What is Ethics?

Summary

This video explains the concept of ethics, exploring its distinction from morality. Ethics, derived from the Greek word 'ethos,' is a branch of philosophy concerned with the rightness and wrongness of human actions. The video highlights three main types of ethical theories: normative ethics, which provides guidelines for behavior; meta-ethics, which questions the meaning of ethical terms; and applied ethics, which addresses real-world dilemmas like abortion and euthanasia. The video also discusses various fields within applied ethics, including business, bioethics, environmental ethics, and social ethics, showing their practical relevance in today’s society.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ethics is the branch of philosophy that studies the rightness or wrongness of human actions.
• 😀 The term 'ethics' comes from the Greek word 'ethos,' meaning character or custom.
• 😀 Ethics is different from morality—ethics is theoretical and focused on principles, while morality is practical and prescriptive.
• 😀 Ethics seeks to understand what constitutes a good action, the good life, and how humans should act.
• 😀 Normative ethics sets standards for good and bad conduct and provides guidelines on how to behave.
• 😀 Meta-ethics analyzes and questions the meanings and functions of ethical terms to understand the nature of ethical principles.
• 😀 Applied ethics is concerned with applying moral theories to real-life situations and resolving moral dilemmas.
• 😀 Immanuel Kant’s normative ethics suggests that we should act out of duty, not for personal gain, to be morally good.
• 😀 Meta-ethics explores fundamental questions, such as 'What is good?' and 'Why should we be moral?'
• 😀 Applied ethics is subdivided into areas like business ethics, biomedical ethics, environmental ethics, and social ethics, each focusing on specific ethical concerns.
• 😀 Applied ethicists help resolve moral dilemmas by advising on the best course of action, considering conflicting duties or moral issues.

Q & A

What is the definition of ethics?

Ethics is the branch of philosophy that studies the rightness or wrongness of human actions. It is concerned with defining, through the use of reason, what a good action is, what the good life is, and how human persons ought to act.

How does ethics differ from morality?

Ethics is more theoretical, focusing on the general theory of good action and the ultimate good, while morality is more practical and prescriptive, proposing norms and actions to attain the greatest good in specific situations.

What is the relationship between ethics and morality?

Ethics is the science of morals, concerned with the study of underlying principles, while morality is the practice of ethics, focusing on how people should act in specific situations to achieve good.

What are the three main types of ethical theories?

The three main types of ethical theories are normative ethics, meta-ethics, and applied ethics.

What does normative ethics focus on?

Normative ethics is concerned with setting norms that regulate good and bad conduct. It involves articulating good habits, duties, and the consequences of behavior on others, providing guidelines for how we ought to behave.

How does meta-ethics differ from normative ethics?

While normative ethics prescribes norms, meta-ethics analyzes and questions the meanings and functions of ethical terms. It aims to understand the nature and dynamics of ethical principles, asking questions like 'What is the good?'

Can you provide an example of a meta-ethical question?

An example of a meta-ethical question is 'Why should I be moral?' This question addresses the underlying reasons and justifications for morality itself.

What is the focus of applied ethics?

Applied ethics focuses on the practical application of moral theories to resolve real-world ethical issues, such as abortion, euthanasia, and moral dilemmas faced by individuals.

How is applied ethics subdivided into different fields?

Applied ethics is divided into various fields such as business ethics, bioethics, environmental ethics, and social ethics. Each field addresses moral issues within its specific context, like corporate behavior, environmental responsibility, or social welfare.

What role does applied ethics play in resolving moral dilemmas?

Applied ethics helps resolve moral dilemmas by advising individuals on the best course of action when facing conflicting duties or moral challenges. For example, it may help a mother decide whether to abort her fetus in a life-threatening situation.