Moral Studies

MPW 1153
Chapter 1: Understanding Morals
Ethics, Values and Morals
Ethics, Values and Morals
According to R.B. Ashmore, 1987.
Ethics is derived from the Greek word ethos
Ethos = custom and usage
Morals comes from the Latin mores
Mores = has the same meaning as ethos.
Ethics
It can be definded as a philosophical study of
moral i.e. of good behaviour, moral obligation,
moral attitude, moral responsibility, social
justice and good living qualities. (V. Grassian,
1981).
Ethics is moral philosophy or philosophical
thinking about morality, moral problems and
moral jugdment.
Value?
Kamus Dewan (new edition 1995) defines
values, among other things as price appraisal,
the price of something compared with the
price of another, rank, quality, grade,
standard and high attribute (in thoughts,
religion, society etc).
The meaning of value which is closer to
morality can be found in Websters New World
Dictionary (1991) which explains value as that
- quality of a thing according to which it is
thought of as being more or less desirable,
useful, estimable, important, etc.
- worth or the degree of worth
The terms moral value and ethical value are
used to convey the sense of good or correct
as opposed to immoral and unethical.

Ethics is also used in the same manner to
discuss about moral experience, moral
awareness, moral consideration, moral code,
moral debate and moral problem.
In this context, morals and ethics no longer
imply good or correct in the moral sense,
but related to morals or ethics as opposed to
non-moral or non-ethical and no longer
opposed to immoral or unethical.
Morality is opposite to immorality.
Morals, morality and ethics will be used in the sense of
an institution of ones life, and not equated with the
meaning good or correct.
From the aspect of socio-psychology and moral
philosophy, morality begins as a set of objectives
defined by culture and regulations.
It is an external element that is imposed on the
individual and cultivated until it becomes a habit. i.e
ind. adopts them as his own conformity with his
behaviour or produces a conscience or a super-ego.
Superego is the component of personality composed
of our internalized ideals that we have acquired from
our parents and from society. The superego works to
suppress the urges of the id and tries to make the ego
behave morally, rather than realistically.
Activity
Hold a discussion (accompanied by examples).
The question which is difficult to answer is.
How do we know and prove that something is good and
correct?
These questions are often asked before/after an action or
behaviour.
why should I do this?
How do I know it is correct?
Can I prove it?
Based on these questions, give an example of how you have
been chosen to do something that you consider good and
correct and how you have been able to prove it.
Moral, Ethics and Values :Can things
get any worst?


Thursday, 5 August 2010 PETALING JAYA: A school bus driver
allegedly raped a 10-year-old girl in full view of other pupils
in the bus. A kindergarten teacher who was passing by
heard screams for help and alerted members of the public,
who caught the 51-year-old driver red-handed.
The incident took place along Jalan Othman, Petaling Jaya,
at 12.40pm on Monday. It is learnt that the driver had
stopped the bus by the roadside and approached his victim.
He forcefully undressed her in front of the horrified
children. He then forced himself on the terrified girl.

People who went to the girls aid grabbed the man and
bashed him up before handing him over to the police. (The
Star - 29/07/10)

KUALA LUMPUR: A 20-year-old college student who sought a
mediums help to end her streak of bad luck ended up having to
sleep with the man. She approached the medium, known only as
master Choy, in April on the recommendations of her friends as she
was worried about her well-being. The 50-year-old medium told her
she would not be able to get rid of the bad luck unless she had sex
with a married man.

After some persuasion from the man, who is married, the girl
agreed to have sex with him. He told me I had to sleep with a
married man to get rid of all the bad luck, she told a press
conference at the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department
here yesterday.

Before having sexual intercourse, the medium told the girl, who is
pursuing a degree in nutrition at a college, to strip naked and pose
for some photographs. She realised that she had been cheated a
few months later when her luck had not changed and worse, she
had contracted a sexually transmitted disease from him.
(NST- 02/12/09)
Whose fault?

How many people after being told that mud is good for our
skin complexion would then jump into the first pile of cow
dung they see? If someone told me that keeping a bunny's
foot brings good luck, should I then hunt down the feet of
all playboy supermodels just to gain full favor?

Those are dumb examples.

How about this - we should eat nothing but apples for all
our meals, everyday, every time, as many as possible
because as the famous saying goes, an apple a day keeps
the doctor away.

That's a little dumber.

Now let me now tell you the dumbest - to get rid of bad
luck, go sleep with a married man.
Causes of Social Problem in Malaysia.