ETHICS THESIS STATEMENT.
1. Ethics is a practical branch of philosophy with many divisions. It deals with the
systematic study of the human conduct with solid rational foundation that serves as an aid
to attain answers to fundamental human problems and questions on the complexities of
humanity towards the actualization of human ideals through a process of observation,
reflection, discernment, judgment and action.
- Ethics is a branch of philosophy that specifically focuses on the study of human behavior.
Unlike other branches of philosophy that may deal with abstract or theoretical questions, ethics is
concerned with how people actually act in real-life situations. It provides a rational foundation
for understanding what is morally right or wrong by examining the principles that govern our
actions. The goal of ethics is to help individuals answer important life questions, such as: What
should I do in this situation? or What does it mean to live a good life? It does this through a
process that involves observation (noticing human behavior), reflection (thinking deeply about
it), discernment (making judgments about right and wrong), and action (acting based on those
judgments). Ethics, therefore, is both a guide for individual behavior and a framework for
understanding how we interact with others in society.
2. Ethics studies, acquires and ascertains through human reason moral principles that
guide human acts. It deals with how to justify the moral demands and ethical theories of
certain human rational behavior. Morality, however, deals with the quality of human acts
by which they are constituted as good, bad, or indifferent. It compels reflection and
application of the ethical principles on rectifying actions that lead to a meaningful life,
which is the ultimate end of man.
-Ethics and morality are closely linked but distinct concepts. Ethics refers to the systematic
study of moral principles—the reasoning behind why certain actions are considered right or
wrong. It provides a framework for analyzing and justifying decisions. In contrast, morality
pertains to the actual standards of right and wrong that govern a person’s behavior. Morality is
not just theoretical; it is about the actions we take in the real world and whether they align with
good or bad. Thus, while ethics deals with why something is right or wrong, morality deals with
how we practice these principles in our daily lives. Ethics encourages us to reflect on our
choices, apply moral principles, and strive toward living meaningful and virtuous lives. The
ultimate goal is to live in a way that promotes personal well-being and the collective good.
3. Socrates says, “No man voluntarily pushes evil, or that which he thinks is evil. To prefer
evil to good is not in human nature.” Blaise Pascal once wrote, “All men have happiness as
their object. There is no exception. However different the means they employ, they all aim
at the same end.”
-Both Socrates and Blaise Pascal provide insights into human nature and our pursuit of goodness.
Socrates famously argued that no one willingly chooses evil. People might act wrongly, but it is
because they are mistaken or ignorant about what is truly good. According to Socrates, every
person inherently seeks what is good, though sometimes they may be misguided. Blaise Pascal
similarly claimed that all people seek happiness, regardless of how they go about it. While the
means may vary—whether through wealth, power, or relationships—the end goal for all human
beings remains the same: happiness. These philosophical perspectives suggest that, at our core,
humans are driven by the desire for good, even if our actions sometimes lead us astray.
4. Human acts that are constitutive of knowledge, freedom and voluntariness are the
subject matter of Ethics while its particular point of view is the right conduct of man.
Human acts are qualified as moral or immoral depending on the determinate of their
character namely, the object, the motive and the circumstances.
-Ethics focuses on human acts—those actions that are performed with full knowledge and
freedom. A human act is one that originates from the will and is guided by reason. These acts can
be judged as morally good, bad, or neutral based on three key factors:
The Object: What is being done? (e.g., telling the truth, helping someone)
The Intention: Why is it being done? (e.g., to help, to deceive)
The Circumstances: What are the surrounding conditions that influence the act? (e.g.,
time, place, people involved)
By analyzing all three of these elements, we can determine whether an action aligns with moral
principles. For instance, telling the truth (object) with the intention of helping someone
(intention) in a public setting (circumstance) would likely be considered a morally good act.
However, the same action could become morally questionable if done with harmful intentions or
in a harmful context.
5. Since knowledge and freedom are necessary conditions for the voluntary act, it follows
that human actions performed without perfect knowledge and full freedom are not perfect
voluntary, and no person can be held fully responsible for such actions. Human acts, which
are voluntary, therefore, are modified in their moral culpability especially with passions,
fear, violence and habits.
-For an action to be considered truly voluntary, it must be performed with full knowledge and
freedom. This means that the person must fully understand what they are doing and have the
ability to choose it without external pressure or internal compulsions. If someone acts in
ignorance or is forced into a situation by fear, habit, or external forces, their moral responsibility
is diminished. In such cases, they are not fully to blame for the consequences of their actions.
Ethics acknowledges that the degree of responsibility in moral decisions is influenced by various
factors, including the person’s understanding, emotional state, and external pressures. This
nuanced view allows for greater compassion when judging others and encourages a more
thoughtful approach to evaluating moral behavior.
6. Human acts are properly human when they are voluntary because the will of the rational
appetite is a faculty proper to man. A voluntary act is defined as the act, which proceeds
from an intrinsic principle with knowledge of the end.
-A voluntary act is one that arises from the rational will of a person. It is a conscious choice
that is made freely, with knowledge of its end goal. This ability to choose freely is a distinctive
characteristic of humans, setting us apart from other creatures. Human dignity is rooted in this
ability to make free and rational choices. When people act voluntarily, they are expressing their
humanity—their capacity for rational thought and moral judgment. Ethics, therefore,
emphasizes the importance of voluntary actions because they reflect a person’s true character
and contribute to their moral growth. The more freely and knowingly we act, the more we are
living up to our potential as human beings.
7. Man alone is capable of human act as a free agent. The morality of human act performed
by man have three elements namely the object, the end and the circumstances. These are
the sources of morality which are the determinants of the human act in connection with its
moral character.
- In ethics, the morality of an action is determined by three main sources:
1. The Object: What is the action itself? This is the what of the action—what is actually
being done.
2. The End (Intention): Why is the action being performed? This is the why—the purpose
or goal that motivates the action.
3. The Circumstances: What are the surrounding conditions or context of the action? This
is the how, as the circumstances can influence the moral value of the action.
These three factors work together to determine whether an action is morally right or wrong. For
example, helping someone (object) with the intention of gaining favor (intention) in a situation
where help is needed (circumstances) would be morally different from helping with selfish
motives or in an inappropriate situation. Therefore, a comprehensive moral evaluation requires
examining all three aspects of an action.
8. St. Thomas Aquinas defines law as “an ordinance of reason directed towards the
common good and promulgated by the one who has the care of the community.” Laws are
of different kinds and the highest among which is the Eternal Law with which Natural law
is a corollary. Natural Law, moreover, is understood “as a disposition of the human reason
to discover the moral meaning of our actions in relation to the final end.” Considerably,
Natural Law is characterized as universal, obligatory, recognizable and immutable.
- St. Thomas Aquinas defined law as a rational ordinance that directs individuals toward the
common good. Law is not just about rules; it is about guiding people to live in harmony and with
justice. According to Aquinas, there are different types of law, and the highest of them all is the
Eternal Law—the divine wisdom that governs the universe. The Natural Law, a part of Eternal
Law, is accessible to human reason and helps us understand moral principles through our ability
to reason. Natural Law is universal, meaning it applies to all people, regardless of time or place,
and is immutable, meaning it does not change. Aquinas’ view of law suggests that ethics is not
just a matter of following societal rules; it is about aligning our actions with a higher moral order
that is grounded in both reason and divine wisdom.
9. The most fundamental ethical norm is the axiom, “Do good and avoid evil,“ which is a
cry of the “little voice of God” in every man. That small still voice within each person is
called conscience, which is “an act of the practical judgment of the reason deciding upon an
individual action as good and to be performed or as evil and to be avoided.
- Conscience is a fundamental part of human moral experience. It is the inner voice that guides
us to do good and avoid evil. Conscience is not a feeling or impulse, but a rational judgment of
the moral quality of an action. It tells us whether an action is right or wrong based on our
reasoning. The command to “do good and avoid evil” is the most basic moral law, and it reflects
the voice of conscience. This moral guide is universal, present in every human being, and it
shapes our behavior by urging us to make choices that align with the moral law. Ethics, therefore,
helps us cultivate a well-formed conscience that guides us toward virtuous actions.
10. Moral responsibility is not merely a matter of free will, but also a complex interplay of
individual freedom, societal norms, and the capacity for rational deliberation, ultimately
leading to a system of moral reasoning where actions are evaluated based on their potential
impact on the collective good.
- Moral responsibility is not just about having the freedom to choose; it also involves considering
the effects of our actions on others and the broader community. Ethics teaches us that our
decisions must not only reflect personal freedom but also contribute to the common good—the
well-being of all. The common good is the condition in which everyone in society can thrive and
live a fulfilled life. Moral responsibility involves thinking beyond personal gain and making
choices that support the collective well-being of society. Ethical decision-making, therefore,
requires a balance between individual freedom and social responsibility.
