Understanding Ethics

Definition of Ethics

• Derived from Greek word "ethos" meaning custom or character.
• Branch of philosophy studying rightness or wrongness of human actions.
• Concerned with how humans ought to act, search for good conduct and good life.
• Traditional goal of ethicists: seeking the good through reason.

Nature of Ethics

• No single absolute definition; constantly evolving due to socio-cultural and political changes.
• Greek tradition focused on the concept of the good life, happiness, and its attainment (referenced Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics").
• Judeo-Christian tradition emphasizes righteousness before God and love of God and neighbor.
• Challenges in reconciling happiness with ethical righteousness; hence no absolute definition.

Ethics vs. Morality

• Ethics: theory of right action and greater good.
• Morality: practice of ethics, indicates rightness or wrongness of actions.
• Ethics involves systematic study of moral principles; morality is prescriptive and guides actions.
• Terence McConnell's view: morality as a rational enterprise for peaceful coexistence.

Types of Ethical Inquiry

Normative Ethics

• Prescriptive; sets norms regulating right and wrong conduct.
• Develops guidelines on how we ought to behave.
• Example: Kant's view on moral duty.

Metaethics

• Descriptive; studies meaning of ethical terms and functions of ethical utterances.
• Questions nature and origin of moral facts, and how we learn moral beliefs.
• Example: Plato's inquiry on why one should be moral.

Applied Ethics

• Application of ethical theories to specific situations (e.g. abortion, euthanasia).
• Casuists focus on resolving individual moral problems and may offer guidance.
• Divided into fields: business ethics, biomedical ethics, environmental ethics, social ethics.

Example Scenario

• Police officer shooting a terrorist:
  • Metaethical perspective: killing is intrinsically wrong.
  • Normative ethical perspective: action might be correct to save lives.
  • Casuist perspective: officer fulfilling duty to protect innocents.

Conclusion

• Ethics is the science of morals; morality is the practice of ethics.
• Continuous exploration of ethical principles is essential for understanding.

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