On the nature and object of ethics

Part I 1. 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)

Etymology Ethos 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

Etymology Ethos 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.

ETHICS 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

ETHICS 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

ETHICS Ethics is a science on human behavior “Certain true knowledge of human behavior based on universal principles”

Ethics as a science: theoretical, practical, normative

ETHICS 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

ETHICS 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)

ETHICS 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

ETHICS 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 theory To be ethical is not a matter of following rules as something external Norms have a RATIONALE

ETHICS Ethical behaviour cannot be reduced to doing the “minimum” As long as I am not caught… I am not harming other people It 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 Every science has an object of study: material object Human actions: the material object of ethics Human actions vs. acts of man

ETHICS Object 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?

ETHICS Actions that proceed from man's deliberate will. 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.

ETHICS The formal object of ethics The formal object of any science is the perspective from which it studies a given reality Ethics vs. Psychology…

ETHICS Distinction between: MATERIAL OBJECT Reality studied of Ethics (Human acts) FORMAL OBJECT Aspect of the reality of Ethics (Morality of human acts)

ETHICS MATERIAL OBJECT Reality studied of Psychology Human mind/behaviour FORMAL OBJECT Aspect of Psychology as mental processes

ETHICS 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.

ETHICS 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

ETHICS Morality as goodness or badness Distinction between: Moral goodness – reference to will Technical goodness – in reference to intelligence, skill

ETHICS Technical “goodness” Thief who carries out a "perfect" robbery – good in the technical sense

ETHICS 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.

ETHICS 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.

ETHICS 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