Ethics Introduction

 

Introduction

 

This lesson will address the following follo wing questions:  What are moral standards?



 How do moral standards differ from other rules in



life?  What is moral dillema?   Why is freedom crucial in our ability to make



moral decisions?  What is the advantage of owning moral standards over merely abiding by moral standards?

 

Diagnostic Exercise 1.

 What is ethics?

 What is morality? 3.   Why Why are rules impor important tant to people? 2.

 

What is Ethics? 

Moral principles that govern govern a person's behaviour or the conducting of an activity activity..

The definition implies action.  In other words, ethical considerations 

should be embodied evidenced in decision-making and and actions.

 

What is Morality? 





It is a system of beliefs about what is right behavior and wrong behavior (Rubin, 2015). Moralit ity y deals with ho how w a person relates with others and with the world to promote what is good (Thiroux and Krasemann, 2009). Is the effort to guide ones conduct by reason (Rac (R achels, hels, 2015).

 

Lesson 1: Why Do You Need to Study Ethics and the Importance of Rules?

 

*Insert Ethics Case 1

 

What is moral experience? It is any encounter wherein a person understands that the values he or she believes to be important are either realized or thwarted (Hunt and Carnevale, 2011). For instance, when you decide to give a poor person some money because you feel that it is right thing to do, do, is a moral experience.

 

Relevance of Studying Ethics It gives a sense one’s of justification in judgment and helps ensu en sure re th that at de deci cisi sion onss at work are not made based on purely

subjective factors.

 

What ar are e Rules? Rules?  Standards that guide human activities



  A statement that tells you what is or is not



allowed in a particular situation allowed are in place to manage harmful  Rules behaviors; prevent chao chaos; and enco couurage stability  For example, traffic rules, sports rules

 

Tell your classmates what you think: (Individual Seatwork Activity) 1.

  Gi Givve at leas leastt three scho chool rules. Why are these rules important to our school?

2.

  Gi Givve at leas leastt three rules in your community. Why are these rules important to your community?

 

Lesson 2: Moral vs Non-moral Standards

 

Moral Standards Moral standard is a code of what is right or wrong wron g wi with thou outt re refe fere renc nce e to specific behaviors or beliefs (Lynn, 1997). It deals with ith matters that the person thinks have serious consequence and is based on good reason and impartial considerations overriding self-interest.

 

Characteristi ristics cs of Moral Standards Standards Characte 1.

2.

3.

  Mo Moral standards involve behaviors that seriously affect other people’s well-being.   Moral standar ard ds take a mo morre imp mpo ort rta ant consideration than other standards, including self-interest.

  Moral standards do not depend on any external authority but in how the person perceives the reasonableness of the action.

 

Characteristi cs of Moral Standards Standards Characteristics

4.

  Moral standards are believed to be

universal. 5.   Moral standards objectivity. 6.

are

based

on

  Moral standards are associated with vocabulary that depicts emotion or feelings.

 

Mo Moral ral vs Non Non-m -moral oral St Stan andar dards ds

can

Non-mora Non-mo rall standa standard rdss be considered as

relative standards by which something or someone is judg ju dged ed as ei eith ther er good ood or bad. The non-moral standa rdsrules varof y non-mo becaural se these rules depend on the guidelines agreed by a particular group. group.

 

Is a set of rules on how an individual should responsibly behave in the society. Table manners such as the proper use of utensils and the proper manner of eating

are

examples

of

etiquette.  

It is a clear, simple statement of how an organization plans to handle its servi rvices, actions, or business. Policies are guiding rules to help with decision making. Example is the wearing of school sc hool unif uniform orm and ID ID..

 

Law enforced agen ag enci cies es disputes,

is a rule created and by the government and its to mai maintai ntainn ord order, er, resol esolvve and protect a person’s

liberty and rights.

 

It is a rule that is to be strictly observ rve ed because it was said to be set by a divine entity such as those in the Ten Commandments (Stahl, 2009).

 

Lesson 3: Moral Dillema

 

Dilemma Dilemma is a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more mo re alte alterna rnati tivves es,, espe especia ciall lly y equally undesirable ones. Thus, when you find yourself facing a problem but the solutions available to you will only create another problem or worse orse crea create te more more prob proble lems ms,, then you are in a dilemma.

 

A moral dilemma is a situation where: 1.

2.

3.

 There are two or more actions that you can possibly do   There is a moral reason(s) for doing such actions  You cannot do all the possible actions presented to you. You only need to choose one.

 

Three Levels Dilemma Levels of Moral Dilemma 1.

  Pers rso onal Moral Dilemma  –   is

when your decision in a situation where there is moral conflict is tthhe c a u s e o f e i t h e r y o u r o w n ; at of another person; or a group of people’s   potential

harm.  

Three Lev Levels els of Moral Dilemma Dilemma 2.

  Organi Organizatio zationa nall dile dilemma mma  –   is when a member or members of th e organization is in a situation where there is moral conflict, and the decision

will potentially harm either some members of the group or organization.

 

Levels els of Moral Dilemma Dilemma Three Lev

3.   Stru rucctura rall mora oral di dillemma  –   is when a person or gro group up of persons who holds high level positions in tchoenflicstoincgietysitua faticoens wahereminorathlle y entire social system is affected.

 

Lesson 4: Freedom

 

Reflection

Ethics can only be applicable to human beings?

 

Why only human beings can be ethical?

According

to

St.

Thomas

Aquinas, the fundamental difference between animal ethics and human ethics is that animals beha be havve in inst stin inct ctiv ive ely whi hile le huma humann behavior is rational.

 

Rational Behavior It is a decision making process where the person acts in ways that best achieve his or her needs in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h h i s o r h e r s e t preferences, priorities, and principles.

 

What does “human person” mean?

A human person   is a being  with inborn properties that he or she uses to direct his or her own development toward self-fulfillment. One of the inborn properties of the human person is freedom.

 

understanding What is your understand ing of freedom? 1.

  Freedom is a gift.

3.

  Fre reed edom om is Co Com mpl plem emen enta tary ry to Reason   Freedom is Absolute

4.

  Freedom demands responsibility

2.

 

Freedom is a gift  



Gabriel Marcel Freedom is the ability to act significantly It is a gift given to us by God

( Hernandez, 2009)

 

Freedom is Complementary to Reason 

Aristotle’s ethical doctrines asserted that freedom and reason are complementary

 Human person as a moral agent must exercise practical rationality in order to determine how to pursue his or her ultimate end (telos)





 Self-direction is crucial characteristic of the free person

 

Freedom is Absolute 

Jean Paul Sartre



Human person is “absolutely free”





Freedom of the human person is be bey yond freedom from restrictions As human persons, we are free to make make choices

 

Freedom demands Responsibility 

  Freedom is the capacity to choose, that ev even en not choosing is a choice c hoice (Jean-P (Jean-Paul aul Sartre)



 Responsibility follows freedom.    Lao Tzu adv advocated ocated that a person CAN and SHOULD c hoose to act, but his or her actions should be that which would result in harmony. * the exercise of one’s freedom is not absolute

 

A Clockwork Orange (Read the synopsis of the story)

  What was the central theme of the story? two makes makes you you human? human? (def (defend end 2.   Which of the two your answer)

1.

a. Free to decide and do evil acts; or b. Forced to become a moral person and not hurt others