Lesson 1: The Ethical Dimension of Human Existence

Summary

In this educational video, Jo Brand introduces the complex subject of ethics, focusing on the ethical dimension of human existence. She emphasizes the importance of understanding personal values and distinguishing between ethical judgments and personal preferences. The video explores the concepts of ethics and morals, the significance of moral reasoning, and the influence of law, religion, and culture on ethical behavior. It also delves into three ethical theories: subjectivism, psychological egoism, and ethical egoism, guiding viewers to reflect on their own moral compass and decision-making processes.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video discusses the ethical dimension of human existence, emphasizing the difficulty of understanding what is good or bad to do.
• 🧐 The importance of personal values in ethics is highlighted, as ethics is intertwined with one's own beliefs and attitudes.
• 🤔 It's crucial to differentiate between personal preferences and ethical judgments, as the latter concerns significant matters related to life and death.
• 📚 Ethics is defined as the study of ideal human behavior and thinking, which requires careful consideration before making judgments.
• 🔍 Understanding ethics involves recognizing the influence of three sources of authority: law, religion, and culture, which guide ethical behavior.
• 🏛 The authority of law provides objective standards and guidance for ethical conduct, promoting peace and order in society.
• 🕌 Religion offers moral guidance and a sense of obligation, shaping individuals to be better persons through its teachings.
• 🌐 Culture plays a role in ethics by influencing our values and the way we perceive right and wrong, necessitating respect for different cultural practices.
• 🤹‍♂️ Three ethical theories are presented: subjectivism, which centers on individual perspectives; psychological egoism, focusing on self-interest; and ethical egoism, which argues for self-serving actions.
• 💡 The video encourages viewers to develop their own framework for understanding ethics, considering the inward self and external sources of authority.
• 📝 It concludes by inviting viewers to engage with the content, ask questions, and reflect on their understanding of ethics.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the ethical dimension of human existence and the first lesson in ethics.

Why is the topic of ethics considered difficult to discuss?

Ethics is considered difficult because it involves understanding the value or ethical dimension of human existence, including determining what is good or bad, and what should or should not be done.

What is the relationship between ethics and personal values?

Ethics is closely related to personal values as it deals with an individual's beliefs and attitudes about what is right and wrong, and what is significant in life.

What are some instances where value judgments are not considered part of ethics?

Value judgments based on personal senses and feelings, such as personal preferences, are not considered part of ethics because they are not related to moral principles but rather individual tastes.

What is the difference between ethics and morals according to the video?

Ethics is the discipline of studying and understanding ideal human behavior and ways of thinking, while morals refer to an individual's moral reasoning and judgment, which guide their actions and decisions.

Why is it important to understand one's own moral reasoning before making judgments about others?

Understanding one's own moral reasoning is important because it helps ensure that judgments are based on ethical principles rather than personal biases or feelings, promoting fairness and objectivity.

What are the three sources of authority mentioned in the video that guide ethical behavior?

The three sources of authority mentioned are the authority of the law, the authority of one's religion, and the authority of one's own culture.

How does the authority of the law contribute to ethical behavior?

The authority of the law contributes to ethical behavior by providing objective standards and guidelines for conduct, promoting compliance and obedience, which in turn leads to a more orderly and peaceful society.

What role does one's religion play in shaping ethical behavior?

One's religion provides guidance on what is considered good and bad, influencing moral reasoning and judgment, and inspiring individuals to act in ways that align with their religious teachings.

Why is it important to respect different cultures when discussing ethics?

Respecting different cultures is important in discussing ethics because cultural differences can influence values and moral judgments, and respecting these differences promotes understanding and avoids inappropriate judgments.

What are the three theories of ethics mentioned in the video, and what do they focus on?

The three theories of ethics mentioned are subjectivism, which focuses on individual moral valuations; psychological egoism, which is about self-centered actions driven by self-interest; and ethical egoism, which suggests that actions should be self-serving but also considers the broader implications.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Ethics and Personal Values

The speaker, Jo Brand, introduces the topic of ethics and its relevance to personal values. They emphasize the difficulty of understanding the ethical dimension of human existence, which involves discerning right from wrong. Jo encourages a simple explanation of ethics and stresses the importance of recognizing personal values as a foundation for ethical understanding. The paragraph also touches on the need to be cautious in making judgments based on personal feelings, as these are not necessarily related to ethics.

05:01

🤔 Ethics, Morals, and Moral Reasoning

This paragraph delves into the relationship between ethics and morals, explaining that while the terms are often used interchangeably, they are intrinsically linked. Ethics is described as the study of ideal human behavior and thought, whereas morals are the beliefs and attitudes that guide behavior. The speaker highlights the importance of moral reasoning and judgment in ethical decision-making, cautioning against making judgments based solely on personal feelings and emphasizing the significance of considering the impact on others.

10:03

🧐 Understanding Moral Valuation and Dilemmas

The speaker discusses the concept of moral valuation and the challenges of making ethical decisions, particularly in the face of moral dilemmas. They stress the importance of logical reasoning and self-assessment when faced with choices between right and wrong. The paragraph also explores the motivations behind actions, such as fear of punishment or desire for reward, and how these can influence moral judgments.

15:10

🏛 Sources of Authority in Ethics

In this paragraph, the speaker identifies three sources of authority that guide ethical behavior: the law, religion, and culture. They explain how each source provides a framework for understanding what is ethically right or wrong. The law is presented as an objective standard, religion offers moral guidance, and culture shapes our values and behaviors. The speaker encourages embracing these sources of authority to navigate ethical decisions and judgments.

20:10

🌐 Theories of Ethics and Personal Responsibility

The speaker introduces three ethical theories that focus on internal sources of understanding ethics: subjectivism, psychological egoism, and ethical egoism. Subjectivism emphasizes individual perspectives in moral valuations, while psychological egoism highlights self-interest as a driving force behind actions. Ethical egoism, however, suggests a balance, recognizing the need for self-interest without disregarding the well-being of others. The paragraph encourages self-reflection and balance in ethical decision-making.

25:11

📝 Conclusion and Invitation for Further Discussion

To conclude the video, Jo Brand summarizes the lesson on ethics and invites viewers to engage in further discussion. They offer assistance with any confusion regarding assignments and encourage viewers to leave comments for additional questions. The speaker expresses gratitude for the viewers' support and hopes that the video has been helpful in understanding the complexities of ethics.

Keywords

💡Ethics

Ethics refers to the moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity. In the video, ethics is the central theme, with the speaker discussing its dimension in human existence, including what is considered good or bad, and the importance of understanding personal values in relation to ethical behavior.

💡Industrial Psychology

Industrial Psychology is a branch of psychology that applies psychological principles and research methods to organizational and work settings. The script mentions it as the subject being taught, suggesting that ethics plays a significant role in the workplace and organizational behavior.

💡Personal Values

Personal values are the beliefs and ideals that guide an individual's actions and decisions. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding one's personal values as they are integral to ethical decision-making, and they can influence how one perceives right and wrong.

💡Value Judgment

A value judgment is an assessment or opinion regarding the worth or significance of something, often based on one's personal values or cultural norms. The script discusses how value judgments are not always related to ethics, especially when they are based on personal feelings rather than moral principles.

💡Morals

Morals are the standards of behavior or conduct that are held in regard based on what is right and wrong. In the video, morals are closely linked to ethics, with the speaker explaining that moral reasoning and judgment are essential aspects of ethical understanding.

💡Moral Reasoning

Moral reasoning is the process of thinking through and justifying a moral judgment or decision. The script highlights the importance of moral reasoning in ethics, stating that it is necessary to think before making judgments about what is right or wrong.

💡Moral Dilemma

A moral dilemma is a situation where an individual has to make a decision between two or more conflicting moral principles or values. The video touches on the concept, indicating that ethical decision-making can involve complex choices where right and wrong are not clear-cut.

💡Authority

In the context of the video, authority refers to the sources that guide ethical behavior, such as the law, religion, and culture. These external sources provide a framework for understanding what is considered ethically acceptable or required.

💡Subjectivism

Subjectivism is the philosophical view that moral judgments are true only relative to the individual's perspective. The speaker in the video describes subjectivism as a theory where individuals are the center of all moral valuations, emphasizing personal opinions and feelings in ethical judgments.

💡Psychological Egoism

Psychological egoism is the theory that humans are inherently self-interested and act out of self-interest. The script mentions this concept to illustrate a perspective where actions are driven by personal gain, which can be in contrast to ethical considerations.

💡Ethical Egoism

Ethical egoism is the normative theory that individuals ought to act in their own self-interest. The video differentiates this from psychological egoism by suggesting that while actions may be self-serving, ethical egoism provides a rationale for why such actions can be ethically justified.

Highlights

Introduction to the subject of ethics and industrial psychology for the second semester.

Exploring the ethical dimension of human existence and its complexity in discerning right from wrong.

Understanding personal values as a foundation for discussing ethics.

Differentiating between personal judgments based on senses and feelings versus those related to ethics.

Ethics as a discipline studying ideal human behavior and moral reasoning.

The significance of ethics in matters of life and death, and its importance to human life.

Clarification of the difference between ethics and morals, and their interrelation.

The importance of moral reasoning and judgment in ethical decision-making.

Assessing moral dilemmas and the role of personal choice in ethical judgments.

The influence of upbringing and cultural differences on ethical perspectives.

Three sources of authority guiding ethical behavior: law, religion, and culture.

The role of law in providing objective standards for ethical conduct.

Religion as a guide for understanding what is morally good or bad.

Cultural differences and their impact on ethical values and judgments.

Three theories of ethics: subjectivism, psychological egoism, and ethical egoism.

Subjectivism and the focus on individual perspectives in moral valuations.

Psychological egoism and the pursuit of self-interest in moral decisions.

Ethical egoism and the balance between self-serving actions and ethical considerations.

Encouragement for viewers to engage with the content and ask questions for further understanding.

Transcripts

hello hello welcome back to my channel

this is jo brand yours truly

so for today's i will be sharing to you

another subject

for the second semester since i will be

teaching this subject

for for this semester

so i will be sharing to you my inputs my

idea

in the subject of ethics and industrial

psychology but in this

video is i will be sharing to you our

first

lesson for ethics and that is

our first lesson for ethics talks about

the ethical dimension of human existence

take note this is a very difficult topic

because you will try to to know

the the value or the ethical dimension

of human existence what is the good

thing to do

or what is the bad thing to do what are

the things that we should do or what are

the things that we should not

do okay so we will try to explain it

in a very simple way so hopefully this

video would

really help you a lot in your learning

journey

but before we can get to know the

details of what is really the meaning of

ethics

is let's try to understand first our own

personal values

so when you talk about ethics it also

deals with your own personal values

so that's why we need to clarify what

are those values

and do you think it is really

it really matters when you talk about

understanding ethics

so the first one is we need to

understand our the things that we value

the

most are the kinds of valuations that we

have

okay so let's accept that there are

instances when we make value judgment

that are not considered part of ethics

usage

based on our personal senses and feeling

and sometimes

when we make judgment that are

take note since we are different people

we are

we have different upbringings so that's

why we need to be careful in judging one

another because when we judge

another person based on personal senses

and feeling

it is not related to ethics because it

is your personal preference so when you

talk about

ethics the eye so based on research

ethics talks about matters that are

related to life and death

so therefore commenon takes the eye it

talks about

things that are significant to human

life

so for example

therefore it's not related to ethics

therefore it is related to the

discussion of ethics

so hopefully claru nasha

they can get a gusto and we cannot force

someone to love what we loved

because we have different feelings and

we have different senses

so we need to understand the

characteristic of our personal choice

and the way we make judgment

at least

[Music]

or delay so take note

uh understanding ethics is very trivial

in nature

because they can't get the factors to

consider and we cannot judge one another

based

okay so the second point is we need to

understand the ethics and morals

so when you talk about ethics and morals

words interchangeably related

for me it is related why because more

else

this is our belief or attitudes

to

that you are immoral because you are

doing something

outside the norm outside town

because when you talk about morale

muslim shouts

why because nam gupta getaway is moral

is not a moral reasoning and moral

judgment when you talk about moral

reasoning and moral judgment muslim

shanghai ethics because when you make

judgment

okay because the term ethics

is the discipline of studying and

understanding

ideal human behavior and ideal ways of

thinking

english and ethics now

it talks about how we behave

and how we think so that but when we

make judgment

make sure that you are able to think

first before making

judgment

we don't consider the feelings of

another person

we need to have our own moral reasoning

or moral judgment to make judgment to

another person

okay the third one is we need to clarify

the moral valuation or the moral

issue the biosai

issue right so depending as a values

significance

is

now my logical reasoning because we are

humans

that we need to think first before

making any decision

making any judgment paradigm about some

moral

dilemma

so when we choose between right over

wrong

so which is which and sometimes we get

so confused about what to do

what are the better things to do with

our own lives

okay we need to assess when you try to

choose what is right

or wrong we need to assess our morale

our level of reasoning

because we are us we are homo sapiens

we have the ability to think we are

we are a thinking thing so that's why we

need to check

our level of reasoning

is is right or wrong

okay so take note that when we

assess ourselves

what i what am i doing is good

i did not cheat on the exam because i

was afraid

that i might get caught so

muhammad judgment

look

desire for reward or

the fear of punishment

of punishment

we choose steal

right or wrong for us okay maybe not as

a stage of moral dilemma

what is really the good thing for you or

the right one for you

so that's why when you talk about ethics

significant important values

you should be considering a part of your

existence parts

that's why it's really hard for us to

judge one another because

important

how to decide that's why

in england you the guy dance know from

our parents and what to do with our life

because

so that's the idea of understanding

the idea of ethics knowing what is good

or

knowing what is not good for you

[Music]

[Music]

therefore

that's why for us we

really need to have our own framework or

structure about ourselves

okay so hopefully in a second

decide what is really right or wrong for

us so that's going to come up me and uh

we have

to do the right thing or to do the wrong

i have to do the right thing

i mean

we get confused about what to do with

our own lives

okay the first one is we have three

sources of authority

the authority of the law and the

authority of what's religion

and the authority of one's own culture

it talks about take note

is our guide to ethical behavior

ethics talks about the idea

of the things that really matters

to that matters to us significant to

human life

it concerns life or death

[Music]

for to give guidance

for example pandemic we need to wear

face masks we need to wear

face shield because that's a law and we

need to be obedient we need to comply

and that is part of our ethical behavior

because we are we are obedient

authority okay so

take note that

would know you will have a peaceful life

because you are guided

[Music]

so that is the advantage of

the authority of the law because it

guided it

gives guidance

[Music]

[Music]

so it gives us

standards it gives us the authority of

the law gives us the idea of

objective standards so that what we we

should

we should

[Music]

you still need to abide with the law

okay

so the second is the religion

so on religion it gives also guidance

out on ethical behavior

what is the good thing to do and what is

not a good thing to do for us

so that is that that is authorities are

religion

again pose the apart for malka when you

go to church

late months leave less and that is the

authority to impose something for our

obedience

and this benefit for us

because authority of one's religion

we also get confused about what we do

with our lives

there is no authority of one's religion

okay so there is an advantage

every sunday that is our obligation

so manga supreme authority now

inspired nato to do good for for others

so that is the authority of france

religion

and for me it's a good thing to have our

own

to be part of one's religion

because it molded us to become a better

person

it teaches us how to be good it teaches

us

[Music]

so i am happy

because what uh why because i was able

to

nagging purchase right

because

the way i understand myself now and it's

a good thing for me

and i hope say muhammad it's a good

thing for you

and the last one is the culture

okay so as we all know that we have

different societies

and part anna is not a culture

that makes us aware of

we value the most so we have we

we are different people that's why when

we make

judgment when we make judgment

let's embrace the idea of their own

culture let's be aware

and happiness

important that's why when you go abroad

culture

we have differences in culture

so when i shall we need to respect the

culture

one another and happinessly authority to

impose

some things

it's part of their culture so we can't

judge them

because it's part of their culture

hopefully

the three sources of authority the

authority of the law

the authority of of one's religion the

authority

of culture okay

so sometimes

[Music]

embrace and different sources of

authority before we

make judgments we have different

religions

yes we have different cultures and we

have different

impose

and we need and it

and we need to comply we need to comply

impose something to guide our ethical

behavior

the way you understand

[Music]

so that's why we discuss purnato um

centers there are three

theories about ethics that center on the

south aside from the external

sources of authority

the the inward sources

of understanding ethics

the inward self so um

when you talk about ethics so there are

three theories number one

is subjectivism when we make judgment

subjective the second is the

psychological egoism

so and the third one is the ethical

egoism so let's try to

explain that one by one let's talk about

subjectivism so when you talk about

subjectivism is

this is the recognition that the

individual thinking person is at the

heart of all moral valuations

[Music]

we are so subjective in making judgments

and i don't need another person to to

decide for my own

sex objectives we only consider

ourselves

that's why yo

[Music]

i am entitled to my own opinion

i am entitled to my own opinion so

meaning you are considered your

subjectivism

when you when you try to understand the

idea of ethics

the third minigun said no one knows my

situation better than myself

right yeah correct

because you are you are the sole

responsible of yourself

and that is the idea of subjectivism it

is good if i say that it is good

[Music]

negative the positive is you know how to

run your life without the support of

others but the negative is

you are so close-minded you don't care

about the feelings of other people

you are so focused with yourself and

sometimes it leads you to become

hard-headed

you don't know how to listen so that's

the idea of being subject to this

the third the second one is the

psychological iguovisem

we are so self-centered

too much of something is not good at all

we just learned learn how to balance

everything

[Music]

we do things in pursuit of our own

self-interest

referring a book that we are all doing

something

because of our self-interest and then i

don't think

as long as i am not hurting anybody i

think that's okay

right it's okay for me possibly

it's not okay

now we only think that we have a choice

but actually

[Music]

[Music]

we need to wait things out we need to

balance everything

but you have to assess yourself if that

is the right thing to do or not the

right thing

to do for yourself the third one is

ethical iguovicim so when you talk about

ethical egoism

is um psychological egoism

our actions now are geared towards

self-serving interest

but the ethical igbo is gonna show that

we should not

focus

[Music]

is

[Music]

okay so i really hope that you are

you did learn from this video so

i hope this helps you a lot this is our

lesson one

and four i mean for ethics

so if you want to ask me anything

just drop your comments below if you

have some confusion

with regards to your assignment you can

drop your comments below and

take note updated gecko every day so you

can just i just check it out and

try to answer all your inquiries thank

you so much for

all your support and hopefully this

video helps you a lot

in understanding ethics thank you god

bless

[Music]

bye