BATAAN PENINSULA STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY

COMP-411
SD4A

Group 1:
Leader: Nebre, Brein Eilan
Members: Diego, Jaimark
Dador, Renante
Mistal, Johanan Clarisse
Castrence, Roylyn Clarisse
Gonzales, Mikaela
Lesson I: Basic Theories as Frameworks in Ethics
The term ‘framework’ can be identified as a basic structure underlying a system or concept.
Conceptually in Ethics, it refers to a set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that continues a
way of viewing reality. With this definition, a framework is pretty much like a worldview or a held theory.

Ethics today generally divide the study of morality into three general subject areas; meta-ethics,
normative ethics, and applied ethics. Under these respective areas are various moral theories or
frameworks.

1. Meta-Ethics

Meta-ethics is the branch of ethics that studies the nature of morality. As such, it talks about the
meaning, reference, and truth values of moral judgments. It also explains what goodness and wickedness
mean and how we know about them.

Because it studies the meaning of ethical language and the metaphysics of moral truths, meta-ethics
deals with questions like the following: Are there objective moral truths? What do the words ‘good’, ‘bad’,
‘right, and ‘wrong’ mean?

1.1 Cognitivism vs Non-cognitivism

a. Cognitivisim states that moral judgments convey propositions, that is, they are ‘truth bearers’ or they
are either true or false.

Moral realism claims that the existence of moral facts and the truth (or falsity) of moral judgments are
independent of people’s thoughts and perceptions.

Ethical subjectivism, on the other hand, holds that the truth (or falsity) of ethical propositions are
dependent on the attitudes or standards of a person or group of persons. Subjectivism is obviously
contrary to moral realism.

b. Non-cognitivisim denies that moral judgments are either true or false.

Emotivism is the most popular form of non-cognitivist theory. It submits that moral judgments are mere
expressions of our emotions and feelings.

1.2 Universalism vs Relativism

a. Moral universalism theorizes that moral facts and principles apply to everybody in all places. Also
called ‘moral objectivism’. It claims that a universal ethic exists and that this applies to all similarly
situated persons, regardless of nationality, citizenship, culture, race, gender, sexual preference, religion or
any other differentiating factor.
 b. Moral relativism, on the other hand, submits the different moral facts and principles apply to different
persons or group of individuals. Believing that various cultures have distinct standards of right and wrong.
It also maintains that ethical standards also change over time even in the same culture

1.3 Empiricism vs Rationalism vs Intuitionism

a. Moral empiricism is a meta-ethical stance which states that moral facts are known through observation
experience

b. Moral rationalism contends that moral facts and principles are knowable a priori, that is, by reason
alone and without reference to experience

c. Moral intuitionism submits that moral truths are knowable by intuition, that is, by immediate
instinctive knowledge without reference to any evidence. In its general form, it claims that some moral
facts can be known without inference.

2. Normative Ethics
Normative Ethics is the branch of ethics that studies how man ought to act morally speaking. As
the name suggests, it examines ethical norms, that is, those guidelines about what is right, worthwhile,
virtuous, or just.

Normative ethical theories generally categorized into three kinds:

2.1 Deontological
Deontological is an ethical system that bases morality on independent moral rules or duties. The term
came from the Greek word deon.
Also called non-consequentialism, the system’s principles are submitted as obligatory, regardless of the
consequences that actions might produce.
Nonconsequentialism is a type of normative ethical theory that denies that the rightness or wrongness of
our conduct is determined solely by the goodness or badness of the consequences of our acts or of the
rules to which those acts conform.

2.2 Teleology
Teleology refers to moral system that determines the moral value of action by their outcomes or results.
From the Greek word telos which end teleology takes into account the end result of the action as the
exclusive consideration of it's morality.

Teleology deems an action as morality right if it's favorable consequences are greater than it's adverse
outcomes. It's most famous form is consequentialism which proposes that morality is determined solely
by a cost benefit evaluation of the action's consequences.
2.3 Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics as a moral system places emphasis on developing good habits of character, like kindness
and generosity, and avoiding bad character traits, such as greed or hatred.

Virtue based theories give importance to moral education which molds individuals to habitually act in
a virtuous manner. Focusing on the character of the agent, virtue ethics describe right action as those
chosen and performed by a suitably virtuous person.

3.Applied ethics

Applied Ethics philosophically examines specific, controversial more issues. Using a philosophical method,
this area of concern in Ethics attempts to determine the ethically correct course of action in specific
realms of human action

Applied ethical issues nowadays are classified into various subfields:

3.1 Biothics

This concerns ethical issues pertaining to life, biomedical researches, medicines, health care, and medical
profession. As such, it deals with controversies like those about surrogate mothering, genetic
manipulation of fetuses, stem cell research, using human embryos in research, in-vitro fertilization,
abortion, euthanasia, suicide, patient rights, confidentiality of patient’s records, physician’s
responsibilities and mandatory medical screening.

3.2 Environmental Ethics

It deals with moral issues concerning nature, ecosystem, and its nonhuman contents. This
includes issues such as animal rights, animal rights, animal experimentation, endangered species
preservation, pollution control and sustainable development.

3.3 Business Ethics

It examines moral principles concerning business environment which involves issues about
corporate practices, policies, business behaviors, and the conducts and relationships of individuals in the
organization. It investigates ethical controversies such as those about the social responsibility of
businesses, employee rights, harassment, labor unions, misleading advertising, job discrimation and
whistle blowing
 3.4 Sexual Ethics

It studies moral issues about sexuality and human sexual behavior. It examines topics like
homosexuality, lesbianism, polygamy, premarital sex, marital fidelity, extra-marital sex, non-marital
procreation, loveless sexual relations, safe sex and contraceptive use

3.5 Social ethics