THEORI

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THEORIE
THEORIES
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THEORI
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THEORIE
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Module 14

CONTENT:
GROUP 5:

ETHI
 GROUP 5:

ETHICS
Module 14
CONTENT:
THEORIE
THEORI
THEORIES
THEORIES
THEORI

• MODULE 14 - MORAL THEORIES

•
ES

MODULE 15 - ARISTOTLE AND ST. THOMAS

ES

• MODULE 16 - KANTIAN THEORY

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the topic, students are expected to:
a) determine the difference between morality and ethics
b) understand the different moral theories
c) differentiate between moral theories.
 “Moral” “Ethics”
• the guide to good or right conduct. • is the philosophical study of Morality.

Moral theory?
• A theory is a structured set of statements used to explain (or predict) a set
THEORIE
of facts or concepts.
THEORI
THEORIES
THEORIES

Module
• A moral theory, then, explains why a certain action is wrong -- or why we
follow

ought to act in certain ways.

ES
S

• Moral theories provide the framework upon which we think and discuss in a
reasoned way, and so evaluate, specific moral issues.
 “Moral” “Ethics”
• the guide to good or right conduct. • is the philosophical study of Morality.

Moral theory?
• A theory is a structured set of statements used to explain (or predict) a set
Consider this also!

of facts or concepts.
Curriculu
Designs

Module
Consider

• A moral theory, then, explains why a certain action is wrong -- or why we

follow

ought to act in certain ways.

this!

• Moral theories provide the framework upon which we think and discuss in a
reasoned way, and so evaluate, specific moral issues.

Are moral theories descriptive or prescriptive?

• PRESCRIPTIVE how people ought to act.
• DESCRIPTIVE human behavior as a
consequence of beliefs about what is right or
wrong, or good or bad.
 Theories of Morality

1 2 3 4

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THEORI

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THEORIES

Theories
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Moral Cultural Ethical Divine

Subjectivism Relativism Command
Egoism
Theory
 Moral Subjectivism

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THEORIE
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- where right or wrong are determined by what you --
the subject just happens to think (or 'feel') is right or
wrong. This is simply based on your personal
assessment and judgment.
 Cultural Relativism

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THEORIE
THEORI

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THEORIES
THEORIES
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- Right and wrong is determined by the particular set of
principles or rules the relevant culture just happens to
hold at the time. This is also based on the idea that
different people have different cultures that are why
right or wrong is based on how one’s culture dictates
morality.
 Ethical Egoism

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THEORIE
THEORI

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- Right and wrong is determined by what is in your self-
interest. Or, it is immoral to act contrary to your self-
interest.
 Divine Command Theory

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THEORIE
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ES

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- Right and wrong come from the commands of God (or the gods)
 5 6 7
Virtue Feminist Utilitaria-
Ethics Ethics nism

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THEORIES
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8 9
Kantian Contractaria
nism
Theory
 Virtue Ethics

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ES

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- Right and wrong are characterized in terms of acting in
accordance with the traditional virtues -- making a good
person.
 Feminist Ethics

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- Right and wrong are to be found in women's responses to the
relationship of caring.
 Utilitarianism

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ES

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- Right and wrong is determined by the overall goodness (utility) of the consequences of the
action.
Basic Ideas: All action leads to some end. But there is a summum bonum -- the highest
good/end. This is pleasure or happiness. Also, there is a First Principle of Morals -- 'Principle
of Utility', alternatively called 'The Greatest Happiness Principle' (GHP), usually characterized
as the ideal of working towards the greatest happiness of the greatest number. The GHP
implies that we ought to act so as to maximize human welfare.We do this in a particular
instance by choosing the action that maximizes pleasure/happiness and minimizing suffering.
 Kantian Theory

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THEORIE
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THEORIES
THEORIES
- Right and wrong are determined by rationality, giving universal duties.
ES

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Basic ideas: That there is "the supreme principle of morality". Good and Evil are defined in terms
of Law / Duty / Obligation. Rationality and Freedom are also central. Kant thought that acting
morally was quite simple.
That is:
1. you ought to do your duty (simply because it is your duty).
2. Reason guides you to this conclusion.
3. Good Will (i.e., having the right intentions) is the only thing that is good without qualification.
So, actions are truly moral only if they have the right intention, i.e., based on Good Will.
 Contractarianism

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- The principles of right and wrong (or Justice) are those
which everyone in society would agree upon in forming
a social contract.
 GROUP 5:

ETHICS
INTRODUCTIO
N 15
CONTENT:
Content
Content

• MODULE 14 - MORAL THEORIES

Content
END

Module
• MODULE 15 - ARISTOTLE AND ST. THOMAS
• MODULE 16 - KANTIAN THEORY

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the topic, students are expected to:
a) To describe the moral philosophy of Aristotle and St. Thomas.
b) To explain the differences and similarities of Aristotle and St. Thomas’ philosophy.
 Aristotle
Introductio
Content
Content
Content

Greek philosopher

Module
wrote his Nicomachean Ethics
END

For him, the ultimate purpose cannot be understood without understanding the place of
n

reason in ordering one’s life.

“Self-realization is the highest good

attainable by man. Self-realization is termed as Eudaemonia or well-being or happiness”
This happiness is not the same as possession of:
-wealth or pleasure;
-while pleasure is good,it is not the ultimate good.
  
Happiness is the natural outcome of the active exercise of functions.
The full realization of functions refers
 

Introductio
Content
Content
Content

Module
“FRAD”
END

F-ulfiling

n
R- ealizing
A- ctualization
D- evelopment
 Eudaemonia is sought for its own sake.
All other ends, such as;

n 15
Introductio
Content
Content

Content
END

Module
WEALTH HEALTH

POWER
 Threefold Nature of Man
1.Vegetative- it refers to the physical body which is cultivated by wholesome
food and proper Exercise.

n 15
Introductio
 
Content

Content
Content
2.Sentient- Man as full of senses has sentient nature. Man’s sensual feelings
END

Module
and emotions must be fully developed through appropriate sex activity within the
limit of his social Conventions.
 
3. Rational- Human bearings are rational animals. the full realization of their
vegetative and sentient nature keeps them longing for more lasting satisfaction.
 Determinant of Morality
The doctrine of the golden mean is central in the self- realization ethics of Aristotle, especially in the full
exercise of functions regarding the development of man’s vegetative and sentient nature.

n 15
Introductio
Content
Content

Content
END

Module
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas’ philosophy began with the standpoint of faith.
He is known to be one who Christianized the philosophy based on his theories and ways. His perspective presupposes the
existence of God who is the author (source) and the goal (end) of all realities.

“Do good and avoid evil”. Different slide

St. Thomas Aquinas
 He used the term synderesis to describe this inherent capacity of an
individual to perceive what is good or bad.
 
the conscience- immediate judgment of practical reason applying the general principle of
morality.
 

n 15
Introductio
What is good for St. Thomas? Separate slide

Content
Content

Content
 

Module
END
 
St. Thomas asserts that what is human good,good is which is suitable for and proper to
human nature.
 
 
human nature is the proximate norm of morality.
 
In St. Thomas View, the good is built
into human nature, to which we are directed by our natural
Three Natural Inclinations of Man
 
1. Self-preservation.  
We are inclined to preserve our life. Self- destruction, first of all, is unnatural as far as St.
Thomas is concerned. This urges us to care for our health, not to kill ourselves or put
ourselves in danger.

n 15
 

Introductio
Content
2. Just dealings with others.

Content

Content

Module
Reason by nature leads us to treat others with the same dignity and respect that we accord

END
ourselves. This is the basis of justice which arises out of human relations. Thus, any act of
injustice is against human nature.
 
 
3. Propagation of the species.
We are naturally inclined to perpetuate our species which is viewed as a natural good. We are
obligated not to pervert this natural inclination. The reproductive organs are by nature
designed to reproduce and to perpetuate the human species. And any intervention against
such nature must be evil.
Determinant of Morality
 

n 15
Introductio
1. Object- the Act itself

Content
Content

Content
2. Circumstances-are conditions which, when superadded to the nature of the

Module
END
moral act, will
affect its morality. It answers the question of who, what, where, by what means,
why, how and when?
3. End of the agent- The end here is taken in the sense of end or purpose of the
agent or the doer.
 GROUP 5:

ETHICS
Module 14
CONTENT:
Consider this also!

Morality
Theories
• MODULE 14 - MORAL THEORIES
Consider
follow

• MODULE 15 - ARISTOTLE AND ST. THOMAS

this!

• MODULE 16 - KANTIAN THEORY

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the topic, students are expected to:
a) understand the Kantian Theory.
b) determine the role of goodwill in ethics
c) understand the Right Based theory of Kant.
 Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

• German thinker
• Most significant philosopher in the modern era

Module 14
Consider this also!

Morality

• Known for his “categorical imperative” and

Theories
Consider
follow

inspiration for German Idealism

this!
 “Kantian Theory”

Categorically rejects that ethical judgements are

based on feelings.
For him, feelings even serve as obstruction to our

Module 14
Consider this also!

discernment of right and wrong.

Morality

Theories
Consider
follow

this!

“Kantian Ethical Theory”

Bases moral judgements on REASON alone

 REASON & GOODWILL
It is what deems an action either He believes that when we wish to
ethical or not determined the moral status of an
action, we consult reason.

Module 16
Consider this also

Designs

Theories
 Kant don’t agree in many ethicist that
Consider
follow

happiness is the summum bonum or the

this!

highest good.
 He believes that goodwill is the highest
good/virtue.

Who is a good person of good will?

• Person who acts from a sense of duty.
• He believes that acting from a sense of duty means exhibiting good will even in
the face of difficulty.
 We act morally only when we restrain our feelings and inclination

Module 16
Consider this also

Morality
Designs
Theories
and do that which we are onliged to do.
follow
Consider
this!

 
MORALITY is essentially connected with duties and obligation.
 CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
- Kant’s moral philosophy is a deontological normative theory, which is to say he
rejects the utilitarian idea that the rightness of an action is a function of how fruitful
its outcome is. He says that motive (or means) and not consequence (or end), of an
action determines its moral value.

Module 16
Consider this!
Example:
Consider this also

Designs
Theories
“You shouldn’t kill”
follow

“You ought to help those in need”

“Don’t steal”

HYPOTHETICAL IMPERATIVE
- Contingent command, it is a conditional on a person’s wants, needs, or desires
and normally comes in the following form : “if you want/need A, then ought to do B.”
Example:
“If you want to do well on a test, then you should study a lot”.
 Rights based Theories of Kant
Holds that human persons have rights that are autonomous, universal and treat persons as
ends. The foundation of Kant’s human dignity and human rights is duty or reason.

• The right to access the truth

We have a right to be told the truth and to be informed about matters that significantly affect our

Module 16
Consider this also
choices.

Designs
Theories
follow

• The right of privacy

Consider
We have the right to do believe and say whatever we choose in our personal lives so long as we

this!
do not violate the right of other.
• The right not to be injured
We have the right not to be harmed or injured unless we freely and knowingly do something to
deserve punishment or we freely and knowingly choose to risk such injured.
• The right to what is agreed
We have the right to what has been promised by those with whim we have freely entered into a
contract or agreement.
KINDS OF RIGHTS

Module 16
1. Moral Rights

Consider this also

Designs
Theories
Based on consciousness, human sense of goodness and justice that emphasize

follow
Consider
the universal rights in any person that can enjoy.

this!
2. Legal Rights
Rights a particular person is entitled to enjoy this legally as enforced by the
state/government.