On the nature and object of ethics

ETHICS

Part I1. Introduction to Ethics

What is ethics? The nature of ethics.

Ethics as a normative and practical science.

Its relation with other field of knowledge: psychology, sociology, law, metaphysics, anthropology.

Ethics as a philosophical discipline: moral experience and ethical reflection.

Definition of ethics

Metaphysical study of the end of man and of human acts in so far as they are related to that end (De Torre, Christian Philosophy)

Key words….

Definition of ethics

Area of philosophy that studies free human acts, from the point of view of their moral value (goodness or badness) in relation with the last end of man

Etymology

Etymologically comes from Greek <ethos> which means habit or custom

Ethics is also known as morals from Latin <mos, mores> which means custom; understood as a natural inclination to act with an intention (direction to an end)

(De Torre)

EtymologyEthos

Properly speaking ethos is used to refer to habits acquired by repetition of acts

In as much as these acts are wanted, they modify man’s way of behaving and end up being a sort of a second nature to him

This repetition of acts which constitute custom can generate an ethos as long as it verges on actions that are truly human

EtymologyEthos

As a way of being, ethos is specifically human, constituting in the individual who has it a way of being called character, different from the way of being which is received naturally known as temperament.

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Ethics is a science

The Aristotelian definition of science:

“certain knowledge through causes”

body of knowledge which is a result of a reflection on the basic principles about a particular reality

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Characteristics of scientific knowledge

Certain and systematic: based on serious reflection

Well-founded on universal principles (principles that have general application)

E.g. ethical principles that can be applied to all times and all places

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Ethics is a science on human behavior

“Certain true knowledge of human behavior based on universal principles”

Ethics as a science: theoretical, practical, normative

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Theoretical:

It entails speculative knowledge about what is good or evil, about the nature of man’s activity, about the virtues, etc.

Need to use PHILOSOPHICAL terminology- not simplified

Use of case studies should be complemented with theoretical grounding

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Practical science:

It aims at changing our lives

“We do not study Ethics to know what is virtue but to learn how we can make ourselves virtuous and good; otherwise it will be a useless study.” (Aristotle)

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Ethics should lead to the acquisition of virtues.

The will plays an important role in acquiring this moral knowledge

Connection between moral reasoning and moral development

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Normative science:

On the basis of this reflection, ethics formulates value judgments and norms of behaviour to guide one’s actions.

Link between theory, practice, norms

Rules are founded on theoryTo be ethical is not a matter of following rules as

something externalNorms have a RATIONALE

ETHICSEthical behaviour cannot be reduced to doing

the “minimum”

As long as I am not caught…I am not harming other peopleIt is a small action and will not do any real

harm (small lie, small theft, a small act of dishonesty)

On the nature and object of ethics:

ETHICS

ETHICSObject of study

Every science has an object of study: material object

Human actions: the material object of ethics

Human actions vs. acts of man

ETHICSObject of study:

human acts

Human acts – acts that we carry out freely

Acts of man – no rational control

the blinking of one’s eye

digestive process sleeping?

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What are human actions?

Actions that proceed from man's deliberate will.

Man uses his reason and his will.

He is capable of leading himself to a freely chosen goal. Freedom makes man a moral subject.

In every free act, man becomes the author of this act and is responsible for it.

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The formal object of ethics

The formal object of any science is the perspective from which it studies a given reality

Ethics vs. Psychology…

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Distinction between:

MATERIAL OBJECT Reality studied of Ethics (Human acts)

FORMAL OBJECT Aspect of the reality

of Ethics (Morality of human acts)

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MATERIAL OBJECT Reality studied of Psychology Human

mind/behaviour

FORMAL OBJECT Aspect of Psychology as mental

processes

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Morality as the formal object of ethics

Ethics studies the morality of human acts

Moral value (goodness or evil) of these acts

They are good if they are oriented towards man’s final goal; bad if they draw him away from that goal.

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Morality as goodness or badness

The notion of good and evil as ethical notions should be understood in reference to the WILL

An act is morally good if the will is oriented towards the final goal or end

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Morality as goodness or badness

Distinction between:

Moral goodness – reference to will

Technical goodness – in reference to intelligence, skill

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Technical “goodness”

Thief who carries out a "perfect" robbery – good in the technical sense

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Technical “goodness”

The goodness that we are referring to is not a positive quality of the will of the employee, but a positive quality of his intelligence, of his dexterity, of his skill.

This thief is technically good but not morally good. Partial goodness.

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Moral goodness is absolute goodness

Ethics is concerned with the moral good or the absolute good, which is in reference to the orientation of the will to man's final goal.

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Moral goodness/evil is absolute

It makes the doer of the action good or bad in the absolute sense.

Lying (even a small lie) converts the person to a LIAR