The Nature and Scope of Ethics

 

Ethics is one of the subsections of philosophy. The term ethics has been derived from the Greek term ‘ethos’ which can be referred to the conduct of the people. This is a normative approach which seeks the conduct of the people. Commonly accepted definition about the nature of the ethics is ‘ethics is the science that deals with conduct, in so far as this is considered as right or wrong, good and bad’ (Tufts, James H;Dewey, John;, 1914, p. 1). The term ‘science’ has used here in terms of systematic knowledge and not in terms of natural or descriptive science. Descriptive sciences and natural sciences cannot be taken into grant when understanding a normative subject since each subject, science is different from other sciences and the same approach cannot use in measuring different sciences. Simply, ‘ethics aims to give a systematic account of our judgments about conduct, in so far as these estimate it from the standpoint of right or wrong, good or bad’ (Tufts, James H;Dewey, John;, 1914, p. 1).

Usually people judge others by the things that they are doing. They categorize those actions as good actions or bad actions. However, there arises a question about the criterion in which those actions are derived into good and bad. The main question is that whether the criterion is objective or not. If that criterion is subjected to the people, there arises a question about its objectivity. Recent ethicists have emphasized that they should describe the concepts of good and bad without trying to deviate good actions from bad actions. It is commonly accepted that describing the concepts of good and bad can help to solve many questions related to ethics. To illustrate, if we consider an example as ‘it is good to help to a beggar’, the goodness of it should be describe by ethicists, but analyzing the goodness or the badness of an action is not a duty of an ethicists. 

Every field in the society has its own ethical values, which are called as professional ethics. Each profession, such as teachers, doctors, scientists, researchers, has their own ethical values according to their profession. To illustrate, doctors are not allowed to give medical information about their patients to outsiders since it is not ethical. Children are not allowed to use for severe experiments because it is not ethically accepted. 

Two things should be completed in order to measure a behavior ethically or morally as good or bad. 

-The doer should have to have critical ability about the action

-The doer have to have free-will 

The term ‘critical’ means the ability to reason before doing an action. There is abnormal people who do not have the ability to reason are not taken into this measurement. The term ‘free-will’ defines about the ability to do things without any pressure. 

Ethics can be divided into three major categories. 

-Normative ethics

-Meta-ethics

-Applied ethics

Normative ethics can be discussed under two categories. They are, 

-Teleological theory

-Deontological theory

Teleological theory is considered as an action, which is done in order to prove a particular idea. Nevertheless, that depends on the extent that the aim is fulfilled by doing the certain action. This theory accepts something as good, only if it produces good consequences than the bad consequences that can arise if the particular action does not taken place. Therefore, one should recall past experiences and rationally analyze the action and its predicted consequence. Then the person can decide whether it is moral to do the action or not. There is a classification in teleological theory. 

-Utilitarianism

-Egoistic hedonism 

-Altruism

Utilitarianism was introduced by Jeremy Bentham, and revised by James Mill, who was the inventor of the ‘greatest happiness principle’. If one action leads to happiness of the majority of the people, then utilitarianism accepts that as a good action. When there are two choices, by comparing those two, one should choose the choice, which generates more happiness to the people.  

Moreover, egoistic hedonism can be defined as ‘self love’. The theory suggests perceiving happiness and avoiding pain.  Thomas Hobbes and Joseph Butler have come up with this idea. According to Hobbes, when a person gives money to a beggar, he don not have the intention to satisfy beggar. Nevertheless, that person has the intention to satisfy himself. According to altruism, ethical actions should be evaluated in order to make others’ happiness. 

Deontological theory, which is the second approach of normative ethics, does not consider about the consequences of an action. Immanuel Kant used this method by emphasizing moral duties. The basis of his ethical theory is stated as ‘do duty for the sake of duty’. Practical knowledge is given the priority in deontological ethics. Immanuel Kant has stated in his book called the critique of practical reason, as “Act only on a maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law”. This theory keeps duty at the center. According to Kant, a universal moral law motivates a good action.

Meta-ethics is the second major approach in ethics. It rationally analyzes the construe the ethical statements, laws, theories.  It describes practical terms in ethics. This is the most philosophical analyze. To illustrate, in meta-ethics, it analyze questions as what are people doing when they use the terms of good and correct. 

Applied ethics is the most practical approach since it studies ethical issues in the contemporary world and difficult moral questions. To illustrate, this studies about euthanasia, extreme poverty, suicide, terrorism and war, drug addiction, death penalty etc. 

References 

Bowes, P. (1959). The Concept of Morality. London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd.

Carritt, E. F. (1928). The Theory of Morals. London: Oxford University Press.

Craig, E. (Ed.). (1998). Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Vol. 3). London: Routledge.

Dhammadassi thero, A., Vijithadhamma Thero, M., & Mahinda Thero, A. (Eds.). (2016). Prabuddha (Vol. 4). Wadduwa: Sri Lanka Pali Grantha Samagama.

Dhammananda Thero, H. (2004). Bauddha ha kantiyanu Sadachara Darshanaya. Colombo 10: S. Godage and Brothers.

Hettiarachci, K. (2001). Saradharma, Sadacharaya ha Samaya. Colombo 10: S.Godage Brothers.

Intyre, M. A. (1968). A Short History of Ethics. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

Silva, G. P. (2004). Acharavadaya. Warakapola: Ariya Prakashakayo.