ETHICAL

SCHOOLS OF
THOUGHT
 INTRODUCTION

In this chapter,
which is the
continuation of Ethical
Schools of Thought
part 1, we will explore
the ethical principles of
Immanuel Kant, W.D.
Ross, John Rawls, and
St. Thomas Aquinas.
Kant- categorical imperative of treating others
always as ends and never only as means.
Ross- his ethics has been regarded significant
in ethical inquiries for its
emphasis on the twofold principle by
which to resolve conflicting
duties.
Rawls- for its unconditional stress on social
justice.
St. Thomas- moral teachings have been
identified with what is known as
natural law ethics, whose principles of
double effect,
totality, the inviolability of life,
stewardship, sexuality, and
procreation are very relevant in the
great renown,
laid the foundations for his
ethics in his
short but influential
Groundwork of
Metaphysics of Morals,
translated into
english by L.W. Beck as
Foundations of the
Metaphysics of Morals.
Saturday night, malling together
with other students and always
there to pass a load without
asking any in return”

“I would rather give good grades

to those students who are really
good in my class than to those
who are always absent without
any valid reason because it is my
obligation to give credits to those
 Act done in
accord with
duty and Act
done from a
sense of duty
 duty:

“The body temperature of

my patient at 7 pm is
37.8,anyway, our off is at
Not
10, so I’ve got 3 more hours
to wait. If my patient’s
Moral
temperature would still be
38.8, that’s the time I will
tell it to my clinical
Act done from a sense of
duty:

“I must tell to my clinical

M
instructor if my patient’s
temperature is high
oral
because as a nurse I must
be honest”
How can one know
one’s duty
in a given situation,
so that one may
act accordingly?
Is there a test
for determining
what one’s duty will be
under a particular
circumstances?
To be able to
determine
whether or not
one acts from a
sense of duty in a
particular
situation, one
must judge his
action in the light
The phone rings…

Juan: hello…
Pedro: Hey Juan, it’s me Pedro., we’re going to
a party tonight. Wanna come?
Juan: Huh? I think I’m gonna pass because I still
have an exam tomorrow.
Pedro: Don’t worry, we will be back at exactly
11 o’clock. I promise.
Juan: I still need to think about it.
Pedro: Okay, just give me a call if you wanna
Categorical imperative
- lays down a universal
rule which if followed, will
ensure that the person is
acting from a sense of
duty.
>If you wish to
become sexy…
>If you wish to have
high grades…
>If you have fever
and you want to get
Hypothetical
imperative
- directive to the effect
that if you wish to
achieve such and such
an end, you must act
in such and such a
manner.
Formulations of Categorical
Imperative

>always act so as to treat

humanity, either yourself or
others, as ends and never
only as means.
>act only on that maxim
which you can at the same
time will to become a
universal law.
 Confucius’s Chung:
“Do unto others what you wish
yourself”

Filipinos:
“Gawin mo sa iyong kapwa ang
nais mong gawin nila sa iyo”
 For Kant:
>every individual must be
counted as being of equal
value.
>every human being has an
inherent value and dignity
which is not determined by
one’s profession ,
upbringing, or financial
capabilities.
Acts whereby others
are used as means:
>seduction
>abduction
>exploitation
>oppression
>kidnapping
the victim is treated simply
as means for the sexual
satisfaction.

Prostitution- offering your

body for a hire for purposes
of sexual intercourse, solely
for financial gain or for
unworthy purposes, thus
disposing oneself to be used