Understanding Ethics and Morality: A Guide to Ethical Living

Understanding “Action”

Voluntary Actions

These actions originate from a person’s conscious choice, making them responsible for the consequences.

Mixed Actions

Performed out of fear of a greater evil, these actions involve a choice, but are not desirable to the actor.

Enforced Actions

The subject is not responsible for these actions, especially those done out of ignorance. However, they are liable when acting in willful ignorance.

Elements of Intent and Implications

Intent

Intentions are consciously accepted inclinations leading to an outcome. It’s a crucial element of action.

Implications

Actions have stages: the initial intention and the foreseeable consequences. Individuals are responsible for predictable outcomes, but not unforeseeable ones.

The Field of Ethics

Humans have diverse ways of living, leading to varied importance placed on different things. This raises questions about the best way to live and respond to life’s events. As free beings, we have the capacity to choose our actions, making us moral beings.

Morals and Ethics

Ethics, from the Greek “ethos,” and morality, from Latin, both refer to human ways of being. Morality relates to freedom of choice and recognizing different ways of living. Ethics is the philosophical reflection on morality.

Moral Content

People choose norms, values, and principles that guide their conduct and form their way of living. Different moral systems exist (Western, Christian, Buddhist, environmentalist, etc.), and moral content changes over time.

Moral, Immoral, and Amoral

Moral vs. Immoral

Behavior is moral or immoral based on its alignment with accepted moral standards.

Moral vs. Amoral

Moral beings can choose between right and wrong. Amoral beings lack this capacity. Humans are moral beings.

Morality, Law, and Religion

These systems provide guidance and rules. Morality and religion aim for happiness, while law focuses on order. They differ in their source of authority, intended audience, and basis of obedience.

ReligiousMoralLaw
SourceGodIndividualLegislative Body
AudienceBelieversAllMembers of Community
AccountabilityGodSelfCourt
ObedienceFaithConsciencePolitical Pact

Universal Moral Values

As we mature, we realize that moral values change across time and cultures. While practices like slavery were once accepted, evolving thought now recognizes their injustice. This suggests the existence of universally shared values.

Moral Relativism

This asserts that right and wrong are relative to specific groups, with no universal standards. Relativism originated in ancient Greece, notably with Protagoras.

Skepticism

Skepticism questions the possibility of distinguishing right from wrong, even though we must make decisions.

Learning to Be Happy

Moral wisdom involves learning to be happy through cultivating virtues, especially prudence. Prudence involves acting in one’s best interest, avoiding immediate pleasures that lead to long-term pain. A prudent person finds balance, appreciating love, friendship, and other valuable aspects of life.

Problems of Happiness

Three key problems exist: a) Happiness ideals are not universal. b) Justifying suffering for personal happiness contradicts true well-being and justice. c) Happiness depends on others, not just oneself.