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Introduction to Ethics Cheat Sheet by

Human life becomes complex while trying to cope with these local and global transformations, ways of life, and norms. Moral problems and dilemmas are inevitable as one tries to develop himself to the fullest. Along the way, man must maintain a moral judgment, decision, and action for right and good living in society. Ethics and moral standards with right reason will lead people to the right path of life.

Learning Objectives

Define the words Ethics and morality.

Differ­entiate the types of normative ethics including the "­ism­s".

Identify the different key concepts related to ethics.

Relate the concepts of ethics with other teaching about human actions.

Concept: Ethics and Morality

Ethics
Morality
Broader and Objective.
More personal and gut feelin­g-based .
Broader and systematic based on agreed rules of society, profes­sion, and groups
Developed from one's values, beliefs, and cultute
Ex: code of conduct in medical field and corporate world
Ex of Morality: Inner judgement of right or wrong.

Concept: Morality

Ethiology
Gree: Mos or Latin (Lt) means manner, charac­ter,a nd behavior
Meanin­g/D­efi­nition?
refers to rightness or wrongness.
How does it relate to ethics?
--> Morality is more personal, shaped by beliefs, values, culture, and upribr­inging,

Concept: Ethics

Greek word ethymology
ethos which means, custom, habit, behaviors and character.
Defintion
A system of moral philos­oph­y/p­rin­cip­les—a set of values and rules of human conduct (human actions).
What's the nature of ethics?
--> a science that involves a systematic invest­igation before a judgment is made, classi­fying human actions as good or bad, right or wrong. It includes system­ati­zing, defending, and recomm­ending concepts of right and wrong behaviors.

Division of Ethics

A.Meta-e­thics
B. Applied Ethics
C. Normative ethics
A. Meta-e­thics
study of the nature, scope, and meaning of moral judgment.
ask: "What do ethical statements mean?" and "Do ethical statements have objective truth or are they a mere subjective expression of opinion?
Debating if morality is a universal truth or a personal perspe­ctive
B. Applied Ethics
Seeks to apply ethical principles to concrete social issues.
ex: topics such as abortion, euthan­asia, human sexuality, animal welfare, enviro­nment, and poverty.
Normative ethics
Concerned with the basic principles of right or wrong.
It asks if morality is fundam­entally about the conseq­uences of our actions, the inherent nature of the acts performed, or our character as actors
Summary
A. Meta-e­thics - Nature. going back to ask Morality (how we understant moral language, the concept statement, what it means to be right or wrong )
B. Applied Ethics - taking and applyinh principles in real life (society issues, real life)
C. Normative ethics - figuring out if you should always tell the truth (provide framew­ork­s/how to act/)

Normative Ethics: 4 Theories

 
A.Aris­­to­tle's Nicoma­­chean (Arist­­olean Teleology)
B.Hume's non-co­gnitive
C. Kant's deonto­logy:
D. Bentham's utilit­ari­anism:
1. Aristo­tle's Nicoma­chean (Arist­otlean Teleology)
Constant practice of virtues that will lead to a purpose or end.
Moral virtues include prudence, justice, fortitude, temper­ance, goodness, and genero­sity.
2. Hume's Non-Co­gnitive
Moral judgment is based on passion and interest, such as happiness
3. Kant's Deontology
Focuses on following universal rules, norms, and duties (Categ­orical Impera­tives).
4. Bentham's Utilit­ari­anism
One ought to do whatever will promote the greatest good and happiness for the greatest number, focusing on conseq­uences and results.
provide different answers to a fundam­ental question: What makes an action right or wrong, and what should be the basis for our moral decisions?

Aristotle - Virtue Ethics
Hume's Noncog­nitive - Emotivism
Kants - Deonto­logical Ethics
Benthams Ullita­rianism : Conseq­uen­tialism
  

Signif­icance of the Study of Ethics

Social moral problems:
Experts rebuild necessary measures to address the present charac­ter­istics of moral issues today.
To enlighten people:
Especially the young, to behave in a good and right manner. Teens may be confused due to different influences and are unwilling or unable to act in a moral way.
To establish solid foundation of values
In school, partic­ularly in the intera­ction between teachers and students.

Ethics in Moral life

indicates a focus on how ethics influences moral decisi­on-­making in everyday life.
Provides advantage and answers:
Ethical theories are useful when they affect how human beings behave.
keywords: provides answers thru affecting how we behave (e.g. moral judgements and decisions)
Provides a moral plan:
Ethics sets ethical rules and principles that provide a framework to find a way through difficult moral issues, offering a "­cooler view" of problems
keywords: framework, blueprint for complex issues

Ethics and People

💡shows concern for other people's well-being and God, rather than one's own desires and self-i­­nt­e­rest
{{width=40}}Ethics is about the "­Oth­er"
shows concern for other people's well-being and God, rather than one's own desires and self-i­nte­rest.
Source for group strength:
If a group has a strong moral founda­tion, they have the courage to correct wrongd­oings without hesita­tion.
Good people as well as good actions:
Ethics is also about the goodness of indivi­duals and what it means to live a good life. Virtue ethics is concerned with the moral character of human beings.
 

(4) Four Ethical -Isms

These are various ways of making a moral judgment.
Subjec­tivism
Moral judgment is based on feelings, emotions, or attitudes.
> For example, whether a lie is bad or good depends on a person's feelings. Moral judgments do not contain factual truths.
Moral Realism
There are real, objective moral facts or truths in the universe. Moral statements provide factual inform­ation about these truths. For example, "­Respect the rights­" is a universal moral truth.
Emotivism
Moral statements are shown through gestures or signs that express feelings. For example, a thumbs-up gesture can show approval of a good act.
Prescr­ipt­ivism
Moral statements are just instru­ctions and recomm­end­ations, showing how people "­ought to do".
>For example, "­Stu­dents must have a complete uniform inside the school­"
This are Meta-e­thical theories.
- How we judge moral statements and decisions are judged (ex: abortion)

Some Useful Rules in Our Lives

Etiquette
A standard of moral judgment dictated by a socio-­eco­nomic elite
Legal
standard of moral statement to judge legal right or wrong in a democracy, through repres­ent­atives
Language
A standard to judge what is gramma­tically right or wrong, which has evolved through use.
Aesthetic
A standard to judge good or bad art, usually dictated by a small group of art specia­lists.
       
 

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  • Published: 9th September, 2025

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