Preliminary Ramon C.

Reyes
Notions
Ethics

Ehthos
Mores (Lt.)
(Gk.)
customs, morality,
usage, moral,
character morals
Norms of Morality
 Such a broad concept, however, needs further precision for
we see immediately that there are various meanings of the
expression of “what is proper,” or “what is good and right.”
With in the broad ethos or mores of a community, there are
several different standards to be found.
The four norms or standards within
ethos or mores of a community
Technical norm
Societal norm
Aesthetic norm
Ethical or moral norm
Technical Norm
This refers mainly to man’s needs which come from his
bodily space-time limitations.
This norm has to do with survival, health and well-being.
Therefore, because of its survival and well-being, every
community prescribes certain proper ways of working and
doing things.
“Good” means…
Being good workers, industrious, efficient, and
productive. Others are considered lazy, good-for-
nothing, inefficient.
Societal Norm

This has to do with the need for group cohesion and for
strengthening the bonds that keep the community together.
They maintain and strengthen the bonds that keep the
community together.
Other ways of behavior are prescribed or frowned upon
because they are unmindful of or destructive of social
relations.
“Good” means…
• “proper and fitting,” “appropriate,” or
“recommended,”
Aesthetic Norm

• This refers to typical perceptual forms, regarding color,

shape, space, movement, sound, feeling and emotion,
touch and texture, taste, scent and odor, both in the
natural and in the man-made environment,
“good” means …
• which are considered by the community as
“ennobling,” “cathartic,” “heightening man’s
existence,” or “beautiful,” because they
represent a certain free play and celebration of
the human spirit.
Ethical or Moral Norm (in a narrow
sense)
It combines with religion to form what is sometimes
referred to as the “ethico-religious” norm.
The moral norm refers to some ideal vision of man,
an ideal stage or perfection of man, which serves as
the ultimate goal and norm.
Therefore, all the other norms—technical, societal,
aesthetic—are to be subordinated to this moral norm.
• Because of this ideal vision of man, a community has what is
sometimes called the “non negotiables,” those things which
the community cherishes and considers of ultimate worth,
which give ultimate sense and direction to human existence.
Definition of Morality
• In a narrower and stricter sense, therefore, ethics or morality
refers to that dimension of human existence whereby man
confronts or finds himself, an ideal vision of man, or an ideal
state and goal of his existence which he finds himself
oriented toward.
And because we have an ideal state

By the same token, this ideal vision of man constitutes a

fundamental norm in relation to which his life and actions
are judged to be either right or wrong, good or bad.
The difference between
good and bad,
and
right and wrong
 Good and bad Right and wrong

• Have the connotation of that • Refer specifically to that which

which is in conformity or not is morally binding or
with the GOAL. Therefore, OBLIGATORY. Thus, the right
good and bad signify action is that which WE OUGHT
fulfillment, completion, TO DO or ought to have done,
perfection or not. the wrong action that which we
ought to refrain from or ought
to have refrained from doing.
 Deontological teleological

• put more stress on the more emphasis on morality

aspect of moral duty and as the attainment of man’s
obligation end, fulfillment and
happiness.
Ethics and morality does not begin
with the theories of a moral
philosopher
Ethics or morality is essentially a dimension of man’s
existence as a socio-historical being. [...] Man is first initiated
into moral experience and life by the community.
Moral experience and life are part of the culture handed
down ( trado, tradere—to hand over, thus trade, tradition) to
man by society and history.
 Eventually, this traditional moral life and
experience, soon leads to something which brings
about its transformation, namely, moral reflection
or moral philosophy.

• Mores or ethos of a community  Moral

Philosophy
Transformation of moral
philosophy
First, the process of psychological maturation, eventually involves the
appropriation, the “making our own,” the moral tradition that we inherit.
Second, the very nature of ethical or moral experience leads to moral
reflection. It is something that is his own and done on his own
responsibility, something he understands and willfully posits. Therefore,
it implies some reflection and freedom.
Third, in its history, the community eventually encounters other cultures
and thus, other moral or ethical traditions. This encounter with other
moral traditions inevitably leads one’s own moral tradition to question
itself in relation to the other traditions.
So what makes this subject
philosophical?
• In order for us to remain faithful to this ethical or moral
tradition that we inherit, we soon find ourselves necessarily
reflecting upon it, deepening our grasp of it, and taking
seriously its profound meaning and implications for our
existence.
• In this sense, we may say that the ethical or moral tradition
that we inherit is of itself not sufficient. Traditional morality
of its nature gives rise to the existential necessity of moral
reflection or moral philosophy.