Professional Conduct and Ethical Standard

Chapter 1

Introduction to Ethics and Values

UNDERSTANDING ETHICS

Etymologically, the word ethics is coined from the Greek word “ethicos”, or that which pertains to
”ethos”, the English translation of which is “custom” or “character”.

Ethics is the branch of philosophy that theoretically, logically and rationally determines right from
wrong, good from bad, moral from immoral and just from unjust actions, conducts and behavior.
Overall, ethics establishes the rules and standards that govern the moral behavior of individuals and
groups. It also distinguishes between right and wrong conducts. It involves honest consideration to
underlying motive, to possible potential harm and to congruency with established values and rules.

What do we mean by “morality of human acts?” Morality of human acts refers to the goodness of the
badness, the rightness of the wrongness of human acts.

Ethics is a philosophical science. This means that ethics is one of the many disciplines in philosophy.

Four Disciplines/ Divisions in Philosophy:

1. Descriptive or Speculative – a discipline in philosophy that deals with

the fundamental question: What is the nature of reality?
(Metaphysics)

2. Normative – a discipline in philosophy which is concerned with

human values and how individuals should act. It also posits the
question: What is good and what is bad? Or what is right action and
wrong action? (Moral philosophy)

3. Practical philosophy – which studies the rules of valid reasoning and

argumentation. (Logic)

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4. Critical philosophy – a discipline in philosophy which deals with our concept of knowledge, how
we learn and what we can know and posits with the question: What is truth? (Epistemology)

Difference Between Personality and Character

Personality is the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and

behaviors that make a person unique. It is believed that personality arises
from within the individual and remains fairly consistent throughout life.

Character deals with how people think and behave related to issues such
as right and wrong, justice and equity, and other areas of human conduct.

While personality shows what you are outside or what you are to the

world, character reveals what you are inside. As these are directly related
to a person’s attitude and behaviour, most people get confused between
these two easily.

COMPARISON CHART

PERSONALITY CHARACTER

Meaning Personality refers to the range of A character refers to a set of

distinctive personal qualities and traits of morals and beliefs that defines how
an individual. we treat or behave with others and
ourselves.

Represents Who we seem to be? Who we actually are?

Traits Personal and physical Mental and moral

What is it? It is the identity It is a learned behavior

Nature Subjective Objective

Expression Outer appearance and behavior of a Traits of a person that are abstract.
person.
Change May change over time. Remains same.

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UNDERSTANDING MORALITY

Moral integrity is the only true measure of what man ought to

be. The most successful professional, is nothing unless he too
is morally upright. Thus, the philosophers speak Ethics as the
“only necessary knowledge”.

Morals are the prevailing standards of behavior that enable

people to live cooperatively in groups. Moral refers to what
societies sanction as right and acceptable. Most people tend to
act morally and follow societal guidelines. Morality often
requires that people sacrifice their own short-term interests for
the benefit of society. People or entities that are indifferent to
right and wrong are considered amoral, while those who do evil
acts are considered immoral.

Morals are the principles that guide individual conduct within society. And, while morals may change
over time, they remain the standards of behavior that we use to judge right and wrong.

ETHICS VS. MORALITY

Ethics and morals relate to “right” and “wrong” conduct. While they are sometimes used
interchangeably, they are different. Ethics refer to rules provided by an external source. Morals refer
to an individual’s own principles regarding right and wrong.

COMPARISON CHART

ETHICS MORALS

What are they? The rules of conduct recognized in Principles or habits with respect to right
respect to a particular class of human or wrong conduct. Morals also
actions or a particular group or prescribe dos and don'ts. Morality is
culture. ultimately a personal compass of right
and wrong.
Where do they come Social system - External Individual - Internal
from?
Why we do it? Because society says it is the right Because we believe in something
thing to do. being right or wrong.

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Flexibility Ethics depends on others for Usually consistent, although can
definition. change if an individual’s beliefs
change.
The "Gray" A person strictly following Ethical A Moral Person although perhaps
Principles may not have any Morals at bound by a higher covenant, may
all. choose to follow a code of ethics as it
would apply to a system. "Make it fit"
Origin Greek word "ethos" meaning Latin word "mos" meaning "custom"
"character"
Acceptability Ethics are governed by professional Morality transcends cultural norms
and legal guidelines within a particular
time and place

MORALITY AND HUMAN EXISTENCE

 There is morality because there is man.

1. Man is the only Moral Being by virtue of the following reasons.

a. Man is a being of action.

b. Man has intellect.
c. Man has will.

2. Man as an Animal.
3. Man as a Rational Animal.
4. Intellect compare with will.
5. Concrete Basis of Morality.

UNDERSTANDING VALUES

Human values are most important in life. It is important that people are
and should be ready to sacrifice almost anything to live with their
values. Honesty, integrity, love, and happiness are some of the end
values or destination values that human beings seek to attain,
practise and live with. 

On the other hand, values such as health, money, fame, status,

intelligence, and so on are the means values or path values which help
achieve the end values. The end values and the means values are also
known as terminal values and instrumental values respectively. While
the end values are constant, and guide us to achieve the higher order
goals, means values are temporary in nature and help us achieve
comparatively lower-order goals.

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Why is it important to know about values?

Knowing our values helps us achieve clarity regarding why we do what we do, and accordingly stay on
track and live a consistent life. All our actions and decisions are affected by our values. 

Those who know their values and live by them become the leaders of our society. Knowing our values
helps us design our life goals since we know what is most important for us today and on an ongoing
basis. Values are as important as competencies to achieve our goals. Knowing others’ values is
equally important to understand their behaviour and the causes behind it. We can also understand
their decision making by understanding their values. 

General definition of Values

1. Values are the object of human desire and striving; they are also the subjective assessment of a
particular object insofar as it is good.

2. Values are our beliefs, those beliefs which we hold to be true. Thus values
inspire us to struggle towards our proximate and ultimate ends.

3. Values refer to things, person, ideas or goods which are important to life;
they enable us to direct, understand, and evaluate our lives. Thus, they refer
to our ideals and our principles by which we live. Further, values are those
which we approve, esteem, en joy and prize.

Properties of VALUES

1. Subjective – means that the existence and the validity of values are
dependent upon on the feelings or attitudes of the subject.

2. Objective –means that the existence and the nature or values are independent of a subject.

3. Relative – means that the values have intrinsic limitation and imperfection.

4. Bipolar –means that values do not exist alone. They always exist with their counter values. Thus,
values are either positive or negative.

5. Hierarchical –means do not classify values but rather we rank them. When we rank values, we
establish order of importance among them. The closest meaning of ranking values or prioritizing
values.

UNDERSTANDING HUMAN ACTS

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DEFINITION

 Human acts are actions done intentionally, free, and deliberate of a

person. These are actions that a man properly master for he does
them with full knowledge and his own will.
 Acts which proceed from a deliberate freewill.
 A man is fully responsible with the consequences of his acts.
 Involves man’s responsibility and accountability of the results of
his/her actions.

A human act is also referred to as the human activity of man as man by

which he attains an end he wants to obtain.

Three-fold Elements of Human Acts

1. Knowledge – An act is done knowingly, when the doer is conscious and aware of the reason and the
consequences of his actions. Knowledge is supplied by the intellect and it directs the will to want the
object it proposes.

2. Freedom – An act is done when the doer acts by his own initiative and choice without being forced
to do so by another person or situation. It makes the doer the father of his acts and thus, the doer is
responsible for those acts.

3. Voluntariness – An act is done wilfully when the doer consents to the acts, accepting it as his own,
and assumes accountability for its consequences. It is naturally inclined to the good, but man may
sometime deliberately choose evil.

Acts of man

 Acts of man are instinctive, such as physiological in nature.

 These are actions done under the circumstances of ignorance, passion, fear, violence, and habits.
 Acts that are performed by men without being master of them through his intellect and will,
therefore acts of man are involuntary actions.

Actions are under the circumstances of:

1. Ignorance
2. Passion
3. Fear
4. Violence

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5. Habits

Human acts vs. Acts of man

COMPARISON CHART

Human Acts Acts of Man

FREEDOM An act is done when the doer acts by his An act is done willfully when the doer
own initiative and choice without being consents to the acts, accepting it as his own,
forced to do so by another person or and assumes accountability for its
situation. consequences.
It makes the doer the father of his acts and Instinctive, such as physiological in nature.
thus, the doer is responsible for those acts. 
Voluntary actions Involuntary actions
KNOWLEDGE An act is done knowingly, when the doer is Without the proper use of reason.
conscious and aware of the reason and the
consequences on his actions.
Actions done intentionally, free, and The loss of direct responsibility is voluntary,
deliberate of a person. hence, the power of will might still be present.
Actions that a man properly master for he Force exerted on a person by another in order
does them with full knowledge and of his to compel him to perform a certain action
own will. against his will.

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