Topic: Introduction

1
Topic Introduction

• Sub-topic Basic Concepts
• Ethics
• (a) Ethics is the principles of conduct
  governing an individual or a group.
• An individual may have personal ethics. This will
  be the rules by which that individual lives his
  life.
• A group such as a Physicians Association may have
  a code of ethics that is applied to the behavior
  of its members.

2
Topic Introduction

• Sub-topic Basic Concepts
• Ethics
• Ethics is thus a mechanism to control or regulate
  the behaviors of individuals or groups.
• (b) Ethics is also the study of morality. In
  other words, ethics studies or investigates the
  morality of some conduct.
• 2. Morality It is the standards that an
  individual or a group has about what is right and
  wrong, or good and evil.

3
Topic Introduction

• Sub-topic Basic Concepts
• 2. Morality (Cont.)
• Moral standards include
• Norms the kinds of actions we believe are
  morally right and wrong. These norms are usually
  expressed as general rules or statements.
• Examples Always tell the truth.
• It is wrong to kill innocent people. It is
  wrong to steal.
• (b) Values These are the judgments, in terms of
  good and bad, we put on objects.
• Examples Honesty is good. Injustice is bad.

4
Topic Introduction

• Sub-topic Basic Concepts
• 2. Morality (Cont.)
• Sources of Moral Standards Where do moral
  standards come from?
• We learn about these standards through the
  socialization process as we grow up from
  childhood to adulthood.
• When we become adults, experience, learning, and
  intellectual development may lead us to revise
  these standards. We may even discard some moral
  standards and adopt new ones as we mature.
• Notice that we do not always live up to the moral
  standards we hold. In other words, we do not
  always do what we believe is morally right. Also,
  we do not always pursue what we believe is
  morally good.

5
Topic Introduction

• Sub-topic Basic Concept
• Salient Characteristics of Moral Standards
  (Morality)
• These characteristics distinguish moral standards
  from non-moral standards. An example of
  non-moral standards is standards of etiquette
  such as table manners.
• a. Moral standards deal with matters that can
  seriously injure or benefit human beings.
• Examples a drug company does not tell its
  clients the side effects of some of its
  medications. Murdering people, raping people
• b. Moral standards are not established or
  changed by the decisions of particular
  authoritative bodies.
• c. Moral standards are preferred to other values,
  particularly self-interest.
• Example Consider a business firm (a drug
  company) that lies about the side effects of one
  of its medical drug.

6
Introduction

• Characteristics of Moral Standard (Cont.)
• d. Moral standards are based on impartial
  considerations. This means one should not be
  biased or prejudiced when making a decision. For
  example, A judge should not judge on the basis of
  friendship. He does, then his judgment will be
  partial, not impartial.