THE STUDY

OF ETHICS
The value of studying ethics in
life is a must responsibility and
such, is also obligatory. Not
because we are purposely
driven nor illuminated by its
essence, it is already deeply
imbued to us. It only needs to
be followed every time we
undertake any actions or
endeavor in life.
Such actions are
considered ethical or
unethical depending on
the intention and its effect
to the receiver. Bear in
mind that there is always
an effect after every
undertaking.
In ethics, we ask
if it must be. What
you think is right
is the bottomline.
That’s ETHICS!
 ETHICS
oIt is defined as the
science of the morality
of human acts.
oDerived from the
Greek word ethos
meaning “characteristic
way of living.” While in
Latin is mos, mores
meaning tradition or
custom.
Human Acts
- are actions
performed by
human, knowingly and freely
- also called
intentional or deliberate
actions, or, voluntary.

Acts of Man
- in contrary to
human acts, it is
involuntary and
instinctive and
unintentional.
o Ethics is also said to
be the study of
human
motivation, and
ultimately, of human
rational behavior.
o Ethics is morality.

*Morality – is the quality of human

acts by which they are determined as
good, bad, or indifferent.
Ethics is Moral Philosophy and is
distinguished from Moral Theology.
oAs a branch of
philosophy, it relies
solely on human
reason to
investigate truths.

oOn the other

hand, Moral
Theology employs
reason insofar as it
is enlightened by
faith or divine
revelation.
 ETHICS AS VALUE
EDUCATION
oIt takes the value of
Value Education by
guiding individuals in
choosing wisely his values
and in acting upon them.
oIt is also the rational
foundation of any attempt
at Values Education. It
explains human values in
relation to the ultimate
purpose of human
existence.
THE ART OF CORRECT
LIVING
In this context, Ethics is an art.

Art, literally means appreciation of beauty.

It implies order and harmony of parts in a
given whole.

Human life does not imply merely physical

survival. The demands of daily life
includes and derives meaning from the
cultivation of these traits that truly relates
man’s innate dignity.
ETHICS IS AN ART BECAUSE:

1. It is the
breath of
life.
-It
pulsates with
the desire for
growth and
development.
2. It is master
plan.
- It indicates
where man
must go and
what he/she
ought to do in
order to live
well.
IMPORTANCE OF
ETHICS
It is an indespensable
knowledge.
Moral integrity is the only true
measure of what man ought to
be.
oMorality is the foundation of
every human society.
TWO ETHICAL
SYSTEMS

ATHEISTIC
APPROACH
This approach assumes that only
matter exists and that man is only
responsible to himself since there is
no god who creates and rules the
universe.
It favors science than religion.

It tries to centralized scientific

ideology.
Its followers are called atheist.
FAMOUS ATHEISTS
 PROPOSE PRINCIPLES OF THE
AETHEISTIC APPROACH:

1. Matter is the only reality.

2. Man is matter and does not
have spiritual dimension.
3. Man is free and must exercise
his freedom to promote society’s
welfare.
4. There is no life after death.
5. Man is accountable to the state..
 THEISTIC
APPROACH
It begins with the assumption that God is
the Supreme Lawgiver.

Employs the aid of a favoring religion.

God’s will is the core of this approach. It

believes that God is the point of origin.

With God’s will, man must exercise his

freedom.
 POSTULATED TRUTHS OF
THE THEISTIC APPROACH:
1. God is the Supreme Creator and
Lawgiver.
2. Man is free and must use his
freedom to promote his personal
and social interests along with his
fellownmen.
3. Man has an immortal soul which
cannot die.
4. Man is accountable for his
actions, both good and evil.
 “To one who has faith,
no explanation is needed.
To one who has no faith,
no explanation is possible.”

- St. Thomas Aquinas

 ETHICS AND RELIGION
Ethics is a science and depends upon rational investigation of its
truth. Religion is a system and practices based on faith or revelation.

This two is inseperable from one another

for religion is a frontrunner of ethics and
ethics has been a norm for every religion.
It teaches the value of religion, presenting
it as a duty to the Almighty.
On the other hand, religion, composed of a
unified hierarchy, teaches ethics and
continues to enrich with its moral insight.
 ETHICS AND LAW
Ethics studies human motivation. It goes deeper than the
study of external actions.

Just like religion, law is also

Law is inseperable from ethics.
concerned with
the externality Ethics is governed by law
of the act. and law is the basis of ethics.
Ethical norms cover thoughts and
feelings. Laws don’t judge man’s
thoughts and feelings.
Morality therefore, has a wider
implication than law, because law can
be moral or immoral,
Ethics is not simply a body of do’s
and don’ts in the manner laws are.
It’s a personal commitment to uphold
what is true and good.
 PROFESSIONAL
ETHICS

Even professions in every field are

regulated by norms so not to produce any
unwanted effect on their side as they
practice it. Each profession is subject to a
set of moral code. This Code of Ethics
guides the actuation of a professional
where the law is silent and inadequate.
A Code of Ethics
implies
that, before
anything else, a
professional is a
person who has
the obligation to
listen to the
“dictates of
reason.”
A Code of Ethics
implies
that, before
anything else, a
professional is a
person who has
the obligation to
listen to the
“dictates of
reason.”
 COMPONENTS OF
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
1. Honesty
- this refers to the truthfulness and
straightforwardness along with the
absence of lying, cheating or theft.
2. Integrity
- the honesty and truthfulness or
accuracy of one's actions.
3. Transparency
- implies
openness, communication, and
accountability.
4. Accountability
- is blameworthiness, liability, and the
expectation of account-giving.
5. Confidentiality
- is a set of rules or a promise that
limits access or places restrictions on
certain types of information.
6. Respect
- gives a positive feeling
of esteem or deference for
a person or other entity.
7. Obedience to the law
- faithfulness and being
truthful to the law.