COURSE CODE: ETHICS(Ethc)

Module 1
2nd Semester, S.Y. 2024-2025

Introduction Course Overview

In this course, you’ll explore the
foundational principles and frameworks of
Welcome to Ethics! ethics, sharpening your critical thinking and
moral reasoning skills along the way. But
what does that mean? Let’s break it down:
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• Foundational Principles: Learn

what ethics is all about—from its
Hi there, future ethical roots in philosophy to its everyday
thinkers! “Ethics” might application.
• Philosophical Theories: Dive into
sound like a serious or big ideas from great thinkers like
intimidating topic, but it’s all Aristotle, Kant, and Mill. They asked
about something we do the same questions we still wrestle
with today: "What is the right thing
every day —making to do?"
choices. Ethics is at the • Ethical Dilemmas: Explore real-
world scenarios where the "right"
heart, whether it’s deciding choice isn’t always clear. Think
how to treat others, about things like: "Should you
always tell the truth?" or "Is it ever
determining what’s fair, or
okay to break a rule?"
even choosing what’s best • Practical Application: See how
for yourself. This course will ethics fits into your personal life,
future profession, and broader
guide you through the society. Discover why ethical
"why" and "how" behind decision-making matters
everywhere—from friendships to
those decisions. So, buckle workplaces to global issues.
up! Let’s dive into the This course isn’t just about theory—it’s
fascinating world of ethics about you! Expect interactive discussions,
engaging case studies, and plenty of
together. opportunities to reflect on your own values
and choices,

Why Study Ethics?

Let’s answer the big question: Why should you care about
ethics? Here are some reasons:
• Guidance in Decision-Making: Life throws tough
choices your way. Ethics gives you tools to navigate
them confidently and wisely.
• Personal Growth: Learn more about what you value,
what motivates you, and how you can become the
best version of yourself.
• Professional Success: Ethical behavior is essential in any
career. Whether it’s medicine, business, or engineering,
every field has ethical standards to follow.
• Social Harmony: Ethics helps us coexist. Understanding
what’s fair, right, and good promotes peaceful,
respectful relationships in families, communities, and
beyond.
"Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have
a right to do and what is right to do." – Potter Stewart
 What to Expect
Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll encounter in this course:
• Discussions: Share your thoughts on everyday ethical questions.
No right or wrong answers—just ideas to explore!
• Infographics: Visual aids to make complex concepts simple and
memorable.
• Case Studies: Analyze real-life situations to see ethics in action.
• Reflective Activities: Take a moment to think about your values
and beliefs.
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Think about these questions as we begin:

• What’s a tough decision you’ve had to make recently?
• What values guided you in making that choice?
• How do you think ethics could help you make better decisions in the
future?
We’re excited to go on this journey with you. Let’s explore the world of
ethics together and uncover what it means to live a good life—for yourself
and those around you.

Intended Learning Outcomes

The Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) for this module clearly focus on what you
are expected to achieve after engaging with the lessons and activities. These
outcomes are designed to guide your understanding and application of ethics,
both as a theoretical discipline and as a practical tool for navigating everyday
life.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

• Define and discuss Ethics as a discipline
through a concept map.
• Discourse ethics as a major field of moral philosophy
and its role in our daily life situations.

By accomplishing these outcomes, you will gain

foundational knowledge of ethics and its relevance,
setting the stage for a deeper exploration of moral
principles and their application in various contexts.

Lesson 1
Ethics and Morality

ETHICS – is a MORALITY – is
discipline that a set of
examine the MORALITY standards a
moral standards of person has
an individual or about what is
society. right or
ETHICS wrong.
 Notes:
Ethics
(1) Ethics is a study of morality
(2) Ethics also called moral philosophy is the division of philosophy concerned
with how a person should behave in a matter that is considered morally
correct or good (Boone, 2017).
(3) Ethics means trying to figure out why one should behave morally, as well
as understanding the motivating factors for this behavior.
(4) Ethics examine what makes something “good” or “bad”.
(5) Ethics is arguably the one type of philosophy that asks big questions
applicable to daily life, philosophy asks big questions like “Is God real?” or
“Why are we here”? But those big questions don’t directly address how to
live one’s life.
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(6) If philosophy encourages moral behavior by asking the big “why”

questions, then ethics is an exploration of that moral behavior, and it seeks
to formulate concrete “what” and “how” answers to the questions that
philosophy poses.
(7) Ethics can and should be applied to regular life – you can tailor ethics to
fit to your life and you can use ethics to make decisions and take actions
that are morally “right”.
(8) The use of ethics also brings up another ethical conundrum – why it is
important to consider why a person should act a certain way?
(9) The answer lies in the concept of happiness- simply stated, happiness is an
outgrowth of one’s ethics, be one’s happiness or the happiness of others.

Morality
(1) Morality speaks to why people have different standards, views, or
perspectives by which right and wrong are understood.
(2) One’s basic ideas of morality are influenced by family, friends, and elders,
even school, church, and the community contributed to the formation of
morality.
(3) Since people vary in terms of social influences, we also differ in the morality
we espouse.
(4) Morality pertains not only to a person's standards but to a particular
society’s standards of what is right and wrong.

Ethics aims to shed light on the basic questions such as

what is right conduct, what principles should govern our
moral decision making, and what basically is a good
life. Ethics is not limited to particular moral actions and
practices, but it concerns itself with the whole moral
ideas and behaviors.

Group Activity: Compare and contrast Ethics and Morality using a Venn
diagram.

Assignment: Discussion (Individual).

1. Discuss ethics as “moral philosophy”
2. Discuss the importance of ethics as a general education subject or course.

Lesson 2
Areas of Ethics
1. Metaethics
Metaethics focuses on the nature, origin, and meaning of ethical principles. It
examines questions such as:
• What is the meaning of "good" and "bad"?
 • Are moral values subjective (dependent on personal views) or objective
(independent of individual opinions)?
• Do moral truths exist, and if so, how can they be known?
Example Topics:
• Are moral values universal or culturally relative?
• Is morality based on emotions or rational reasoning?
Example Scenario:
Exploring whether lying is inherently wrong or if it depends on the context.

2. Normative Ethics
Normative ethics focuses on establishing standards or principles that guide how
people ought to act. It provides frameworks to determine right and wrong actions.
The main theories in this area include:
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• Deontology (duty-based ethics): Actions are right or wrong based on rules

or duties.
• Consequentialism (outcome-based ethics): Actions are judged based on
their outcomes (e.g., utilitarianism).
• Virtue Ethics: Focuses on the character and virtues of the moral agent rather
than specific actions.
Example Topics:
• Should people always tell the truth, even if it hurts others?
• Is it acceptable to sacrifice one person to save many others?
Example Scenario:
Determining whether euthanasia is ethical based on principles of individual rights,
consequences, or compassion.

3. Applied Ethics
Applied ethics deals with specific, practical moral issues in various fields such as
medicine, business, technology, and the environment. It applies ethical principles
to real-world situations and dilemmas.
Example Topics:
• Is abortion morally acceptable?
• Should artificial intelligence systems prioritize human safety over efficiency?
Example Scenario:
Discussing whether it is ethical for a company to use personal data for targeted
advertising without explicit consent.

Activity:
Discuss descriptive ethics and explain why it focuses on "what is" rather than "what
ought to be." Share why it is not considered part of moral philosophy.

Lesson 3
Moral Statements as Normative Statements

Moral statements are normative because they express judgments about what
ought to be done or what is right or wrong. Unlike descriptive statements, which
describe facts, normative statements prescribe actions or behaviors based on
moral principles or values.

Examples of Moral Statements

1. "You should always tell the truth." This prescribes honesty as a moral
obligation.
2. "It is wrong to harm others intentionally." This asserts a principle against
causing harm.
3. "We ought to care for the environment." This emphasizes a moral duty
toward environmental stewardship.
4. "Stealing is unethical, even if you are in need." This judge stealing as morally
unacceptable.
 These statements guide behavior and reflect ethical norms, distinguishing
them from factual observations.

Factual Statements
Factual statements describe what is or what exists. They are objective and can be
verified or disproven through evidence, observation, or logical reasoning. Unlike
moral or normative statements, they do not express judgments about what is right
or wrong.

Examples of Factual Statements

1. "The Earth revolves around the Sun." This describes a scientific fact that can
be observed and proven.
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2. "Stealing is illegal in most countries." This states a legal fact without making
a moral judgment.
3. "Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose." This is an observable fact
about the environment.
4. "Most people believe honesty is important." This describes a belief held by
many, but it doesn’t prescribe honesty as a moral rule.

Factual statements are concerned with truth and reality, rather than
prescribing actions or moral judgments.

Activity:
Identify whether each statement is a factual statement or a normative
(moral) statement.

1. Smoking causes lung cancer.

2. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas.
3. The human body contains 206 bones.
4. Lying damages trust between people.
5. You should always keep your promises.
6. Everyone has the right to free education.
7. The capital city of the Philippines is Manila.
8. Murder is morally wrong in almost all societies.
9. The Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old."
10. We should help those in need whenever possible.
11. Water freezes at 0°C under standard atmospheric pressure.
12. We ought to treat animals with kindness and compassion.
13. It is important to protect the environment for future generations.
14. It is wrong to discriminate against others based on their race or
religion
15. The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 299,792 kilometers
per second.

References
References
Ang. J.G.(2020).Ethics 101: An exploration on the
concept of right and wrong.mindshapers Co.,Inc.

Evangelista, F.J. N. & Mabaquiao, N. M (2020). .Ethics:

Theories and applications. Anvl Publishing, Inc.
Philippines