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    Introduction To Ethics

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    This document provides an introduction to ethics as a branch of philosophy. It discusses ethics as the study of concepts of right and wrong conduct and moral duty. It outlines three major areas of ethics: meta-ethics concerning the meaning of moral propositions; normative ethics concerning determining moral action; and applied ethics concerning obligations in specific situations. The document also discusses defining ethics as the science of ideal character, moral principles, and as a human capacity for moral reasoning.

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    Introduction To Ethics

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    ᴉɥɔoɯ
    46 views11 pages
    This document provides an introduction to ethics as a branch of philosophy. It discusses ethics as the study of concepts of right and wrong conduct and moral duty. It outlines three major areas of ethics: meta-ethics concerning the meaning of moral propositions; normative ethics concerning determining moral action; and applied ethics concerning obligations in specific situations. The document also discusses defining ethics as the science of ideal character, moral principles, and as a human capacity for moral reasoning.

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    (1) Introduction to Ethics

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    This document provides an introduction to ethics as a branch of philosophy. It discusses ethics as the study of concepts of right and wrong conduct and moral duty. It outlines three major areas of ethics: meta-ethics concerning the meaning of moral propositions; normative ethics concerning determining moral action; and applied ethics concerning obligations in specific situations. The document also discusses defining ethics as the science of ideal character, moral principles, and as a human capacity for moral reasoning.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    46 views11 pages

    Introduction To Ethics

    Uploaded by

    ᴉɥɔoɯ
    This document provides an introduction to ethics as a branch of philosophy. It discusses ethics as the study of concepts of right and wrong conduct and moral duty. It outlines three major areas of ethics: meta-ethics concerning the meaning of moral propositions; normative ethics concerning determining moral action; and applied ethics concerning obligations in specific situations. The document also discusses defining ethics as the science of ideal character, moral principles, and as a human capacity for moral reasoning.

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    Introduction to Ethics

    LECTURE 1
    Ethics: An Overview
    Ethics or moral philosophy is branch of philosophy that involves
    systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and
    wrong conduct.
    The term ethics was derived from the Ancient Greek word ἠθικός
    ethikos, which is derived from the word ἦθος ethos (habit, “custom”).
    The branch of philosophy axiology that comprises the sub-branches of
    ethics and aesthetics, each concerned with values.
    Ethics: An Overview
    As a branch of philosophy, ethics investigates the questions:
    “What is the best way for people to live?" and “What actions are right
    or wrong in particular circumstances?“
    In practice, ethics seeks to resolve questions of human morality, by
    defining concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and
    vice, justice and crime. As a field of intellectual question, moral
    philosophy also is related to the fields of moral psychology, descriptive
    ethics, and value theory.
    Three Major Areas of Study in Ethics
    1. Meta-ethics, concerning the theoretical meaning and reference of
    moral propositions, and how their truth values (if any) can be determined
    2. Normative ethics, concerning the practical means of determining a
    moral course of action
    3. Applied ethics, concerning what a person is obligated (or permitted)
    to do in a specific situation or a particular domain of action
    Defining Ethics
    (1) Rushworth Kidder states that “standard definitions of ethics have
    typically included such phrases as 'the science of the ideal human
    character' or 'the science of moral duty’“.

    (2) Richard William Paul and Linda Elder define ethics as “a set of
    concepts and principles that guide us in determining what behavior
    helps or harms sentient creatures”.
    Defining Ethics
    (3) The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy states that the word ethics is
    “commonly used interchangeably with 'morality' ... and sometimes it is
    used more narrowly to mean the moral principles of a particular
    tradition, group or individual.”

    The word “ethics” in English refers to several things. It can refer to


    philosophical ethics or moral philosophy—a project that attempts to use
    reason in order to answer various kinds of ethical questions.
    Defining Ethics
    (4) Larry Churchill has written: “Ethics, understood as the capacity to
    think critically about moral values and direct our actions in terms of such
    values, is a generic human capacity.”
    (5)Ethics can also be used to describe a particular person’s own
    idiosyncratic principles or habits.
    (6) Ethics can also refer to a common human ability to think about ethical
    problems that is not particular to philosophy
    Defining Ethics
    (7) The English word ethics is derived from an Ancient Greek word
    êthikos, which means “relating to one’s character”. The Ancient Greek
    adjective êthikos is itself derived from another Greek word, the noun
    êthos meaning “character, disposition”
    The Aim of Ethics
    The aim of Ethics, or moral philosophy is to explain what we mean by
    morality and moral terms such as “good”, “right”, “wrong”, etc, and
    also explain what moral standards we should adopt.

    This is an essential aspect of philosophy, in so far as most of the


    decisions we make and actions we decide to perform are informed
    by moral principles.
    Ethical Dilemma

    An ethical dilemma (ethical paradox or moral dilemma) is


    a problem in the decision-making process between two
    possible options, neither of which is absolutely
    acceptable from an ethical perspective.
    Today’s Dilemma
    How would you plan the PERFECT Breakup?

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