M1 Lesson 1: Intro to Ethics | What is Ethics?

Lesson 1: What is Ethics?

There are various definitions of Ethics such that anyone would be led to think that a universal definition
is impossible to formulate.

The simplest definition is that ethics is a system of moral principles. It studies what is good for
individuals and also society or that which is otherwise known as moral philosophy.

It studies the answers to questions such as “what is right?”, “what is good”, “how do we live a good
life?”, “what must we value?”, etc. in an attempt to define such terms. Other scholars look to ethics as a
way to answer more practical questions related to finding meaning and purpose in life.
 M1 Lesson 1: Intro to Ethics | Ethics versus morals

What is the difference between ethics and morals?

For example:

While walking home, you saw in a newly opened store a new pair of sneakers that would be perfect for
an outfit you already own. You checked your wallet and you still have Php 2,000 to spend. The shoes
cost Php 1,999.00.

You went inside the store, tried on a pair, and they look amazing. You know this will be the perfect pair
for that new outfit you bought from the Lazada sale. Before making the decision to purchase the shoes,
however, you remembered that you owed your parents Php 2,000.

You noticed that the salesperson at the store left you alone. You looked around and noticed that the
CCTV cameras have not been installed yet. There is no security guard.

In this example, what is morally right or wrong will depend on your values, your priorities, your own
principles, and purposes. These are what give us a sense of what is good, and what is right. Ethics is a
more individual assessment of right and wrong based on your own subjective understanding, and the
moral dimension, in this case, would be that which leads you to examine yourself and make a decision
that is consistent with your own beliefs. This limits the moral dimension to that which is restricted to
one’s worldview.

Ethics is seen as less personal because it refers to standards of “good” and “bad” that a social
community or situation determines. It is a set of broad principles. Simply put, morals are the belief and
values exercised according to the principles of ethics. Ethics are dependent on others for definition, and
they tend to be consistent within certain contexts, but can vary between others. Morals are usually
consistent unless an individual changes his/her beliefs.
The distinction between morals and ethics is not as clear cut, as morality and ethics are often used
interchangeably, especially when a person’s ethics are parallel to the community’s morals. The
difference is more visible when a person’s morals are against what a particular community sees as
ethical. Using the same example, if you choose to buy the shoes because your moral compass dictates
that you should put your individual needs over your community, the same morals will not necessarily be
shared by your parents who believe that you should pay your debt first; that the right thing to do is to
follow what is ethically sound by society’s standards.

Therefore, the study of ethics entails reflective objectivity in studying standards set by society. It looks at
values that underlie moral standards and examines how we arrived at the decision.

Does following the rules mean that I am already doing what is moral or ethical?
 M1 Lesson 2: The Moral Dilemma

Lesson 2: The Moral Dilemma

A dilemma is “a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives”.
Simply put, the term refers to a difficult situation or a problem where an agent is confused about the
right decision to make because of several competing options and/or values that are seemingly equally as
important, or equally as urgent.

How do we solve a moral dilemma?

1. Examine the act in relation to the agent

2. Determine the consequences of the act.
3. Identify the intentions related to each possible action.
4. Decide in accordance to divine and natural laws which govern moral life