ETHICS

Philosophy (Greek: Philia=Love and Sophia=Wisdom) was invented by Pythagoras, a Greek

Philosopher, who noted that there are three types of man:
A. A lover of pleasure
B. A lover of success
C. A lover of wisdom (superior type)

It doesn’t mean that you like to possess wisdom but to search for it.

Pythagoras thought that man can never perfectly possess a comprehensive understanding of
all that is meant y wisdom but is only in continuous and ardent pursuit of it. Only God can be
called wise. We can only be lovers of wisdom; we can never be wise.

Philosophy is the science of all things by their first causes as known in light if reason.

1. Philosophy as a Science
The word Science comes from the word “scire” (to know). Science, is not just any kind of
knowledge; it is a scientific knowledge. Now, a scientific knowledge is knowledge of causes of
things. A man truly has the science of something only of he has knowledge of its causes. To
advance in one’s understanding, the “why” of things must be addressed, not merely the
“what”.
IE: The mere knowledge that ice is cold and that stone is hard is not science. But the
knowledge why ice is cold and why stone is hard is science.
If we know only the fact, then we have mere knowledge of it. If we know the reasons for the
fact, then we have scientific knowledge of it.

Certitude - Natural result of knowing not only the facts but also their causes.

Philosophy is a science because it seeks to acquire the knowledge of the causes of things. It
does not rest on opinion or mere belief but purposes the cause of things. Moreover when
philosophy reaches its final stage and brings itself to perfection.

Cognito per causes - a knowledge of things attained by an investigation of their causes

2. Philosophy as the Science of All things

Philosophy is the science of all contingent things. Contingency is depending on something else
that might or might not happen. It deals with concrete, real and contingent things. It deals with
all intellectual endeavours.
IE: God enters into the picture because contingent beings cannot be understood without
positing the existence of this self-sufficient being we call God.

3. Philosophy as known in light of reason

Philosophy is the science of all things by their first causes known in light of natural reason
(philosophy seeks the first causes of things as fas as they can be rationally established by the
human mind unaided by Divine Revelation).

Natural Theology - Principal subjects = contingent beings

Secondary subjects = God
Revealed Theology - Principal subjects = God
Secondary subjects = contingent beings

A philosopher uses his power of logic, reason, perception and interpretation in order to make a
more qualified judgement about making the “Leap of faith” in a given direction. This does not
eradicate the need for faith but rather removes the uncertainty of which faith to accept , and gives
the person some comfort that his faith is unfounded.

The Oriental Definition

⁃ Philosophy is the search for the meaning and value if life. It’s seen as a personal
attitude towards life by reflectively thinking and critically examining problems, theories and
possible solutions to life’s enigmas. That’s why many westerners would insist that philosophy is
itself, life. It is a guide to life.
The Western Definition
⁃ Philosophy as the science of all things by their ultimate causes and principles known
through the natural reason alone.

Western vis-a-vis the Eastern: Definition of Philosophy

Western Philosophy Eastern Philosophy

Technical and theoretical Simple and practical
Too abstract and academic Returns to the standard of human
experience
Division of philosophical studies Insists the wholeness of life
Linear thought Cyclical life
Religion is not equal to philosophy Religion is equal to philosophy
More logical in approach More mythical in its inquiry

Branches of Philosophy

PURE PHILOSOPHY
Theoretical Philosophy - directs itself to knowing things as they are without thinking of
application. Its ultimate goal knowledge, truth and wisdom.
a. Epistemology (Greek word “epistle” = knowledge) Studies the nature, basis
and extent of knowledge. Study of the nature, origin and limits of human knowledge.
b. Cosmology - Study of physical world or the cosmos, taken as a whole. It is also
the study of the organisation, history and future of the world and the universe.
c. Metaphysics (Greek words “meta” = beyond and “physikon” = nature) - it
relies heavily on speculative method in developing a comprehensive picture of all kinds of
beings, anything that exists. It is the study of Reality (beings and Being).
d. Philosophical Psychology - study of the nature of the mind or soul. It is
concerned with the soul or consciousness, its constitution, characteristics, and its role in the
functioning of the human body and social group. Note: Man as person and Man as being-in-
the-world
e. Theodicy (Greek words “theos” = God and “dike” = “justice, right”) or
Philosophy of God/ Rational Theology - study concerning religious phenomenon of people, its
origin and nature.
f. Hermeneutics (Greek name “Hermes” messenger of the gods and goddesses
in Greek mythology) study of interpretation. Study of any text interpretation and the like.

Practical Philosophy - directs its concern to things, which are material or perceptible and
useful. Its goal is not just finding the truth but acting on it, applying the knowledge gained for
the benefit of mankind.
a. Axiology (Greek words “axios” = worthy and “logos” = study) is a philosophical
critique of the meanings, characteristics, origins, types, criteria and knowledge of values. What
makes a thing valuable?
b. Ethics (Greek words “ethos” = custom, character, manner or disposition”)
studies human conduct and the nature of right and wrong. It concerns human conduct and
moral values.
c. Aesthetics (Greek word “aisthetikos” = one who is perceptive to things
through the sensations, feelings and intuitions) studies the art of beauty.
d. Social Philosophy - deeper critique, study and analysis of the society, and the
relationship of the people and community of a society.
e. Logic (Greek word “logic” or “logos” which means ordered, systematised and
intelligible) deals with the principles of reasoning. It is the study of the principles and methods
of reasoning.

APPLIED PHILOSOPHY

ETHICS
-often called moral philosophy, a study that deals with the principles and laws governing the
morality of the human act. If ethic deals with morality of human act, Morality of human acts
means the goodness or badness, the rightness or wrongness or the acceptability or
unacceptability of human acts. MORALITY (Latin word “mos” or “moris” which also means
“customs”.

Difference between Ethics and Morality

Ethics provides principles on the morality if human acts; it provides man with the theoretical
knowledge of the morality of human acts. In other words, ethics provides the theory or
principles of right or wrong or goodness and badness while the morality actualises the theory.
Morality is nothing else but doing of ethics.
Division of Ethics
General Ethics presents truths about human acts, and from these truths deduce the general
principles of morality.
Special Ethics is applied ethics. It applies to the principles of general ethics in different
departments of human activity, individual and social. Includes man’s relation to the family, to
the state to the family, to the state and to the world.

Nature of Man
Man is the only Morale Being
Man has the intellect that separates him from all brute connections. Man has the ability
to think before doing a particular action. Man may foresee the consequences of his actions. He
has the capacity to know what is right and what is wrong. Morality of human acts cannot be
applied to animals or they do not possess intelligence but instinct. Humans have the power to
acquire knowledge from experience and from their environment.

Man as a Rational Being

Man’s actions are in accordance with reason. Every action he makes has purpose and
meaning. It is the duty of man to be moral according to Immanuel Kant. Man is a rational
being, means his actions are diligently and intelligently made. He carefully examines and
analyses the consequences of his actions.

Man as an Animal
Similarly, both man and animals possess appetency and knowledge. Animals as similar
to man need also to gratify their instinctive sexual desires. But what separates man from
animal is that, man has intellect and free will. Actions of animals lack meaning and are beyond
their control and therefore makes morality of human acts inapplicable to them, to this we can
include imbeciles, morons, idiots and other psychologically deranged people.