Fundamental of Ethics

FUNDAMENTALS OF ETHICS
What is Ethics?
 Ethics comes from the Greek word Ethos. Ethos can mean custom, habit, character, or
disposition. Due to the various possible meanings, ethics can cover several politics.
 Ethics, also called moral philosophy¸ the discipline concerned with what is morally good and bad
and morally right and wrong. The term is also applied to any system or theory of moral values or
principles.
 Ethics deals with such questions at all levels. Its subjects consist of the fundamental issues of
practical decision making, and its major concerns include the nature of ultimate value and the
standards by which human actions can be judged right or wrong.
 Ethics is often viewed as a branch of philosophy that is concerned with human conduct. I t
examines the rational justification of our moral judgements: what is morally right or wrong, just
or unjust. It aims to realize the perfect happiness of human life through individual good, social
good, and the good of mankind as a whole.
Moreover, it deals with proper course of action of a man. It answer the question, “What do I
do?” At a more fundamental level, it is method by which we categorize our values and pursue them. Do
we pursue our own happiness? Or do we sacrifice ourselves to a greater cause? Is the foundation of
ethics based on nature, or on the nature of man himself, or neither?
Part of what makes human unique is our freedom to determine how we’ll act.
Whenever we make a choice, it was possible for us to make a different one. The Danish philosopher
Soren Kierkegaard capture this sense when he described standing on the edge of a cliff. The only thing
that prevents us from falling into the void is us. – Our choice to do otherwise.
How do people decide?
Everyone is entitles of their own decision. Ethics isn’t the only way to define what the “best” decision
might look like. Some might see it as the one that advances their own goals and interests, or makes
most money. Others may focus on what’s likely to be most popular choice.
Ethics defines the best option as the one which best achieves what is good, right and consistent with the
nature of the things in question. We refer to these as “values”, “principle” and “purpose”.
 Values tells us what’s good – they’re the things we strive for, desire and seek to protect.
 Principles tells us what’s right – outlining how we may or may not achieve our values.
 Purpose is your reason for being – it gives life to your values and principle.
 Ethics, also called moral philosophy, is the discipline concerned with what is morally good and
bad and morally right and wrong. The term is also applied to any system or theory of moral
values or principles.
 Although ethics has always been viewed as branch of philosophy, its all-embracing practical
nature links it with many other areas of study, including anthropology, biology, economics,
history, politics, sociology and theology.
Yet ethics remains distinct from such disciplines because it is not a matter of factual
knowledge in the way that sciences and other branches of inquiry are. Rather, it has to do with
determining the nature of normative theories and applying these sets of principles to practical
moral problems.
Characteristics and Nature of Ethics
1. Ethics is a science.
It is concerned with a particular sphere that deals with certain judgements that we make
about human conduct. It also talks about systematics explanation of rightness or wrongness
in a man’s life.
2. Ethics is concerned with the ideal of life.

It gives our mind a vision of some higher condition of life and society than that which exists.
3. Ethics treats of what ought to be.

It believes that what is ideal must not be one which simply floats in the air. It must be an
ideal which is possible, and, therefore, as such, obligatory.
Ought- moral obligations
4. Ethics is a wisdom of values.

Ethics is a science of values as it discovers the form of conduct or behaviour, which have the
character of moral obligation.
MORAL OBLIGATION - A duty which one owes, and which he ought to perform but which is
not legally bound to fulfill.
These obligations are of two kinds: 1st. those founded on a natural right; as the obligation to
be charitable, which can never be enforced by law.
5. Ethics is concerned with the will.

It is based specifically on the fact that man is not only an intellectual being (capable of
knowing) and a sensitive being (possessed of feeling) but also a volitional being; that is, a
being endowed with self-determining activity.
Volition – the use of one’s will.
Now, is ethics important?

Ethics is a requirement for human life. It is our means of deciding a course of action.
Without it, our actions would be random and aimless. There would be no way to work
towards a goal because there would be no way to pick between a limitless number of goals.
Even with an ethical standard, we may be unable to pursue our goals with the possibility of
success.
To the degree which a rational ethical standard is taken, we are able to correctly organize
our goals and actions to accomplish our most important values. Any flaw in our ethics will
be reduce our ability to be successful in our endeavours.
Branches and Areas of Ethics
1. Descriptive Ethics
Deals with what people actually believe ( or made to believe) to be right or wrong and
accordingly holds up the human aactions acceptable or not acceptable or punishable
under a custom or law.
Ex.
 What proportion of the population believe divorce is morally acceptable?
2. Normative Ethics
Deals with “norms” or set of consideration how one should act. Thus, it’s a study of
“ethical action” and sets out the rightness or wrongness of the action. It is also called
prescriptive ethics because it rests on the principles which determine whether an
action is right or wrong.
Ex.
 Is it morally acceptable for a couple to get a divorce?
3. Meta Ethics
Meta Ethics is also known as “analytical ethics.” It deals with the origin of the ethical
concepts themselves. It does not consider whether action is good or bad, right or
wrong. Rather, it questions – what goodness or rightness or morality itself it is? It is
basically a highly abstract way of thinking about ethics.
 Is there a definitive answer to the question about the morality of getting

divorce?
4. Applied Ethics
Deals with the philosophical examination, from a moral a standpoint, of particular

issues in private and public life which are matters of moral judgment. It attempts to
answer difficult moral questions actual people face in their lives.
Ex.
 When, if ever, is it morally acceptable to get a divorce?

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FUNDAMENTALS OF ETHICS

How do people decide?

Characteristics and Nature of Ethics

2. Ethics is concerned with the ideal of life.

3. Ethics treats of what ought to be.

Ought- moral obligations

4. Ethics is a wisdom of values.

5. Ethics is concerned with the will.

Volition – the use of one’s will.

Now, is ethics important?

Branches and Areas of Ethics

 What proportion of the population believe divorce is morally acceptable?

 Is it morally acceptable for a couple to get a divorce?

 Is there a definitive answer to the question about the morality of getting

Deals with the philosophical examination, from a moral a standpoint, of particular

 When, if ever, is it morally acceptable to get a divorce?

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