Module One

Understanding
Moral Philosophy
An Introduction to Ethics
Welcome to Ethics, a general education course aimed at enriching your minds
with fundamental ideas about morality. You might think that you already know
what right and wrong is, but upon taking this course, what you originally thought
you knew will be challenged by ideas and theories that are meant to make you
see morality in a different light.

Ethics? Morality? The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David

Morality refers to the set of standards a person has about what is right and We are discussing no small
wrong. How we judge whether an act is good or bad is based on these standards.
matter, but how we ought to live.
Morality can also refer to a particular society's standards of what is right and
wrong. Ethics is the discipline that examines the moral standards of an
Socrates
individual or a society. A person engages in ethics when he or she reflects on In guiding us in evaluating our own moral beliefs and
whether certain moral standards are acceptable or reasonable. standards, ethics aims to shed light on the basic
questions such as what is right conduct, what
principles should govern our moral decision-making,
Areas of Ethics and what basically is a good life. Ethics is not limited
Area Definition Types of Questions to particular moral actions and practices, but it
concerns itself with the whole of moral ideals and
Known as analytic ethics, looks into the What is morality? What is the
behaviors.
nature, meaning, scope and foundations nature of moral claims? Is
of moral values and discourses. Clarifies morality objective or relative? Central Questions in Ethics
Metaethics
the basic ideas, concepts, and Who have moral rights? What 1. Are there any differences between moral laws
assumptions about moral beliefs and does it mean to be morally
and society’s laws? If there are, why is this?
judgments. accountable?
2. What are human beings really like: selfish and
Concerned with the moral standards to greedy or generous and kind?
What is the basis of good
determine right from wrong conduct. It 3. Are some people better at “morality” than
conduct? What rules should I
Normative involves the formulation of moral norms others, or is everyone equally capable of doing
follow to be good? What rules
Ethics or rules that can serve as basis of the
should I not follow to avoid being good?
kind of actions, institutions, and ways of
bad? 4. Are there good ways of teaching children to
life that we should pursue.
behave morally?
An examination of particular issues in Do corporations have moral 5. Does anyone have the right to tell anyone else
both personal and social spheres accountability? What guides the
what goodness and wickedness are?
(business, medicine, environment, moral judgments of medical
Applied media, law, sex, health, etc.) that are professionals? Is homosexuality 6. Are there certain kinds of acts that are always
Ethics matters of moral judgment. Focused on good or bad? Should we take wrong?
the practical concerns of ethics, it seeks care of the environment? How 7. What do you think is the best answer to the
to determine the moral permissibility of should the media maintain question “why should I be a good person”?
specific actions and practices. fairness in their profession? 8. Is morality about obeying a set of rules or is it
(not considered a part of moral philosophy) What are the accepted moral thinking carefully about consequences?
Presents what people think about right norms of a specific culture or 9. Is ethics a special kind of knowledge? If so,
and wrong, how they behave, or how country? What are the actions what sort of knowledge is it and how do we
Descriptive they reason about ethics. Incorporated that are considered taboo in get hold of it?
Ethics in the disciplines of anthropology, certain cultures? What are the 10. When people say that “I know murder is
psychology, sociology, history, etc. Does similarities in the moral beliefs
wrong”, do they know it is wrong or just
not establish what should be the case, and practices of two different
but merely establishes what is the case. cultures? believe it very strongly?

The Importance of Ethics. Ethics is obviously an important construct of civilization, born out of a primal human need to understand the world
or to make sense out of the world that humanity is in. Ethics answers the “whys” about giving standards, virtues, and rules by which we use to direct how
we behave. Here are several reasons why we need to be good:
1. It is a requirement for life. It is our biological imperative as humans to survive and thrive, and ethics are part of the complicated structure of
humanity that helps us determine the best way to act so that each of us may live a long, productive life.
2. It is a requirement for society. To be a member of society in good standing, one must follow the codes and laws that govern that culture. Ethics
builds relationships, both individually and on a grand scale. Kindness matters, and it helps forge the underlying bonds that unite a society.
3. For religious purposes. Some people believe that being good is a requirement for their religious beliefs. They believe it is necessary for them to
act ethically to reap the fruits of their religious beliefs, may it be going to heaven or making merit for karma.
4. For self-interest. Some believe that humans ultimately act out of self-service, they do things with their own interests in mind. They believe that if
a person behaves morally, respectfully, and kindly to others, good thing will happen to them.
5. Humans are inherently good. This debatable claim could be a good enough reason why we need to be ethical—it is our nature to be good. People
who do bad things just forget their inherent goodness which causes them to be immoral.

Review Questions Suggested Activity References:

1. What is the difference between ethics and Create a post in social media that will show either 1. Evangelista, F.J and Mabaquiao Jr., N. 2020.
(1) a question that challenges traditional moral Ethics: Theories and Applications. Anvil
morality?
norms, (2) a statement that is morally correct but
2. Explain the three basic areas of ethics and Publishing Inc.
is against the perspective of others, (3) an
provide a question that can be discussed unpopular opinion that is morally acceptable. The
2. Boone, B. (2017). Ethics 101. Adams Media.
under each area. post can be a in a form of a meme or a typography
3. Explain the need of studying ethics. design. Prepared by: Marc Rondera, July 2020