DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS
• Without moral judgement, man is only an animal
I. What is Man?
An individual person, a being distinct and separate
from the rest of God’s reaction
• Man is made up of body, soul and spirit
• Body constitutes man’s physical external part
• Man has physical contact with the environment
through his body; using his senses
• Man’s mind and will constitutes his spirit--- his
innermost part.
• Means of communicating with his universe, with
his creator; heart of human life (Zulueta et al 2000)
Moral & emotional nature of man is known at the
soul
• Man comes for God
• Man is presumed to be good
• Man makes a distinction between right and wrong
II.WHAT ARE VALUES?
• Values define what is desirable and meaningful to
him as a rational social being
• Values reflect man’s aspirations of himself, the
society he lives in, and the environment he
constantly interacts
Values make something desirable, attractive
worthy of approval, admirable;
• That which inspires feelings, judgements or
attitudes, uplifts self-esteem (Hall, 1973)
III. WHAT ARE ETHICS
• From the Greek word “ethicos” or what which
pertains to “ethos” meaning CHARACTER or
CUSTOM; Characteristic way of acting
• Latin equivalent of ethos is “Mos or mores,”
meaning “tradition” or “custom” which prevails in a
group or groups of people and of a society as a
whole
• Ethics is both the study of human conduct and a
practical science of the morality of human behavior;
• Theory of right conduct
• Standard of character set by a particular society
of man
• Study of moral judgements
Ethics is a philosophical science
• One of the many disciplines of philosophy
•A normative philosophy referring to what is good
and what is bad
Ethics is an absolute knowledge
• Man has the intellect and will which enable him to
think and make distinction between and wrong, and
ultimately make him choose the right decision---
MAN IS A RATIONAL BEING
Difference between Morality and Ethics
• When one does the theories of ethics, one
actually performs the theory, meaning one is
actually doing ethics --------this is MORALITY.
• Morality is applied ethics; practice of ethics
Difference between Morality and Ethics
• On the other hand, ethics provides the
principles/theoretical knowledge of what is
good/bad or right/wrong
• KNOWING IS DIFFERENT FROM DOING
• One can only become moral (or good human
person) when one applies ethics
• As ethics outlines theories of right and wrong,
morality is nothing else but DOING of ethics
WHY THE NEED TO STUDY ETHICS? (Ramirez
Luzviminda; “Man values, and Work Ethics, 2004)
1. Serves as an aid in decision-making
2. Aids to improve social life by promoting
harmony; just & orderly life mutual respect
3. Aids in reinforcing desirable ethical moral
systems and modifies those that are
dysfunctional
4. Guides individuals to develop true values in
life
•Rewards of self-respect and self-worth
•Deeper understanding of love, respect, service, life
•Sense of unity and meaning
•” We will have college graduates who, despite
earned degrees, are bereft of vital information, film
conviction and social commitment” - Amable 9
What are the Differences?
•Who is a MORAL PERSON?
✓One who correctly distinguishes what is right
from what is wrong not only in KNOWLEDGE but
also in PRACTICE
When is one considered an IMMORAL
PERSON?
•If he does not act or behave in conformity with
practiced moral principles or norms

When is one an AMORAL Person?

• If one does not have the ability to distinguish
between what is a morally good act and what is a
morally evil one
• One cannot identify and accept moral norms,
resulting into “abnormality” or deviancy

ETHICAL OBJECTIVISM
• One standard of what is right or wrong
• Applicable to all
• Moral absolutism, moral law is eternal
• Truth or falsity of a typical moral judgement is not
dependent on the belief of a person
•Moral good is objectively real/ precepts objectively
valid; intinsic moral values

ETHICAL SUBJECTIVISM
• Based on one’s personal opinion about the issue
• Dependent on human will

ETHICAL RELATIVISM
• What is acceptable and unacceptable depends on
culture of the group
• There is no absolute standard of what is right and
wrong