement of the case for egoism by way of a
myth.
CHAPTER 2: UTILITARIANISM
2 Sovereign Masters:
1. Pleasure
2. Pain
Justice- respect for the rights directed toward society’s pursuit for the greatest
happiness of the greatest number.
Rights- are a valid claim on society and are justified by utility.
Legal rights- are neither inviolable nor natural but rights are object to some
exceptions.
Moral Rights- take precedence over legal rights.
-are only justifiable by considerations of greater overall happiness.
CHAPTER 3: NATURAL
LAW
THOMAS AQUINAS
THOMAS AQUINAS- a Dominican friar who was the preeminent intellectual figure of
the scholastic period of the Middle Ages contributing to the doctrine of faith more
than any other figure for this time.
SUMMA THEOLOGIAE- Aquinas magnum opus, is voluminous work that
comprehensively discusses many significant points in Christian Theology.
Unnatural- LBGT community and to judgement that two people at the same sex
being together.
Natural Law- part of larger discussion
Moral Theory- part of larger project
1. Aquinas speak of God and although we acknowledge that our limited human
intellect cannot fully grasp him, we nevertheless are able to say some recognizing his
goodness, his might and his creative power.
2. Deals with a man or the dynamic of human life.
3. Focuses on Jesus is our savior.
The Christian Life-is about developing the capacities given to us by God into a
disposition of virtue inclined toward the good.
Command Theory- urges a person toward in thinking obedience to religious precepts.
Neoplatonic Good- God Creates
The Republic- Plato’s work, is often to supposed that Plato is trying to envision the
ideal society.
Idea of the Good- a good which a prior to all being will become a source or
fascination and inspiration to later thinkers went to this day.
Neoplatonists-later scholar at Neoplatonic Good
“One and the Beautiful”-oneness that will give to rise to tie multiplicity of everything
else in the cosmos.
BECOMING 4 CONCEPTS
1. Material cause
2. Formal cause
3. Efficient cause
4. Final cause
Material cause- certain
materiality of physical
“stuff”.
Formal cause- “shapes”
makes as being particular
kind can be called its form.
Efficient cause- there is something which brings about the presence of another
being.
Final cause- purpose, apparent end or goal “for that the sake of which”.
New Pair of Principle-refer to the potency and act
Nature-particular from the materiality makes a being certain kind of being, the
unique way that we have been created.
1. Civil Law
2. Criminal Law
Matter of Violence- ideal sense of directing us to common good but instead is unjust.
Divine Law- refers to specifically to the instances where we have percepts or
instructions that come from divine revelation.
Ethical Issue-hotly contested in some parts of the world is whether abortion is
acceptable.
Epistemic Concern- know we pursue the truth and social concern which is that we
know we live in a relation to others.
3 INCLINATIONS
Natural Law Theory- instrumental to an ethics that is rooted in the Christian Faith.
“post-truth”- more and more becoming habituated disregard or at least to do the
truth.
CHAPTER 4: DEONTOLOGY
DEONTOLOGY
AUTONOMY
Kant claims that the property of the rational will is autonomy, which is the opposite
of
heteronomy.
autos, heteros, nomos which mean “self”, “other” and “law”.
Autonomy means self-law and heteronomy means other law.
Free choice- the choice that can be determined by pure reason.
Animal Choice or Arbitrium Brutum-human freedom in connection with its capacity to
intervene or to mediate.
Human choice-is a choice that may indeed be affected but not determined by
impulses.
UNIVERSALIZABILITY
1. Action
2. Maxim
3. Will
4. Universal Law