Topic 1: Introduction to Ethics a) Identify basic essence of ethics. Ethical behavior is not an act but a habit.

. We become virtuous by habit: we deli berately and consistently choose the mean between excess and deficiency until it becomes second-nature. Aristotle believed that right action was the result of developing good moral hab it. Virtues of character are dispositions to act in certain ways in response to similar situations, the habits of behaving in a certain way. Thus, good conduct arises from habits that in turn can only be acquired by repeated action and corr ection, making ethics an intensely practical discipline. Ultimately, it is the individual will determine the ethical quality. Ethics assi sts individuals in deciding when an act is moral or immoral, right or wrong. Fro m the totally subjective theory that stated ethics reside strictly within human beings and that there are no ethics outside of them, this means that individual are the only source that will determine the ethical quality. Ethics and high moral values, begins in the good family (learning of ethics), nu rtured in schools and colleges (nurturing of ethics) and matured at works (matur ing of ethics). b) Give reasons of why one should learn ethics.

Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality. Concepts such good and bad, or right and wrong. Ethic s allows you to live an authentic life. An authentic and meaningful life require s you to live with a sense of integrity. Having a firm character or set of princ iples to guide your life and the choices you make is what ethics is all about. Ethics is one of the tools used to solve moral problems resulted from many choic es about what is good and bad, better and worse, and even right and wrong. Ethic al problems become dilemmas when there at least two good choices. The choice the n becomes between good and good, not between good and bad. Moral problems can be solved or avoided through the implementation of code of ethics within human bei ngs. Code of ethics is a set of rules or moral guidelines that define and govern principles and actions in an organizational environment. Ethical behavior is be neficial for everyone because it protects the interests of the company or organi zation and the interests of everyone who comes into contact with the organizatio n. From social point of view, when people live ethical lives, they tell the truth, avoid harming others, and are generous. Callous and insensitive people are distr usted, so it's difficult for them to be integrated well into social arrangements. A stable society requires a lot of ethical people working together in highly coo rdinated ways. If society were mostly composed of unethical people, it would qui ckly crumble. From the religious aspect, ethics may help out in the afterlife. Some religious traditions believe ethics is the key to something even greater than personal suc cess and social stability: eternal life. No one can be sure about an eternal lif e, but people of faith from many different religions believe that good behavior in this life leads to rewards in the next life. c) Explain various sources of ethics.

There are three sources of ethics; Supernatural Theory, Natural Law Theory and f

rom the viewpoint of subjective and objective. The Supernatural Theory stated that morality comes from some higher power or sup ernatural beings or principle such as the Good (Plato), the God and his son, Jes us (Christian) and Allah (the Muslims). Ethics are presented as standards set of principles or teachings by the supernatural beings. Human beings are considered moral if they follow the principles or teachings of the supernatural beings. If they don't, they will be considered immoral and will be given punishment for bein g disobedient. The Natural Law Theory is defined by St. Thomas Aquinas as morality somehow is em bodied in nature, & there are natural law that human must adhere if they are to be moral. It is a moral theory that holds the concept of good and bad, right and wrong, and it is derived from human nature. Some hold the theory that ethics are totally subjective; that it reside strictly within human beings and that there are no ethics outside of them. Others believ e that the world and the objects in it embody values whether or not there are an y human beings around to perceive and appreciate them.