Moral Philosophy, Ethics, and Political Philosophy
Item 4.1.1: Morals and Ethics
Punto etymologically: There is no difference between morality and ethics. Moral comes from the Latin mos moris. Etica comes from the Greek ethos. Both refer to the character (so that a person acquires throughout their life, actions, habits, and customs through which the human being develops an original way to be). However, for moral philosophy, ethics are totally different.
We call moral a concrete human behavior, a set of values and norms present in individuals who enter relationships between them and the society in which they live. Morality is present in all epochs and societies, which set values and moral norms that guide the conduct of individuals towards the end as good and just. However, moral problems often arise when there is a conflict between different rules, or when certain conduct leads to unfair established norms. Therefore, the need for ethical reflection arises.
Ethics is a philosophical discipline that aims for critical reflection on moral conduct in general, not specific everyday cases. It analyzes the characteristics of moral behavior to distinguish it from other behaviors. It studies moral values and the standards that result from them, and considers questions such as determining moral responsibility since the existence of moral behavior is only possible when one is responsible for their actions. It investigates whether the human being acts freely, or if they are determined or conditioned. It analyzes what moral obligation is and what its scope is.
1.2: The Moral Action
Animals act naturally. Their instincts determine their behavior, excluding free choice. In contrast, humans have instinctive behavior, but it is prefixed, allowing them to decide freely how to behave in each moment of their life. This freedom presents two faces:
- The human being has the possibility to choose their way of behaving (master of their acts).
- Fragility: A situation of insecurity, lacking a guide to specific impulses toward a safe mode of action.
Freedom makes humans responsible for their actions. The free choice of each act allows the human being to slowly model their way of being and behavior. With the repetition of acts, they acquire habits that predispose individuals to form a determined moral character and become good/bad people, fair/unfair, as a function of the habits obtained.
Characteristics of Human Moral Behavior
- Regulated by a system of principles, norms, and values.
- Occurs in society, in our relationships with others, as rules of conduct and duties that support moral actions are intended to regulate relations between individuals so that everyone can have a good life.
- May be penalized or valued by others according to norms and values valid for all. Rules and values must be internalized by the individual to act; they must recognize them as theirs, even if they have a historical and social character. It is freely and consciously abiding by them.
This is why morality is only human; only humans can choose their behavior by themselves. Animals are guided by instinct alone.
2.2: Political Philosophy
Moral values and norms do not exist apart from individuals and historical societies. Therefore, they are not prepared for the political organization of societies. Moral values such as justice, equality, etc., are ideal for living together. Politics is or should be, a set of actions, approaches, and tools that a company uses to achieve ideals. Ethics and politics should be united.
From modernity, a separation between public and private sectors began to be realized. The increasing power of the state will be separated from civil society. For that reason, relations between ethics and politics are problematic. Political philosophy conceives the state as the framework to enable the realization of the human being as such.
2.2.1: Concept of Political Philosophy and its Purpose
Currently, a distinction is established between:
- Political Science: Its task is to describe, explain, and predict political phenomena.
- Political Philosophy: Its primary purpose must be the rational basis of the state. Rather than devoting itself to studying political phenomena as they are, its end is to set how they should be to become just.
Political philosophy raises some questions: Should there be an ethical-political relationship? What is the source of political power? What is its objective or purpose?